Question:

My story is long, but I will make this short. I am 47 year old, a pipefitter/plumber for 12 yrs., and a multiple felon. I was a drug addict for many years during and after the military. I made many mistakes because my use of heroin. I was clean for several years but then broke my back on the job and started taking pain meds which led my back to heroin use. This eventually put back in prison for two years. I was released in 1992. Since then, I have completely changed my life around.

I have many accomplishments and have worked with many community volunteer programs. The list is long. I am now a Junior at a university, have an excellent g.p.a., am a member of phi eta sigma, am a member of alpha kappa delta, am a school senator, and belong to several school organizations. I even created a organization of recycling campus efforts which has save the university $850 a month. I majored in Sociology with two minors, one in social work (which I plan to get my Masters of Social Work) and one in juvenile corrections.

I thought my past experiences would be a plus and even asked some of my school's department heads. They reassured me that my experiences would be useful in these areas and I would be able to work in any of these departments. The head of the Criminal Justice Department said, "You are just the kind of success stories we like working for us." Since then, I checked with some governmental departments - mostly state - and all told me the same thing: there is no way you could work for us. These governmental departments included probation and parole, juvenile departments and juvenile counseling.

Because of what I was told by the school department heads, I chose what I thought would be the most satisfying careers where I could do my best for society. Now it appears that I may have wasted years and money. Please give me any information on past graduates in my situation or any help that can help me make my dreams come true. I am married with four children and a beautiful wife who has backed my dreams. It has not been easy to take care of my family while going to school full-time and working part-time work. I have not given up, but could use some advice as to what I should do.

First Answer:

It's important to remember that there are simply no guarantees in life. No one can guarantee you a steady job at the rate of X dollars per year if you complete a given course of study. It's also good to remember that many people have completed a degree in a given area, started the career, hated it, moved on to a different career, and achieved success.

For a person with your career aspirations, there are many other options besides working with a government agency, including churches, non-profit organizations, private mental health practices, and various educational programs. The MSW sounds like a great idea if you're dedicated to helping others, but before you go that route, talk with a few leading professional organizations (not educational institutions) regarding the relevant qualifications and potential disqualifiers for your target careers.

And keep up the good work!

-- Tracy Laswell Williams, certified job and career transition coach, accredited resume writer and founder of CAREER-Magic.com

Second Answer:

Don't give up on your dream. I noticed in your narrative that you stated that you checked with a number of government agencies -- both state and federal. Have you looked at non-governmental organizations that provide services to the population you are wanting to working? I would explore what organizations in your area provide these services and then set up "informational interviews" to "pick their brain" about your situation.

I would also go back to my professors and let them know what you have encountered and ask for their assistance and ideas. You could also do some Internet exploring to see what national organizations there are in your area of interest and contact them.

I believe that there are a lot of resources out there that can provide information and guidance for you.

-- Linda Wyatt, Career Center Director, Kansas City Kansas Community College

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