I would have gone to art school and pursued an art degree with a specialty in jewelry design. Back then, I came very close to actually doing that (without the jewelry part), but it was far away from home, there wasn't money for a fancy art school and my parents weren't supportive of a career in the arts.

Looking back, that is the one thing I would change. I've always been interested in art, took as many classes as I could back in high school and discovered jewelry design later in life. I regret letting all those years go by without having art play a major role.

But, looking back does me no good - gotta keep moving forward!

I would have listened to my Mom who wanted me to "go to the city",which would have been Toronto and pursue the banking or law career that she thought I should.

Had I done that,I more than likely would have been way better off than I have been for the last 40 years,however,I might now have had the opportunities that I have had,either.

Living this past 40 comfortably,altho far from "well-off", has taught me an awful lot of life lessons...most likely certain things I would not have learned living in the big city.

I would have left home. My parents wanted me to get married....and I did, but if I had my life to live over, I would have got a job and worked to support myself and stayed single. I always did what my parents wanted me to do. They were very strict. I stayed home...or near home and was there to take care of them. As usual....then, now and always, horses played a big part of my decision to stay. To make matters worse, my soon to be husband bought me another horse for Christmas, a month before we got married in January. The horses always were a major influence in what I ended up doing. I can't imagine selling the horses I had then, so probably wouldn't have been able to leave anyway.

Fun question! I once took a class in accounting and hated it. But, I worked with many financial types in my career and always enjoyed the accountants. They were the most no-nonsense, practical, fact-based and truthful people I encountered! They finally got me to "see the story" in all those numbers. So, if I was starting out, I'd be tempted to get into the Forensic Accounting field.

What with the acquired-mainly-in-recent-years uncertainty of steady, let alone life-long, employment or career, I'd want to have a variety of training, especially in some type that requires complex judgement and decision-making and not liable to be superceded by the operation of computers in the near future.

I'd want some training that would have multiple possible applications, so that I'd not be left high and dry if computers made my position redundant.

I've always had a measure of curiosity, having said to many over the years that "It's a poor day in which one doesn't learn something".

Trouble is ... this old brain is getting so forgetful ... that it's not only hard to remember people's names ... or even a word that I want to use.

Some time ago I suggested on here that folks should think of all of the people that they've known and try to contact them, building a relationship, as one needs a network of acquaintances and friends, these days. If one can send out some newsletters, etc., to keep that contact green, and suggest that if folks need something, that they get in touch, as someone else on the string may be able to help, it may prove invaluable in the future.

What with churches closing most everywhere ... I'm not sure that I'd want to follow my earlier profession of clergyperson. As many clergy in our liberal Protestant denomination (with Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregationalist roots) have become female in recent years, I imagine that there will be some shifts in interests and emphases in future times - and I say that as an observation, not a complaint: (and not implying with the "become female" anything in the way of gender-changing on the part of individuals, either, if you please!).

I don't think that I'd want to become an Uber-driver, as I understand that their present position is something of a half-way house on the way to operating driverless cars.

ole joyfuelled

I had no direction at this point in my life just before graduating high school. My parents enforced all of what I did. "You will go to college," they repeatedly intoned. OK, I went, but rarely attended class. The university encouraged me to not return.

Maybe I should have become a bum on the streets as my parent predicted I would. The hours are good, although saving for retirement would have been a problem.

I eventually went into the U.S Navy for four years, and upon discharge, had no direction or ambition.

A bum. That is what I should have become.

I wouldn't be able to get into my chosen faculty now. Forty-five years ago (wow time has gone by fast) we could get in with an 80%, now you need 98% plus a bunch of volunteer work and if you've started your own company and created world peace, even better.

I don't know that I would have done anything differently because then I wouldn't have met my DH (same faculty) and had my kids.

I first got a BA in History in 1974 and couldn't get a job in that field so ended up getting a Masters in Library Science in 1980. I worked as a librarian in Silicon Valley corporations. Most of those companies have closed their libraries because everyone does their own research on the internet. Even public and college libraries have laid off a lot people. So I wouldn't chose to get either one of those degrees today.

In 1995 I took a lot of computer graphics classes at my community college. If I had to chose a career today it would be that or computer programming.

I would have probably become a teacher anyway.,,, based on that was one of the few careers for women. I KNOW there were others but teacher, secretary, nurse or housewife/mother were the main choices. There would have been a few things I definitely would have been more vocal about. I went to a state college in PA. The major of most students was PE and sports were king... no queen of sports. NO sports scholarships. Every night, before a big game (mostly football, basketball & wrestling) those teams got STEAK... and their parents paid the same bills as my Dad did.

My 'should-a' begins earlier. I should have gone to boarding school, not the huge township high school where I was unhappy. (I was concerned about the financial burden on my mother.) Then I should have attended a smaller college than the state school where I did enroll. I would have gone further in the news biz...but I got married while working for my hometown weekly. I have not regretted my marriage, and I have used my journalism skills outside of the workplace, but *maybe* I 'should-a' waited until I was a little older. (And maybe then I would have missed out on my dear husband!)

Rusty, it's so funny that you mentioned the forensics, I was just telling my DH last night that I wish I had done something in that direction as well. I find some of the forensic shows to be so interesting.

One of my biggest regrets in life was not listening to my parents back then and I paid the price for it in many ways.

The roads not taken. When I was deciding on what to get my masters in I had two choices. Social Work at Hunter College or Orientation and Mobility at NYU.

I got into both schools. At the time O and M was a tiny program at NYU with only four students, so it was impressive to be accepted. When I was deciding everyone encouraged me to accept the MSW program because I could do more with it. Meh!

Also because they didn't know what O and M was.

But looking back even further, when I was getting my BS in Health Science, there were students who were a nursing program at another school and were doing a dual degree. I think nursing would have been a good career where I could have branched out done many different things.

Believe it or not, the one thing I really REALLY wanted to do when I graduated, was become a minister. No way my parents would have helped with that, even if they could have, Women. Just. Did. NOT! Do.That!

I've made a lot of dumb decisions in my life, and a number of bad ones, too. But not sure I'd do much different if I could go back in time, I'd probably make the same mistakes all over again. I did the best I could with what I had at the time, and I am happy and content with where my life choices have landed me.

There are just so many more opportunities available to young people now! Especially to young women. So many fields that used to be gender specific are now open to men and women, both. And there are so many fields available now that didn't even exist 60 years ago. I live just a few blocks from a university campus, and drive through it any time I go anywhere. And I can't help but wonder, as I see students of all races and many different nationalities, if they realize just how fortunate they are to have the choices they have, and if they really appreciate them.

I don't really have any regrets, but I think I am just a bit envious of those born about 60 years later than I was!

Rusty

My original plan was to become a phlebotomist. Then in 2 years, after high school, I'd meet my DH. In this economy I'd want to flip houses AND move to Texas.

Don't forget the parameters, folks, please - Rusty asked what we'd do were we to be finishing High School - now!

ole joyful

Apparently some misunderstood what I was trying to say. I did not mean 'what would you do different', or 'what should you have done instead'. But rather, to try to imagine a completely clean slate in front of you, with all the current opportunities available. Imagine your actual life until now hasn't happened.

Okay, maybe I'm asking the impossible. But I do tend to have a very vivid imagination.

Rusty

I have an aptitude for medical, but have always loved police/criminal work. I would love to have it over and been an ME, or a forensic nurse.

I can't incur any more debt, and it really is too late (I used to say it's never too late) to begin a new career at the bottom. Don't have time to get back up on the pay scale.