Signed up for a class...feeling nervous now

I just signed up for a continuing education American sign language class.

I'm exploring career ideas, and I'm not sure that interpreter environment would be a good match for me, though my heart is in the right place. I have social and artistic interests, am good with and enjoy learning languages, whenever I've taken a career test, it says I should be an interpreter or translator. But I can also be very nervous, overwhelmed, and irritable in social situations too.

But I'm jumping the gun here. I'm not becoming an asl interpreter. I'm taking an adult ed ASL class that will last 1 month. I will learn if it might be a good match for me or not, as well as learning the language.

I'm still sort of freaking out though. Maybe this isn't the right time. I'm nervous. I have been thinking bout this on n off, but I signed up on a whim.

I was also going to take a program this September on medical billing and coding. It doesn't really interest me.....but it might be calmer and less social. I'd find out if it was right for me. Its a free program for ppl w low income. I've been to the school before though and did not really care for it. They said bc of covid they may not even do the program this Fall.

I do not feel like I fit Anywhere in terms of jobs. I'm too emotional and sensitive for the social stuff. The office desk jobs, while that may be a better environ for me, the content of the jobs seem boring to me. someone help

How exciting. I always wanted to learn ASL.

It’s never a bad idea to take a class. Any class. It can’t hurt. Being interpreter is cool. I worked as one (not ASL) as a side job and in fact am still on the company’s roster, but haven’t been doing it lately even though they still call me, their hours just don’t work for me. It was fun and the pay was good, I interpreted for a hospital, clinic, lawyer office and the most fun was translating for FBI (prison phone calls from inmates to their families, it was organized crime case, interesting story all in itself, I had to listen hours of recording and transcribe). Translating on paper is easier, simultaneously interpreting is harder for me simply because my brain doesn’t switch between languages easily. Other people switch easier.

But even if you don’t become proficient enough to be ASL interpreter, it’s a really useful skill. I’d love to know at least some ASL.

Medical billing is a good job. And it’s always needed. I hope they do offer it in the fall. There is no harm in leaning it if it won’t be a career if you won’t like.

They can’t take away your knowledge. More you know better you are. Good job signing up for things

Office jobs sound boring to me personally generally speaking BUT it depends what kind of company it is, what are they producing or selling or doing, it might be an interesting enough cause. My daughter has office job which might sound boring but she is too busy to be bored, too many tasks to accomplish. Good thing about these jobs nowadays that many work from home at least part of the week

Thanks divine. I ended up calling and requesting to drop the ASL class. It just doesn't feel right at this time. I do feel like I should learn ASL. I don't personally know anyone who is deaf, but I hold those sorts of things near and dear to my heart.

I talked to my Mom and she said I should talk to a career counselor, and also find more info on medical billing, coding, and medical records tech. Who knows I might like it. I weirdly like data entry, so, who knows.

Do try medical billing class if they offer it.

Definitely.

We (me and my Mom) also talked about the fact that it's not always or even often possible to "do what you love." You have no idea how many times I get this advice from people and I feel like it's a really unfair concept and its very trite as well as unsolicited advice. It also really sticks w/ me bc so many people say it. It's a great concept and idea, but it's not always possible for all people in this society, and sometimes you have to work the job that pays the bills and keeps you with a roof over your head, and then do what you love on the side. I also feel that this society is not set up with certain people like me in mind. I like knitting. I'm not going to BE a professional knitter, LOL. I'm emotionally intelligent and kind, but I'm too sensitive to be a counselor. It's not for me. I think I know myself best. Doesn't make the decision any easier or clearer, but I have a good idea of what would not be good fit for me.

I probably will if they offer it. It's not a great school. But it might be a good opportunity.

Have you thought about going into library science? You don’t have to be city library librarian, nowadays many corporate and law and consultancy firms have librarians who run their informational technology (IT studies is a part of library studies) and keep their all info organized and catalogued as well as do a research for them-knowledge managers. It becomes more and more common due to more and more information that companies have to deal with

Well said WG, about "do what you love" I couldn't agree more. There is so much nonsense talked these days about doing what we love - it's just another pressure to add to people to make them feel they are missing out or inadequate in some way. It's not realistic for most people in my experience.

Good fit is a phrase you are using and I think that is much more appropriate. You may find you enjoy some parts of a job, some bits less so, but you'll know whether that's a deal breaker.

I think you are very measured and thoughtful about these steps, all knowledge is good I agree, and it's no harm to investigate, get a feel for things. It's understandable to feel nervous, especially with first steps back into a workplace.

Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestion. Actually many people have said I should consider being a librarian. it could be something I could consider in the future. I have worked as a page at libraries before, and never really liked it. Being a librarian or online info tech might be different.

For now, though, I'm going to take that medical billing and coding class. I found out it starts in October now, and I'm signed up.

Thank you for your understanding and the encouragement, Disco.

Excellent idea, I am glad you signed up!

My daughter is a librarian so I am a bit familiar with it, she used to be university librarian but she eventually moved on to being law librarian, she works for corporate business law firm. It’s much busier fast pace job than academic or city libraries but it pays better and there is room for growth. But there are always other options. I was actually surprised how many different industries are hiring librarians. More options than I thought! You do need masters in library science and informational technology (from my understanding)

Don’t know why but library jobs come to mind when I read your posts about job search.

I don’t know much about medical billing but I heard it’s a good job and it’s always on demand!

Hi, yeah it's my understanding as well that librarians need at least a masters.


And thanks for the encouragement. I really do not know much about medical billing either. I'll find out. lol.

Yeah my daughter was a library assistant after undergrad, she was able to apply for librarian positions only after completing library masters. But she wanted to make sure she wants that as a careers she was an assistant for few years. I’d not recommend investing in masters of anything if not 100% sure it’s worth the money

A friend’s of mine daughter in law is a medical biller, she works from home which is a plus nowadays. I’d like to hear how your course goes in the fall!

Yeah, I agree that I should know what I'd want to go to school for and be sure its for me before I shell out the $$$ to go. Also I'm not sure I see a point to going to school unless its to advance or help me career-wise. I love to learn, but yeah.

I'm already super nervous. I'm going to get support for it. I get so nervous socially in particular with new things. But also once I'm there and get used to it I will likely be OK.

Is this class online or face to face?

There are always other people who are nervous too. It’s good you get support for it

Its partly online, partly in person.