What am I going to do with my life?

As some of you may know, I've been doing a lot of soul searching, trying to figure out what I want to do with my life and what not. Trying to pick a career dealing with what I love:
Video Game
Food
Music

Now then I had to come to terms with reality and realize that I NEED money, so what sort of job includes all of those things or some of them?

Video Games
I looked into careers dealing with video games. I researched programming and found out, that that was NOT for me, I came to the conclusion, I love playing video games, not what goes into making them. So I looked into video game testing. Found out a multitude of things: Horrible pay, horrible work conditions, horrible hours, and horrible games. The games that make it into the market place are only a handful of the games that get made. Game testers test tons of games, and as a result, rarely play a good game. And when they are testing games, they have to do EVERYTHING. They must fall off every ledge, die every way possible, go against every wall in the game to make sure it really is a wall and not something you can go through, things like that. I decided that THAT was not for me.
So then I decided to mix my past compassion for writing, with video games, and look into being a video game reviewer. They play completed, for the most part, good games, and just review them, tell people their own insights on the game! But it turns out most of them are not JUST video game reviewers, a lot of times their dealing with some other position in the video game industry as well. It got to a certain point where I was beginning to rule out video games and just tell myself "Chase, you love PLAYING video games, not analyzing them." So I left it at that.

Food
It didn't take long for me to get past food as a profession. I didn't just like food. I liked eating food. That's it. Done, not interested in cooking for a living.

Music
I love music. I enjoy playing music, I love listening to music, and I love the history behind all sorts of music. So I started thinking, "Hey why not work at a coffee shop, and just play gigs here and there?" Then I thought, with any profession I choose, I can still play my sax on the side, so why limit my profession to a coffee shop?

Video Games again..
I decided to go back to video games but look into different music/sound positions in the video game industry. Sound technician, sound engineer, sound designer, yada yada yada.. I thought "Yeah! This is definitely what I want to do! Music, technology, video games, awesome." So I bought a macbook pro, sold my ps3, and then saved up for an Axiom 25. I started really getting into music technology, the professions it entailed, and experimenting with it myself, making various beats, some of which I incorporated into some raps. THEN for some stupid reason, I looked into how many hours were required to do these jobs. 60+ hours, weekends, pressure, stress, deadlines, holiday hours, etc. DAMN! NOT for me yet again!

Now some of you may be saying, "wow, you are WAY to picky on your job". And yes maybe I am, but I thought people were supposed to choose a profession they LOVED. But at this point I was feeling at a loss, maybe I am just a lazy bum, and should just become one fully. I sold a VIDEO GAME system to further pursue music technology only to find out I didn't like the long stressful hours. Furthermore I spent thousands of dollars on a macbook pro! Then 125 more dollars on a midi keyboard, which I haven't touched or seen in probably about 3-4 months! But then I realized, I wouldn't get to eat food, or play video games, or enjoy music to the extent at which I do now.

I do NOT regret by ANY means regret buying a macbook pro, it is simply amazing, and I have spent countless hours on it. I also do not regret buying a midi keyboard, because it is always something I can pick up later to mess around with, and it is very fun to do so. I do however regret selling my PS3... But then came my 18th birthday my brother bought me a new one! That was possibly one of the happiest days of my life, because again I love playing video games, and as much fun as wii's are, PS3 had so many more games I wanted.

So it was down to this: What job can I do, that won't be anymore than 40 hours a week, where the pay is decent, and I don't mind the job TOO much? The answer to that, there are plenty of jobs, but none of which peaked my interest. Then I started thinking about what classes in school I have loved, and have always loved. Band. There hasn't been any point in my life where I have not liked band. In some cases I would go so far as to say it is the reason I have not dropped out of school! So I turned to my band teacher, who is probably my favorite teacher I have ever had in my life up to this point. Mr. Talley, or William Talley III. He is the man, 'nuff said. I started asking him about music education, and he said to be a band teacher, means to be broke, which means you have to love what you are doing, and he does. Then I looked into teaching. You get all government holidays off, summer break, all in all that is a good 3 months not having to work! (video game time anyone? :-)) Then I looked at the pay, and unless you were a professor, the pay is crap. That saddened me a lot. And Talley said he likes his job, but it can be very stressful at times, and due to the bureaucracy there are many things that are just "stupid". Teaching was becoming less and less appealing. But I did like the thought of helping kids excel, and teaching music. I have always been good around kids, and have always had a thought in the back of my head of doing something to help people, hospital job, peace corps... anything. But I didn't like the idea of the different scary things that could come of being a teacher. (Bad work conditions, huge amounts of rambunctious kids giving you a hard time) You don't know what you could get. I also didn't really want to have to be a BAND teacher. They have to do concerts, contests, marching band. (AKA a lot more than other teachers). So then I looked into being a teacher for music history, or jazz studies. Talley told me that would require a masters at LEAST. So I looked into masters, bachelors, doctorates etc. Long story short: I came to the conclusion, I want a minimal amount of school, masters maybe depending on if I like the subject enough, and want more money and opportunities, but doctorate? Absolutely not. WAY too much school. I just want to be done with school, and just start working. So being a college professor was out of the question. As appealing as it was.

Marine Band
No.. As mentioned in my last blog I am a conscientious objector

I have always had the plan of getting my associates at ABTech, then transferring to another in state university for my major, and Bachelor's. This was set in stone from the beginning. "I'll just figure out what I wanna do while at ABTech!" This much of a blind plan is frightening to anyone. Also after I got my bachelor's I would just go to Japan! That would provide a year of living! But then what? And what if I didn't make it into the JET program? (It is very competitive). Then what? So I continued to look into different things, taking career quizzes and the whole bit.

Music Therapy
I have come across music therapy on multiple occasion, but sort of shoved it aside thinking there weren't enough jobs for it and it wouldn't pay enough. But oh how wrong I was! There are plenty of jobs ranging from private therapy to general hospitals, to schools! I needed to look up the requirements, and the hours per week, to make sure it was the perfect job. (fingers crossed) Hours per week: very flexible, basically, there is no need to work over 40 hours a week. Average Music Therapist salary: $77,000. Okay that is very nice!
Now for the education (Oh so close!) There are different ways you can go to become a music therapist. But basically, you have to go to a school that has an approved Music Therapy program, that you get your bachelor's of music in. At that point you are eligible in testing for the certification of becoming a music therapist. (Equivalency track) YAY! I have found it! Then there is the master's route, where you can further your education to get your master's which basically just ventures into the more advanced route of Music Therapy, after you are certified. Yes yes yes. Sounds quite awesome to me!
I HELP PEOPLE through MUSIC, the HOURS are not bad, and PAY is great!(for me) The age group of the people you help range from little kids, to adults, with mental issues, physical issues, or emotional issues. Yes I think this job is for me... My goal at this point in my life is to pursue being a Music Therapist. :-) I will got to ABTech for 2 years to get my associates, then I will transfer to either APP state, Queens university, or ECU to become a Music Therapist!

I am VERY excited about this new found mission of mine, and plan with every fiber of my bean to become a music therapist, and help people, through the art of music and the psychological, sociological, sciences behind it.

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