hmm, so, you can link me to earlier posts of yours, in case i skipped the explanatory ones, but what's your job? last spring i kinda helped at this educational project where kids from different countries (aged ~9-11) interacted and did cool artistic stuff and socialized and i was particularly impressed with how... dunno, enjoyable the experience was :)

so, now, i'm curious :) *bribes with cookies :D*

I work as the coordinator of an after-school childcare program, which also happens to have a regular daycare adjoining that I help out at. So every day I work with kids ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 11 years old, doing art projects, going on adventure walks, playing games, ect. I think it's one of the best jobs I've ever had (being as I'm 18, my experience is somewhat limited), and it's so rewarding, not to mention a hell of a lot of fun. :) I mean, working with kids, especially the wee ones, is not for everybody, but it's certainly my cup of tea.

*gobbles cookies*

oh, it sounds great. i mean, you have to enjoy working with kids, but if you do, it sounds like a perfect job! :) and, if you're 18, how did you get it? i mean, did you have previous experience or recommendations or... cause it sounds like a pretty responsible job. *feels very much like a 12-year-old herself XD*

I've had a lot of experience working with kids; I've been babysitting since what feels like the dawn of time, I volunteered as a reading buddy at my local library, and I've been a camp counselor more than once. Also, I'm going for my Early Childhood Education certificate in the fall (or possibly winter, depending on my financial situation), so I will be actually qualified eventually.
As for the responsibility bit - it's a little bit daunting at first to have them say, "here, have full creative control of this program and responsibility for all these kids", but you kind of figure it out as you go, and just kind of have fun doing it.

ah, so, this is what you wanna do. oh gosh, when people are so determined and passionate about their professional future, it makes me really (& unexplainably) giddy. i, for one, am totally clueless and it's sad cause i have one more year of high school and then off i'm shoved into the bigbig sea, but listening to people talk about their career dreams makes everything seem a lot simpler, y'know? :)

It is what I want to do to make money - I've got to pay my rent somehow, but I believe that enjoying what you do in any capacity is really important.
But what I really want to do with the rest of the great unknown that is my life, is be a writer. As in, buy a little cottage in Ireland and spend my days by the sea with a pen and paper and a cup of tea. Writing is the love of my life, and I want to do something great and beautiful with it someday. That's why I work, so I can make money to go to University and study writing.

But far-flung romatic ambitions aside, I still need to feed myself, and so I work with kids, because I'm good at it and I love it, too.

As for being pushed out into the big big sea after high school - don't worry too much about it. It's frightening yes, but also exhilarating because of sheer possibility. And I'll tell you something - once you're out of high school, you begin to know even more who you are, and perhaps knowing what you want will come easier then.