After going through a lot of trial and error in my career, I have decided that I want to become a registered nurse. Many things led me to this career choice, including personal and financial gain. I have tried many other occupations and educational programs and none of them have fulfilled me the way I believe nursing will. It took me a long time to get to this point and I often joke that I finally know what I want to do when I grow up. I will tell you about my journey and what I hope to achieve in my future. I was always told that I should do well in high school, go to college and then I could get a good job. So that's exactly what I did and that wasn't the case for me. I went to college for the first time as soon as I graduated from high school. After changing majors a couple of times, I decided on Criminal Justice. I was fascinated by the law and thought that since there was so much crime, I would never be able to get a job in the field and earn a living wage since I would get a college degree. I told my parents thinking they would be just as excited for me and was shocked to find out they were totally against it. They told me that I would be dissatisfied if I chose that major and that I wouldn't be able to find a job. Being 18 at the time, I obviously felt I knew more than them and went on to complete my studies and get a degree. Low and behold they were right. I applied everywhere I could think of that offered a job in the criminal justice system. I applied to state, federal, and private company jobs. Everyone was looking for someone with at least two years of experience. I was dismayed and perplexed. How could I ever... middle of paper......in. Having a second income will allow you to get the house of your dreams. Once I become an RN, I plan to get my BSN and am thinking of also getting a master's degree and becoming a nurse practitioner. There are many options in the nursing field, so I can change jobs in the field if I want. It took me a long time to get to this point, but now I'm sure of what I want to do and what I need to do to achieve my goals. If I hadn't gone through countless jobs and educational paths, I would never have gotten to what I finally know I will love and that will benefit me as a person and my family financially. Works Cited MORGAN, JENNIFER CRAFT and MARY R.LYNN. “Satisfaction with Nursing in a Shortage Context.” Journal of Nursing Management 17.3 (2009): 401-410. Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. Network. February 20. 2011.