Career experts, aviators, psychiatric technicians, fitness trainers, Teachers/Coaches and anyone else with first hand knowledge in these respective areas, this is for you.

I am 29. I have a 10 month old baby girl. I recently passed the GED test with my scores in the top 86%-99% rank, meaning in the top 1%-14% in each of the subjects given. I spent 10 years as a critically successful artist. However, due to the financial aspect(I refuse to go commercial and I have a family to feed), and the fact that I'm burned out, I would like to take full advantage of my recent layoff from my "day job", and find a new passion/career and excel in it, both for myself and my family.

After an entire year of 'deliberation' with myself and my wife, I have formulated a plan to obtain a vocational certificate while I am unemployed, and then to get a better job than what I had before, so that I can realistically pursue my degree.

However, I have had a great deal of stress stemming from my background, which is where you guys come in:

- Ages 15-18, I had spent some time in two private psychiatric facilities on four different occasions for depression/suicidal thoughts. Two of those were for documented 'attempts'. I was just crying for help and going about it the wrong way.

.Obviously, I dropped out of high school. I now have a GED.

.I have a misdemeanor "hit and run (property damage)" on my record(2004).
-4 years probation for this incident, 3 years for the hit and run, and 1 year for driving without insurance.
-I spent a night in the holding cell (2004).
-4 days in county jail as a result of a "failure to appear" stemming from that same case (2006).
*Apparently, if this charge isn't already, I can have it exphunged.

.The car that I had was repo'd due to the fact that it wasn't insured on the night of the accident.
-that has account has been settled and taken care of, monetarily anyway.

I ran myself into $3,000 in credit card debt with business that I started in 2006 and incorporated in 2007. One of the reasons why I am burned out.

I know that this is a train wreck, but I need another shot. Question is who'll grant me that opporitunity? The choice in certificate will also effect what degree that I major in.Here are the vocational fields that I am considering:

.Aviation certificate- civilian or military(Pursue an Aviation, Science, or Psychology degree after)
.Psychiatric Technician certificate (Psychology)
.Fitness/Athletic Trainer certificate (Kinsieology, Psych, definately a teaching credential)
.Health Care certificate- Psych(as mentioned), EKG Tech, Dental Asst, etc.
I also like LAW, and I think that I would be good at it.

I've researched ALL of these to DEATH. I can repeat the cert guidline info backwards and forwards, I do have an interest in ALL of them with the execption of Health Care other than Psychology. But, which is the more promising field? Who will hire me?

I'm going to exphunge my record, but how far will that stretch on my record?

I'm going to clean up my credit, but I need a better job, and how far will that stretch on my credit report?

What should I do?
BUNNY D and MR. ED,

I'll simplify this for you guys:

. I stated that I am going to get a vocational certification FIRST, so that I can get a better job to better support my family while I earn a degree which will be more long term unless I enter an accelerated program.

. My EDD insurance is doing just fine for now. My family is fed and happy, and the bills are up to date.

. My "dreams" are a long term goal, while I work.

Mr Ed,

Sure, I'll sell myself and my family short and go work construction, because that's all I deserve, right?

Bunny D.,

I hope the summary will assist you with your reading comprehension deficiency, or did you skim it and just decide to put me in my place?

Sometimes people have to live life, and make mistakes before they learn, not all paths are identical.

well i do believe tomorrow you should hit the bricks and go to every construction site and talk to the foreman and see if you can get on as labourer — the money would be ok and put food on the table and the hard work would get you mind and body into shape to face the real world!!!

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