A few times a year I’m invited to speak to classes at the local university about my career. When the first invitation of the school year came, I was inclined to decline as it seemed disingenuous to speak about my job when, frankly, I don’t really like it at the moment. When DOES she like her job?, you ask yourself.

I agreed this time around anyway, mostly because the teacher is a really, really good person, and I’m horrible at saying no to good people. As is usually the case, I prepared for the class by trying to anticipate what I would say about searching for and finding a job in one’s chosen profession, especially in the time of a rough economy. And per usual, I started thinking about what the 29-year-old Modern Gal wishes she could tell her 20-year-old self that would set the framework for a better future, a future that does not include not liking her job.

Usually that conversation with myself goes something like this:

Older, wiser MG: ‘Whatever you do, DON’T MAJOR IN WHAT YOU’RE MAJORING IN. Do something in science or math. No! Major in accounting. That’s a nice, stable, well-paying job. I know you almost flunked that one accounting class you took last year, but you’ll be fine if you study a little harder. Just, whatever you do, DON’T MAJOR WHAT YOU’RE MAJORING IN.’
20-year-old MG: ‘Um, ok.’
Older, wiser MG: ‘And if you do end up going through with what you’re majoring in, there’s going to be this time a few months after you graduate that you’re going to seriously doubt whether you’re in the right profession. GO BACK TO SCHOOL THEN. Or change careers. Whatever you do, do not go to that more prestigious job in the same profession.’
20-year-old MG: ‘You’re telling me to turn down a more prestigious job?’
Older, wiser MG: ‘And when you break up with that boyfriend of yours, stay broken up.’
20-year-old MG: ‘Do you really hate everything about your life? I mean, your job sucks, your personal life sucks, you don’t want to know any of the friends you meet between now and then?’
Older, wiser MG: ‘Eff you. Stop trying to outsmart me.’

I’ve mentioned before that I’ve had some crappy days of late — super sucky crappy days. But I know deep down that because of the crappy days I truly appreciate and am thankful for the good days that fall in between. How incredibly trite and clichéd, yes, but it’s a painful lesson I’ve relearned over and over and over. With the lesson of appreciating the good days more comes the lesson of being more forgiving of myself and of the world.

So when I started preparing to speak to this class, I realized I still had a genuine message to offer, even if that message didn’t look like the message most might expect from me …

• Explore and cast a wide net — opportunities might not look the way you hoped or expected, but any opportunity should be considered and appreciated.
• Any work experience is valuable, because it might teach you something about yourself, help you appreciate what kind of work suits you best or doesn’t suit you at all or introduce you to someone who might change your life.
• Find the lessons in your mistakes and apply them toward making your situation better.
• Know that whatever it is you expect your career to look like in 10 years won’t be how it is, and that’s OK. You might have something better going on or you might decide what you chose was a bad choice. It doesn’t make you a failure.
• It’s never too late to start down a different path.
• It might take you a long time to get where you want to go, so find a way to enjoy the journey.

The reality of it was, I ended up talking about my career anyway. Not many students were looking for a job in my profession anyway, but they all had basic questions about the ins and outs of how my job works out of sheer curiosity. I was happy to answer those questions honestly. None of them sought reassurance from me that my career was awesome and the right choice, so I never once had to lie and say that I loved it.

I guess all that mental preparation wasn’t for the students anyway.

After a year of hemming and hawing and saying I needed to do something about my life but didn’t know what I needed to do, I’m in the process of applying for school. Pause for mild freak out. It’s an accredited 2-year program that is done entirely online and therefore works with my crazy schedule, as long as I’m not working 50+ hours a week. And it’s in a field of study that I’m excited about and believe suits my personality and passions.

Even with the freedom of online classes and the chance of testing out of elective courses, it will take me a long time to get through this program. At most I might be able to take two classes at a time, so endurance and staying motivated is key. Patience with myself and my current job is also important.

Now is the time when I start taking my own advice.