Hey y'all. I'm so very in trouble :confused: . I just got married Dec. 8th, 19 years old, graduated high school in 2006, getting ready to move to Houston so my husband can go to school :) . The problem is... I don't know what I want to do with my life :( . Actually, I do. I really would like to be an actress, but that's a long shot. I know that about 1 out of a million make it, but I'd still like to try :cool: .

What I think I am going to do is go to college and get a degree, then get a job so I can have some experience. Then after a couple of years experience... try out the acting thing. This way, if the acting doesn't work out, I'll have something to fall back on. Sounds like a good plan, right?

Well, the problem is... I don't know what I want to go to school for. I like business and secretarial stuff, but I really really enjoy doing research. (as long as I don't have to write a 20 page report on it... like school).

I don't want to be a lawyer, but I'd like to be the person that does all the research FOR the lawyer. I don't know what kind of school I would go to for that. I don't know if I'd have to go to law school or what. I'm so confused :confused:!

Like I said previously, I like the secretarial stuff, so I could go to a business school and get a business management degree or something. There is a school down in Houston, close to my husband's school, that I could go to for that.

What I'd like to know from y'all is... the legal research... does anyone know what kind of school I would go to for that? Or would I even have to go to a school for that? I mean, it doesn't take someone with a degree to find stuff on the internet... but sometimes, by law, it's required.

Anyone have any advice?

To do legal research you could be a paralegal. I had done that for years.

Check out this Google search for all of the paralegal schools in Houston.

paralegal schools in houston - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=paralegal+schools+in+houston&btnG=Google+Search)

You are not far out in your idea of a legal research profession, lawyers don't do their own research you know and it is an extremely well paying job as long as you can stick with it. You can take a look at what deVry offer at their website in 'legal research'

DeVry University - Request More Information (http://www.DeVry-Info.com)

Have you considered taking a career aptitude test? I think that was the name of the test we took in high school. It's been a while, lol. Basically, it was a test to see what type of career would be suited to you and your personality. Maybe you could find something like that online.

Being a paralegal might be a good job for you. They can make good money, and if you like the research side of legal work, it might be a good fit. Find out about it and see what you think. It also helps to talk to someone who has done that in the past, like J_9, to see what the day-to-day work is like. Good luck!

Have you considered taking a career aptitude test? I think that was the name of the test we took in high school. It's been a while, lol. Basically, it was a test to see what type of career would be suited to you and your personality. Maybe you could find something like that online.

There are different instruments used in career counseling/coaching. A career aptitude test would suggest what you might be good at; a career interest test would indicate what you might like to do; and a personality test would indicate which careers might be the best fit for your personality type. Working with a career counselor or coach would provide you with a framework for integrating results, but there are places where you can take these instruments online if you're willing and able to do the interpretation yourself.

Probably the most common instrument used by career counselors/coaches for career interest assessment is based on Holland's theory of career preference. You can take the Self-Directed Search for 9.95USD at this site (http://www.self-directed-search.com/). You will get a detailed report as a result and can research the suggestions at this site (http://online.onetcenter.org/help/online/crosswalk) (enter the DOT codes given in the SDS to view detailed descriptions of the careers). Note that the site provides a sample report, and Psychological Assessment Resources is a reputable vendor of psychological instruments. Be careful of some of the other stuff out there.

For personality and careers, you need to know your Myers-Briggs type. You can take the Keirsey-Bates version for free here (http://www.keirsey.com/), if you don't already know your type (you'll have to enter your email and create a password to do so). Once you know your type, a book I highly recommend for aiding in the career search is Please Understand Me (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1885705026/bookstorenow57-20) by Paul Teiger and Barbara Barron. They also provide a free test at their web site (http://www.personalitytype.com/) along with lists of suggested careers to investigate for each type (much more information is available, obviously in their book).

For the aptitude piece, there are a number of tests out there... here's a site (http://www.careerexplorer.net/aptitude.asp) that provides a free one (again, you'll have to enter your email and a password to get access). My personal belief is that you need to be careful with aptitude assessments: you may not have an "aptitude" for something now, but if you work at it you might develop sufficient aptitude to serve you well in certain careers. On the other hand, if you want to be a singer and you're tone deaf, well, you certainly have an uphill battle in front of you. :)

Regarding being an actress: you're right, it's a long shot if you're talking Hollywood or New York. But you can always pursue this as an avocation through community theater (http://www.aact.org/index.htm). Living a balanced and successful life involves more than what you do to earn a paycheck.

J_9... thank you so much for the info. My husband and I were planning on going to houston to look at some apartments next weekend. Based on the links you gave me, I found a school that I am VERY interested in... and it just so happens that they are having and informational seminar that weekend! It works out perfectly. Thank you so much!! OH AND it's about a 30 minute drive from my husbands school, so we will be looking for an apartment between the 2 schools... so I'm very excited. You have helped me so much!