As kids, we had some seemingly outlandish dream jobs: the next Disney princess, the President of the United States, an astronaut, you name it. And as kids, we paid little to no attention to the salaries that came with these jobs. Through maturing and the process of adolescence, these dream jobs changed to something more feasible: a marine biologist, teacher, politician or a doctor. These jobs may have been chosen solely on aspirations, but there is a chance that salary played an influential part in what career you decide to pursue.

We all know that there are careers that have a high salary, and there are others that do not. In today's economy, salary appears to have become an integral part of what college students choose as their major and career path. To survive in the ever-fluctuating economy some students may forgo pleasure and passion for profit and choose the big-ticket careers: medicine, the sciences, etc.; whatever they can do to earn a big salary. However, there are a select few it seems that put their passions over money and choose a career that will satisfy their endeavors. I, for one, am one of those few.

My dream job is to become a psychotherapist and open my own therapeutic farm, much like my own therapist, but much more. I wish to have me and maybe one or two other 'talk therapists', a physical therapist, an art/music therapist, and an occupational therapist. Doc Warren and Pillwillop Therapeutic Farm have inspired me to help people in the way that he had helped me. I am fully aware that clinical psychologists or mental health counselors do not make as much of a salary, but to me, that is not important. The important part of being a therapist is getting to help people improve their lives in a positive way. When you have a client go from rock bottom to achieving things they never thought possible through your help and guidance, there is an unprecedented joy and satisfaction that comes with seeing someone succeed. The payoff is not monetary, but it sure as hell is worth a lot more than any amount of money.

Have I thought about choosing a career that would give me a bigger salary? Sure I have, but that does not mean that I actually want to pursue it. It would be wonderful to have a job that will give me a big paycheck every week, but for me the money is not nearly as important as the rewarding feeling of helping patients improve their lives.

At the end of the day, I am excited to go into the field of psychology. I look forward to the days where I get to help clients with their personal problems, whatever they may be. I eagerly await doing what I enjoy doing most for the rest of my life.