Following an unusual and meandering career path, I've been fortunate to discover a vocation that is perfectly matched to my talents and passions. The pairing was unexpected and a sharp detour from my initial career aspirations upon graduating from college. My career placements tests had reliably shown I had a passion for helping others and a gift for creativity coupled with strong verbal skills. I was fascinated with problem solving and quickly bored with routine work. I craved variety and a chance to learn new things regularly. I enjoyed feeling needed and delighted in daily interaction with others. My career counselors and I were in agreement; my results pointed to a successful career as a psychologist.

Entering the mental health field, I quickly learned that the reality of social service work was very different than my rosy fantasies. Many patients actively refuse treatment. The interaction with them is frustrating and difficult. Progress is slow; the euphoric rush of problem solving comes only after many months or years, rarely sooner. Discouraged, I stepped out of the mental health field and began to search for a more suitable career based on the factors I noted previously.

I completed extensive research. I spoke with people who worked in different fields. I examined what I love to do most in my spare time. This time, a career in information technology beckoned. I took the next step into an entry level technical support position. I loved every moment! Every day there were amazing opportunities to study and learn new knowledge or pick up on new skills. I found that although individuals with high verbal skills do not usually gravitate toward IT work, it is a competitive asset for me in the field. Each phone call was a chance to interact with others, solve problems, and quench my thirst to be of service to others. Over the next two years, I explored many facets of the IT industry from programming to systems administration. Ultimately I decided the perfect career was one in which I was not limited to any one facet, but instead provided the chance to bounce between varied tasks and roles.

A bit of research put a label on that career- Director of Information Systems. I actively pursued job openings which fell under this description and in July 2004 accepted a position as the Director of Information Systems for a congressional leadership office in Washington, D.C. I've never been happier in my work. Today I might work one on one with an end user to solve their latest computer crisis. Tomorrow I might flex my creativity muscles and sketch out a plan for the redesign of the company website. Another day server security will be reviewed and improved. Something different cries for attention each day; work tasks never become routine.