Trying to Stay Positive

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My younger daughter just spent 5 years in university graduating this June with Honours in Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Physical Education degrees. I was so proud of her. She had positive feedback from the teachers in her placements. In June she was called in to substitute teach at different schools about 5 times. Though she wants to teach Phys.Ed. (Geography is her second teachable), as a substitute teacher for high schools she can supervise any class. She had a French class, a Religion class and 2 English classes I believe (I know I said 5 times but I don't remember them all or weren't told them all... whatever). As an unregistered substitute teacher she made $150 per day. Over the summer she became registered with 2 school boards which boosted her pay to $250 per day (babysitting teenagers as she says). But can now apply for long term teaching positions. Over the summer she has been working at a local winery connected to a resort. The money has been great (especially the tips). The employees aren't treated very well as in 12 hour shifts, no breaks, etc. However, she was just promoted to Shift Leader which gave her a $1/hour raise. I teared up as a read the letter. I am so proud of her accomplishments. She seems to be good at everything she does. But our conversation after I read the letter turned when she told me she is not sure she wants to be a teacher. Five years of schooling, over $30,000 in student loans, worked hard and graduated with Honours and she is not sure she wants to do that now. Understandably I am disappointed. She said she sees everyone eager to teach and she maintains a "whatever" attitude. She said she'd like to go back to school for something else. She will continue to work at the winery and substitute teach giving the teaching 3 days out of her week and one day off on the weekend. I am trying to stay positive thinking that if she was promoted that quickly, perhaps she can work her way up to manager quickly and change the way the employees are being treated. After she left my room I thought back.... way back. My oldest brother went to school for Hotel Management. Once he started working his wife didn't like the long hours so he quit and ended out changing jobs a couple of times ending out as an insurance broker. My oldest sister went to school for teaching and got a job teaching English in a high school where she stayed until she retired. My middle sister became a bank teller out of high school until she had children, went back to school at the age of 50 for somethingorother to do with seniors and seniors residences. My other brother went to university for maths and sciences and dropped out after a couple of months. He has changed jobs several times but his role is "salesman". For me my dad suggested Early Childhood Education, which I couldn't get accepted for because I had no experience as a camp counsellor and the likes. So he said, "when in doubt, take secretarial". I did, and dropped out just before Christmas exams. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised that young people don't know what they want to do and will change their minds. In fact my daughter had voiced her uncertainty about teaching when she was in 3rd year saying she didn't think she would be a good teacher. She has already proven that wrong. My older daughter took Travel & Tourism in college with hopes of leading travel tours, but decided against that because she didn't want to be away from her boyfriend (now fiance) for so long. She then thought she might like to try Border Security. She is currently working for an airlines AND airport screening (equivalent to the US's TSA). Still, she is not sure she wants to continue either of those jobs, nor does she want to do Border Security anymore. She is 26. It's a tough world out there and I guess we should just be thankful they have jobs. As a parent I have been so proud of their accomplishments since the beginning of their lives. I can only hope they find something that REALLY makes them happy. Heck, at 56 years of age, I'm still trying to figure that out!