The choice.

I am currently in my last year of cegep in Social Science. In my two years of cegep, I worked very hard to accomplish my purpose: going to university. My purpose is achieved because I have been accepted at Laval University and at Sherbrooke University. Now, I ask myself if I need a year off. Do I take a year off, or I go to the university right now?

Choice 1 : a year to travel.

Choice 2 : Going to university.

A year to travel.

I decide to put aside my study and take a year off to travel. I am now looking for my destination. Where should my first adventure take place? I think of going to Guatemala for volunteering. There are many advantages of volunteering such as a personal growth and breaking my comfort zone. The other choice I have is to go to Italy because a part of my family live there. I could visit them and learn more about this fabulous country. Which option is the best?

Choice 1 : Volunteering in Guatemala.

Choice 2 : Visiting my family.

Going to university.

I am accepted at Laval University and at Sherbrooke University in Social Work. I am a straight A student! The problem is that I have a preference for the program of Social Work at Sherbrooke University, but I live in Laval. Therefore, if I go to Laval University, I will not need to move away from my family house, and, consequently, I will not need to pay bills. Which choice sounds better?

Choice 1 : University of Sherbrooke.

Choice 2 : University of Laval.

Volunteering in Guatemala.

I choose to go to Guatemala, but finally my airline tickets cost too much money. I hesitate between two choices: spend only 5 days instead of two weeks, or start working in Guatemala to earn money.

Choice 1 : Spend only 5 days in Guatemala.

Choice 2 : get a job in Guatemala.

Visiting my family.

I have decided to go to Europe to see my father's family. I am so happy to see them because I don't see them regularly, but more often than not, I call them. When I arrived, I heard a piece of bad news about my cousin. The day before, she was a victim of sexual harassment by one of her friends. He had a behavior that involves aggressive requests for sexual favors. Her family was shocked, so I say to myself that it was not the right moment to visit them….

Choice 1 : return to section one

University of Sherbrooke.

I decided to choose the university according to my preference which is Sherbrooke. I really like this university because we have a lot of internships. In all, I will have 4 trainees in my program. While I will be an intern, I will gain experience, and that will help me for my future job as a psychologist. I have two environments where I could make my trainee whether in DPJ or in a CLSC with elderly people. Which one should I choose?

Choice 1 : Trainee in DPJ.

Choice 2 : Trainee in CLSC with adults who have mental health problems.

University of Laval.

After one year at Laval University, I realise that I don't like the aspect more theoretical of this university. I find more drawbacks of studying in Laval. I decide to stop my baccalaureate in psychology and continue it at Sherbrooke University.

Choice 1 : University of Sherbrooke.

Write a choice here.

Spend only 5 days in Guatemala.

I decide to spend only five days in Guatemala because of my financial problem. On the first day, to come in handy, I start building walls with other people to build a school for children. Sadly, I drop a heavy load on one of my feet. My right foot was broken and I can't do anything anymore.

Choice 1 : return to the other section

Get a job in Guatemala.

I decide to find a job in Guatemala to stay there the time that I want. I start working in the sector of agriculture. My salary is lower than the minimum wage, but it can help me to have at least a bit of money. I make new friends and I visit every corner of this country. Each evening, I play soccer with the kids who live in a poor district. It was s a valuable experience. I stay there one year, but now is the time to go home.

Choice 1 : Going to university.

Trainee in DPJ.

I don't like my training in DPJ. I have too more empathy for these children. I often see parents who have dependence, and they don't take care of their children. I analyze these situations with a lot of frustration. I don't have a good mental health anymore. I see every day, in my office, children who have a poor psychosocial development. I try my best to help these children with my therapy, but I make a lot of anxiety trying to help them. I am not happy in this sector.

Choice 1 : changing sector

Trainee in CLSC with adults who have mental health problems.

I really like to work in CLSC with adults who have mental health problems. I think I find my favorite sector. I did a lot of overtime without complaining because I find my trainee very interesting. After two months, my boss asks me if I would like to work thereafter my university. I hesitate because even if I like the job, I have difficulty connecting with my colleagues. They never talk to me, and I am to shy to go talk to them. I don't like the ambiance. Do I accept the job even if I have a lack of social connections or a wait for another choice of jobs?

Choice 1 : Accept the job.

Choice 2 : Wait for another offer of job.

Accept the job.

I decide to stay at the CLSC thinking the alienation will stop, but, finally, no. After 3 months at this job, I have a depression because it was very annoying to not have friends there. I think my colleagues and I were too different.

Choice 1 : return to the other section

Wait for another offer of job.

After my university, I have a proposal to work in a hospital with elderly people. I hesitate because I am not really sure that psychology is a sector that represents me anymore. I don't like to work in an office all day long. The truth is that I always have a weak for the job of policeman, but my entourage doesn't see me in this field. I don't know if I am enough calm for this job. Is it a good idea to change program at this stage of my life?

Choice 1 : Stay in my program.

Choice 2 : Switch program for police department.

Stay in my program.

I decide to stay in psychology. I start to work in a hospital. I have to say that I have some regrets of not trying to go in police. I ask myself if I would like to make a mix of these two jobs (psychologist and policeman) and become a criminologist. Is it a good idea?

Choice 1 : Go in criminology.

Choice 2 : Stay in psychology.

Switch program for police department.

I return to cegep to make my Police Technology. It is a total different environment from the sector of psychologist. I find this job too much different from mine, and I have difficulty to adopting the requirements of this profession. I think it is a too much drastic change, and I miss a part of my job. There are too many things I don't like in the police department.

Choice 1 : return to the other section

Go in criminology.

I start my baccalaureate in criminology, and I find it so much interesting. This is exactly the job I want to do in my life! The only problem is that my parents and I don't have money anymore for my studies because I change program. Do I find a part-time job, or I ask my sister who is rich to lend me some even if we don't have a tight link?

Choice 1 : ask my sister for money.

Choice 2 : Get a part-time job.

Stay in psychology.

I didn't make my doctorate for nothing. I don't want to start all over again. Unfortunately, more the time passes and more I find my job boring. I wake up every morning sad. I am only 24 years old, and I am already thinking of how fun will be my retirement. I have a second depression. I finally accepted the fact that psychology is not my way.

Choice 1 : return to the other section

Ask my sister for money.

I come to my sister's house to ask her if she wants to lend me a large amount of money. She has a bad new for me. Her new boyfriend has stolen all her money, and he left the country with it yesterday. She is totally distraught. I don't think it is a good moment to ask her money.

Choice 1 : return to the other section

Get a part-time job.

I think having a part-time job to earn money for my studies will be an excellent idea. I hesitate between two jobs whether working in a pizzeria or working in a pet shop. Where should I work?

Choice 1 : working in a pet shop.

Choice 2 : Working in a pizzeria.

working in a pet shop.

After two days of work in this pet shop, I notice that I am seriously allergic to dogs. Each day, I make a big allergic reaction. I don't think it is a good job for me.

Choice 1 : return to the other section

Working in a pizzeria.

On my first day at job, a retired person name Paulette explains me all the ins-and-outs of my job in this pizzeria. She tells me that she works here to spend time, and because cooking is her passion. She stays with me all day long, and she explains me step by step what we have to do in a day. She gives me several tips. I find my OJT (on-the-job-training) very complete. I am so happy that I find a way to pay for my studies in criminology, a field that I love. I make good decisions in my life, and I am proud of myself.

Choice 1 : The end