The following is a guest post from Erinn Stam:
If you’re growing up in a household where your mom doesn’t work or makes significantly less money than your father does, you may think you can’t be the one who is the main breadwinner. However, this trend is changing, as are many other trends. The following are facts about women you may find inspiring:
- Women make up 46.3% of the United States work force
- Women make up 50.6% of the professional and management workforce of America
The exciting news is this: YOU get to choose what role you will play in life. Do you want to be a stay-at-home mom, devoted 100% to your kids above all else? You can do that! Do you want to be the one who works fulltime and you want your partner to stay home with the kids? You can choose a partner who will fulfill that role! Do you want to be single? Never have kids? Run a business? Work in a high rise in Manhattan? Operate a farm in Iowa? The world is yours – if you plan wisely for it.
Figure Out What You Want
So many women paint themselves into a corner by making choices that limit their options. As a young woman, you’ll want to take time each year to examine your goals and evaluate your plans to make sure you’re on track for achieving those goals. Ask yourself the following questions each year:
- What do I want to do for a profession?
- Will I want to work full time or part time?
- How much money will I need to make to achieve the lifestyle I desire?
- What kind of work and home environment will I enjoy most?
- What kind of education or training will I need to achieve my goals?
- Who can help me get that education or training?
- What financial aid and guidance will I need to get that training or
- education?
Go Get What You Want!
Hopefully your mom or dad will help you choose a career and pursue an education, but if not, you shouldn’t give up. If your family isn’t very supportive of you pursuing your dreams, you may simply have to go outside your family to get the help you need. You’ll find there are many resources available for young women such as the following:
School Counselors- Teachers
- Social Workers
- Girl Power Foundations
- Grants for Women
- Scholarships for Women
It’s important to realize that lofty goals require hard work and perseverance. All women who have succeeded have worked to make those goals realities, and you may have to work harder than you expected. However, if you keep your eye on your goals and you ask for help in enough places, you’ll see your dreams come true.
Bio: Erinn Stam is the Managing Editor for an online nursing diplomas website. She attends Wake Technical Community College and is learning about nursing schools in NV. She lives in Durham, NC with her lovely 4-year-old daughter and exuberant husband.
1 comment
Grace
I have three girls and just today I sat with my girls on our kitchen table telling them all the things that girls can be found doing when they are teenagers. We talked about traveling all over the world, doing volunteer work, being in band and much more. This post has given me new ideas to keep them all geared to be strong girls ready to take on their future with confidence.
Thanks
Grace