It’s still a long way in the future, but I think about life after Peace Corps every single day. Repeating the cycle of “living with my parents again while I figure out the next step of my life” does not appeal to me anymore, and I’m afraid that if I don’t decide what I want to do, post-Peace Corps, that is exactly what will happen.
It's a nice enough house, but I don't want to live there anymore.
It has already happened too many times: after studying abroad in Australia, after finishing college, after not being able to find a job, after breaking up with a boyfriend, and after another job ended. I also moved home for a month before coming to Armenia. (Should I be embarrassed right now, or just grateful that this has always been an option for me?)
Each time, I have found myself sleeping on the couch in the living room while the kids (seven or so still live at home) get ready for school, or hanging clothes on the line, or picking one of my siblings up from their friends’ house, flabbergasted to find myself lost in the whirlwind of life at home, astounded to feel 16 years old again, and confused about why I felt like I was starting from scratch again. I always forgot to consider my possibilities post- whatever I was currently doing, until it was too late. Before I knew it, I would be back in the fray bewildered at the busy-ness of everyone around me.
As for me? I felt adrift, lost at sea, with no direction in my sail. That’s what I got for letting the wind dictate my course. As soon as it stopped blowing, I became stuck.
It’s time to change that, and I need your help.
I have two years ahead of me to plan. I feel like that’s enough time to prepare myself for re-entry, if I start now. I have time to get really good at something, and enough resources (read the Internet) to get good at it. The question is: What do I want to focus on?
I have been reading “Entrepreneur Magazine” (old issues of one of my site mates), various personal development blogs, business websites, photography blogs, working on my writing and photo editing, and generally trying to get a handle on what I enjoy doing, how I can help others, and how I can put the two together to make money. But so far I haven’t come up with a satisfactory answer.
Some of the things I have been thinking about are:
- Writing a book.
- I have several ideas but haven’t acted on any of them yet. A book about my life would be interesting for me to look back on, but would it be interesting for others to read? What parts of my life should I focus on? Have I learned any big life lessons yet that I can share with others? I’m not so sure; I feel like I’m still in the middle of figuring that out.
- I also have thought about writing shorter e-books on various topics, but am a bit overwhelmed because it seems like all the topics have been written about already, and I would just be saturating the market. Nevertheless, some possible topics are: traveling on a budget, living cheaply, Photoshop help, computer maintenance, living in a large family… Basically anything in my life that I already have experience with. I’m having a hard time figuring out how to tie all the bits into a cohesive whole.
- Teaching computer classes.
- I am developing lesson plans already, from the classes I am teaching here in Armenia, and I know they would be much easier to teach in English. Is there a demand for that, and where would I have to live in the U.S. to do it? And would I want to do it full-time?
- I am also considering creating online courses. What subjects are needed? Or are they needed? Again, there are so many online courses already offered that it’s hard to see a need for one more. On the other hand, maybe I’m selling myself short, and the world needs one more e-course, as long as it’s from me.
- Offering something in the realm of personal development. I love reading about personal development and practicing different challenges for myself. I have also been to various personal development classes where I’ve thought that I could have done better than the instructor. Could I really? I have no idea, but maybe I could put together some kind of class and give that a shot.
- Design websites. Somehow in Armenia, I have become the go-to girl for websites for many volunteers’ organizations. Yes, I know a bit about websites, but there is a ton more to learn. Maybe I should start studying emerging trends, especially with portable media becoming so popular, and plan on doing something with websites full-time when I get back to the States. (Do I need an app for that?)
- Paint murals. I don’t know anything about painting murals, but it is on my No Regrets list. I paint a little bit now, but have never painted anything on a large scale. I could start practicing here; my Armenian town needs some beautifying!
Whether you know me just from this blog or in real life, please tell me what you think. What would you like to see from me? Do you see a market for any of the above? Can you think of a way for me to make passive income from anything? Am I missing something obvious?
If we start thinking about it now, surely in two years, we’ll come up with something good! Thanks for your help and insight.
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Evelyn!
Good to see your thinking about your life along these terms! Well, I would allow yourself to ‘not know’ what it is you want to do, if that is where you are at, and use this time to explore. Based on your OWN experience, pay attention to what LIGHTS YOU UP. Or strengthens you. What activities have you feeling ‘stronger’, more excited, more alive? Mine those things.
You may have to dig deeper than the surface, you may have to go to the essence. Like for instance, for me, I liked painting, but deeper down, it was the fact that I was giving myself SPACE and TIME to ENJOY what I was doing(while painting) that made it so great-and painting really helps me do that:) So, a way I may extract that is , what in life, will give me more space and time to enjoy myself by its very performance and also by virtue of its results? There may be more than painting. And I may have to dig a little dieter into WHAT i’m doing while I”m painting. Going through this process will help you find a place where your strengths and interests can be applied to a need that other people have and are willing to pay for. OR….it may not be like this for you! It could be more easy, who knows?
But…I would say…don’t depend on what ANYONE else tells you should do(including me:)) , but rather, ask people when they have noticed you at your best, your happiest, and what were you doing at those times? What have other people always said about you, noticed that you are great at? In the end, you and your own experience will be your guides.
Figure out what your passionate about first-then extract the strengths-then see how you can apply them to meeting people’s needs, and then see what works , what doesn’t!
Well, we could talk a lot about this:) Hope your doing well!
Nick
What about something with the language you’ll have mastered? Interpreter for a company or government or teach in a school.
Ev,
It’s good that you’re thinking about it now because I still haven’t figured it out after 1.5 years
I think Nick is right that you should experiment and also follow those activities which give you energy. For example, I am making a video right now from the dance camp and when I am doing that the time just falls off the clock. I get in the zone, have fun, and get excited about it.
Maybe that’s what painting or writing is for you. But do you have the endless creativity needed to make that a career? That’s a personal question that only you can answer. I can’t say that I do. I can tap into the creativity well now and then, but if I’m forced to, then it seems like the well is dry.
You could also combine Beth’s idea with the e-something idea and create online Armenian courses. There is a serious lack of Armenian language resources. The problem there is the demand is pretty small. I mean, what crazy people learn Armenian??
Good luck in your search…and let me know if you figure out how to find your way…
Me, stan, joyce and calvin enjoyed your video together and stan says we are all tired. Teaching something like Carnegie would be enjoyable for you I think. stan says he agrees and also “you should come here”. Joyce says “come and ride her horse, and/or Darlenes horse”
Calvin says “whatever you want to do” Calv says “go snowboarding out west” I think he would like to come with you. Mom’s home now, I will see what she says, but I don’t think you really want mom and dad’s opinions anyway.