• Skip to main content

Pop Tug

My Career Transition From Soldier to Writer

by pop tug

In today’s world there are many careers to choose from, yet the choices grow slimmer in a dwindling economy. We often get stuck at dead end jobs or unfulfilling career paths. The fact of the matter is that there is a profound difference between a career and a job. Today we live in a world where the job comes first and the career comes second. For me at least my career is a dream, and my job is a means by which to survive. When I graduated from the Job Corps Training program to learn the facility maintenance trade I was sure I had finally escaped from the retail world, which my fate has placed me in. Unfortunately building maintenance like many careers is an extremely competitive field. I learned quickly that no matter what education I had, unless I had friends in the business I wasn’t going to get anywhere without five or more years of experience. I then hit the dilemma of how to obtain experience when no opportunity would present itself. I decided to transition from building maintenance into a military career.

I began to watch cop shows and check out police training programs. I loved the idea of pursuing this as a career choice because I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than to protect and serve the people of my community. I knew the military would be my best bet. Security Forces is probably the job in the U.S Air Force that is in highest demand. I could easily obtain such a position. Unfortunately while I am intelligent and proficient in everything I do my motor skills and ability to cope with stress were lacking severely. I couldn’t fold clothes or make beds to the standards demanded of me. With two left feet my marching skills were also coming into question. Beyond that I just couldn’t deal with the stress of being screamed at and given impossible tasks to meet by impossible deadlines. I also couldn’t hold still. While I have no diagnosis to prove it, I believe I may have some level of attention deficit. These factors worked against me and ultimately I “washed out” of or failed Basic Training.

When I returned with no direction I joined the Yahoo Contributors Network and received two paid writing assignments to write about political events, and excelled in the field. I also accepted a retail job at a local grocery store. I needed a second job to pay the bills, but could find nothing. I then signed up for Odesk as relevant assignments at Yahoo! were rare. There I am receiving assignments that don’t pay well, but strongly suit my skills. I realize it will be an uphill battle but the more I write the more quickly I will rise. I will have to start small, but ultimately I love writing and derive more fulfillment from it than anything else. It may take a long time, but eventually I want to make this my career. In heart and mind I am a born writer. It is my destiny. Right now it is only a dream and may require more practice and education, but someday I hope to find a career in freelance writing.

Related

  • Rooney Mara: A Career in Transition
  • New Horizons: From Career Soldier to Civilian Life
  • Scheduling Career Day Activities Involving Career Assessment
  • A Transition from the Military to Civilian Life
  • Easy Transition from Trike to Bike
  • From Warrior to Civilian: The Toughest Transition I Ever Made
Previous Post: « Chelsea FC Need Consistency
Next Post: When a Werewolf Attacks »

© 2021 Pop Tug · Contact · Privacy