Feeling like I made the wrong career choices/feel hopeless

[Anonymous]

I just got a master's in speech pathology. I have realized I'm not very passionate about this field. There are not many jobs in my area right now and the ones that are available are only for schools (which I don't really want to work in). I worked very hard for this degree and I am left feeling so empty.

My neighbor went to school for animal massage therapy, runs a doggie daycare out of her house, and is now working as a massage therapist/water therapy trainer for dogs. So basically dogs recovering from injury/surgery can go there and receive water therapy. She is working for someone else and the prices are outrageous. I ran into an acquaintance today who told me about this and said that she thinks apparently the owner is booked solid which is why she had to hire my neighbor. Are people really paying $120 for 60 minutes of therapy swimming for their dog?

Animals are my passion. I chose speech because I thought it was stable and most animal careers (vet tech etc) you have to have a thick skin for seeing animals suffering (which kills me). I figured that speech was safe, in demand, I'm good with kids etc... I can do this, make good money, use extra money to help animals/foster animals. I still want to do this, but...

I now feel like I made all the wrong career choices. My neighbor is also smug and acts like she's better than me. Her husband is friendlier to me than she is. I tried to befriend her in the past and now I only wave and say hello on occasion. What this acquaintance told me today felt like a punch in the stomach. I've apparently made all the wrong choices in life.

[Anonymous]

There are tradeoffs for everything. You need to choose what you chose.

[Anonymous]

You'll earn a better living as an SLP.

Most people can't afford to get themselves a massage let alone get one for their dog. It sounds like a lovely idea, but I don't think they are booked solid.

[Anonymous]

Don’t let the neighbor get in your head this way. Speech therapy is really great and needed. If you don’t want to work in schools, what about child find? Or at rehab centers with strolls victims? Have you seen the gabby giffords biopic? Her speech therapist made all the difference in her life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t let the neighbor get in your head this way. Speech therapy is really great and needed. If you don’t want to work in schools, what about child find? Or at rehab centers with strolls victims? Have you seen the gabby giffords biopic? Her speech therapist made all the difference in her life.

Thank you. It's hard not to let it get to me. I feel like such a loser. I thought when getting this degree i would feel accomplished and good about myself, but it's like I feel worse.

I would work at a clinic/private practice but none in my area are hiring. I would also do rehab. None are hiring right now.. .maybe in the future.

Animals are my real passion though. It's hard to see someone else getting to live that dream and all she had to do was a short course. Her husband supports her so I'm not really sure if it's lucrative or enough to live on.

[Anonymous]

The reality is for that every one one of her who is successful with that degree, there are many others who aren't. Volunteer to work at an animal shelter or something similar. You are depressed about your career and unfortunately your neighbor has something you're jealous of so it's going to make it worse. Get a job that's available as experience will be needed when a job becomes available in the areas you want. Volunteer your time with an animal organization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reality is for that every one one of her who is successful with that degree, there are many others who aren't. Volunteer to work at an animal shelter or something similar. You are depressed about your career and unfortunately your neighbor has something you're jealous of so it's going to make it worse. Get a job that's available as experience will be needed when a job becomes available in the areas you want. Volunteer your time with an animal organization.

OP has a masters degree in a field that’s notoriously difficult to get into grad school for. I looked up animal massage therapy courses. They consist of a few weeks to months of training. We don’t even know if the neighbor is successful or making any real money doing it.

[Anonymous]

Animal massage?? That’s not a job, it’s a hobby. She is not supporting herself at all with that.

Why not work at schools until clinic job opens? DCUM says SLP is golden ticket for working moms.

[Anonymous]

I did one semester in speech pathology and got a D in the class. I immediately changed my major to communication and now work in advertising.

so happy i had the foresight to not become a speech pathologist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did one semester in speech pathology and got a D in the class. I immediately changed my major to communication and now work in advertising.

so happy i had the foresight to not become a speech pathologist.

OP
My undergrad was communication. My masters is SLP and I had to take a post baccalaureate to get into grad school. I don’t regret my degree, but it was a ton of work. I live in a small city, but I know things will open up. At the present though there is nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Animal massage?? That’s not a job, it’s a hobby. She is not supporting herself at all with that.

Why not work at schools until clinic job opens? DCUM says SLP is golden ticket for working moms.

I will but they are only hiring for next school year (almost September).

A part of me wonders how much she is making doing that. I think you’re right

[Anonymous]

OP - you choose a career that can be very flexible and has in it. The opportunity to change peoples lives. I am hopeful that once you get into clinical practice, you realize this and relish that opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Open your own private practice? That seems to be the way to make money. When you get hired by others, you give up a lot of money and freedom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Open your own private practice? That seems to be the way to make money. When you get hired by others, you give up a lot of money and freedom

I think that is a great eventual goal, but just out of grad school you would benefit from working with colleagues with experience for a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Open your own private practice? That seems to be the way to make money. When you get hired by others, you give up a lot of money and freedom

+1. Rich parents are willing to pay a ton for good speech therapy. I’m one of them. We private paid ~$150 per session for a long time for our child. Granted, this was in DC; you’ll do much better off in a higher cost of living area with lots of privileged kids.