DR. WALLACE: I will be a freshman at Northern Illinois University in September. My problem is that I'm not sure what kind of work I want to do after I earn my degree. Is this unusual? I would hate to wind up with a degree in education and then decide I don't want to be a teacher.

Will you please give me a bit of advice regarding choosing a major? And can you tell me how your college degree helped you to reach your goals? — Unsure, Sycamore, Ill.

UNSURE: Your situation is not the least bit unusual. An important facet of your college education is sheer discovery of who you are and what you want to do in life. By no means is it necessary, or even desirable, that you enter college certain of your career path. Most schools don't even require you to declare a major until you've finished your second year.

In a survey of over 3,000 12th graders by Careers and College magazine, 80 percent said they did not have clear career goals. Most said their prime interest was to find meaningful work. Some 65 percent said job satisfaction was the most important factor influencing career choice; another 10 percent cited making a contribution to society. The remaining 25 percent said their chief motivation was salary.

What were the most popular career goals among high school students? The field of science and health was tops, at 38 percent, followed by communications (14 percent), finance (7 percent), government (5 percent), and professional athletics (4 percent).

All that's necessary right now, Unsure, is that you begin thinking about possible career interests. An open mind and willingness to explore will serve you far better in college than rigid certainty. Self-discovery is the key. When you know yourself, you're far less likely to embark on a career you lack the heart to pursue.

You are a wise young lady for choosing to further your education at NIU. It's a very special university offering a myriad of programs to help all students reach their goals. I was fortunate to have chosen NIU as a graduate student when teaching and coaching basketball became my passion. My undergraduate liberal arts degree at Knox College, with a major in sociology, provided a solid foundation for writing a syndicated column for teens although I had no plans at the time to become a writer.

When I entered Knox College, I had no thoughts of what form of employment would provide enjoyment, self-satisfaction and the desire to help others to become good citizens. Knox and NIU both provided the formal background. It was then up to me to use what innate skills I possessed to reach my goal.

So, Unsure, it will take time, but eventually experience will stimulate your interests in the direction of an exciting, enjoyable, and full-filling vocation. Trust me!

GOOD DENTAL ADVICE

DR. WALLACE: I'm a faithful reader of your column and would enjoy sharing some good advice I received from my dentist.

On my recent dental check-up a cavity was discovered, and so I had it taken care of immediately and felt relieved! My dentist told me to drink liquids from a straw rather than from a glass or can. That way the liquid has less chance of coming into contact with the teeth and this helps prevent cavities! — La Fawn, Gary, Ind.

LA FAWN: Thanks for sharing your health tip with our teen readers. Even moms, dads, and grandparents can benefit from this advice.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Quinn Dombrowski