Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Young Adults - The 20-Something Club What Do You Want to Be When You "Grow Up"?

I think it's very interesting seeing the different career paths of folks my age who suffer from the same or similar ailments. While we were all told growing up, "You can be whatever you want to be!", we have to face a harsher reality much sooner than most of our peers, I think. We have to consider our limitations, and potential future limitations for the near future, not just for retirement age. I think most of us still have the chance to do great, enjoyable, rewarding things with our lives, but we may have to alter our plans as time goes on.

I'm chugging along toward 2 separate but related career paths. I have a fairly broad degree plan based around a mix of art and technology. I'm gearing it toward both graphic design and photography as much as possible. I'm already a Jr. Graphic Designer part time for a retail company and I lovelovelove it. That being said, I love it even more when they assign photography tasks to me. Despite my title and being the youngest and perhaps weakest designer, I'm also the strongest photographer in our art department, so a lot of product photography gets thrown my way. I eat it up.

I want to keep building my design portfolio and resume because I think that's more likely to provide steady employment and I enjoy it too, but running my own portrait/wedding photography business full time is my dream. I have 3 weddings under my belt, and 4 more booked in the next 4 months. I love it. I love the adrenaline rush, I love capturing all the unbridled emotions on wedding days... but I do hate how my body feels after 8 hours on my feet with that much adrenaline pumping the whole time. I'm bad about ignoring my aches and pains in the moment, putting myself in bizarre positions to get the perfect shot... and I pay for it.

I think I can still make it work though. If I'm eventually shooting 35 weddings a year, I think if I get a comfier office chair for the many, many hours of editing in between, it will be doable. I'll have to commit to no more than one wedding per weekend for recuperation. Get the best weight-spreading camera strap, and the most supportive shoes. Maybe develop a style that doesn't incorporate the very heavy zoom lenses, or only sparingly, with a tripod during ceremonies or something. Hire a second shooter for the things I can't/shouldn't do. I will face physical challenges that most photographers don't, but it's my dream, and gosh darnit, I WILL make it work.

If you're not already on your career path, what are you considering? If you are into your career, what adjustments have you had to make?

Photography sounds like so much fun! I just got married and my photographer was great. I think that would be exciting to do but I don't have a creative bone in my body! It sounds like you know what your limits will be when you get on your own so that is good. I would say don't give up on your dreams and you just have to believe that you can do it which it sounds like you know this! Just try different ways that make you the most comfortable and also it will be nice that you can do your work whenever it is best for you..sounds like the editing can be done any time of the day. Good luck to you!

I think I picked a good career for myself. I am a dietitian at a hospital so I am sitting at a computer for some of the day then I walk around to see patients then I am back at the computer so I get to mix it up with sitting/standing/walking which works well for me. I do type a lot because we do computer charting but this doesn't bother me yet. When I am up and moving around I like to stretch some too.

My career has many job opportunities in lots of different environments and I know that if I needed to change where I work I could find something that gives me the flexibility to move around more or do different things throughout the day. I think that moving around a lot helps to keep me loose and I'm not sitting in a chair for 8 hours a day which helps with the back pain. I am going to look into getting some kind of support for my back I can put on my chair for when I am sitting just to help because some days I do get tired of sitting. If we have a slow day, I am more confined to my chair so I think that would help.

I hope that everyone can find something that they love to do and are able to work around the pain and this disease because I am happy with what I do and I think that makes a difference.

Britnee, that does sound like a good career fit with this disease. I have definitely regressed rapidly in my condition since I quit my retail/food service job where I was a shift leader- on my feet the vast majority of a shift, but with some respites at the back desk for counting tills, etc. Luckily, I do a lot of the "grunt work" so to speak for our art department. We do all our own printing, cutting, mailing etc. for the signs for our 100ish locations. When I can't handle sitting any longer, I knock out one or two of the more hands-on tasks at the standing-height production table. My boss had the company buy me some gel mats, so standing to cut signs and such is the best pain reprieve I get at work! The repetitive nature of the task is amazingly good stress relief too. :P

geez, mary you sound like your at the perfect ideal place that i would love to be in. im jealous! but in a music setting instead ofcourse. im happy you found a way to work towards your dreams with this horrible disease anyways. you give me hope!

but yeah, what i want to do "when i grow up" is go into the music business side of things. i want to eventually own my own studio and have a place where i can help people that are interested in music and have mentors available to help them out and tons of internships and what not. eventually work towards owning a small label or imprint from a bigger company. something along those lines. that is my ultimate goal/ dream!

for my career plans, i want to start out as an audio engineer. i want to go to school for it and work from there. ideally i would love to be staff at a studio where ever i end going to school. that would be sick . or you know do free lance jobs here and there. whatever i have to do really. i just want to be able to create music or help people create music for a living! its a tough business and super competitive but its also a very broad and you can do tons of things and still be in that field. so ill be happy either way really. as long as im doing anything that has to do with music and all that goes with it, ill be happy.

What I've wanted to be has changed over the years as my disease progressed. I've always been fond of reading and actually rather good at English, but I never thought I could make a career out of it. Before I got "really" sick, I wanted to be a Marine Biologist and work in conservation.

I went to college for about a year and had a huge flair, so now I am not in school. What I do want to do is go back as a part-time student and work part-time as well. I want to major in English and maybe be an editor or do some light writing.

I went to school to be a Medical Transcriptionist until I could figure out what I really want to do.

I did get a job and worked as an MT for 2 1/2 years but in July for many reasons, including a major flare that nearly incapacitated me plus ignorance on my company's part, I had to quit. Now I am really confused as to what I'm going to do....we shall see! Right now I am working on getting my health together and then I will see what my options are.

Good luck to everyone on their dreams!

I want to be a chef; thats all I've ever wanted to be. I've worked very hard to get to where I want to be. I did a 6 month externship at one of the top 5 restaurants in Manhattan, I worked 18 hours a day, six days a week, and I have a job offer from there upon my graduation in November. But when I was working their for my externship I did not have any symptoms of AS; I was for a breif moment in my life pain free(just got under control my very severe case of TMJ which caused horrible migranes, jaw pain and neck pain), and the next summer I was dx with AS and I've been trying so hard to overcome my AS and beable to realize my dream. But everyday I think more and more how I never am going to beable to do this and that I'm going to have to alter my career path. I've finally willed myself to talk to the career services people at my school, I made an appointment for this week so we'll see how it goes.

I LOVE science and experimentation. So I thought it would be really cool to become an astronaut. I am sure that most of you can see the flaws in this great plan of mine! Ha Ha

I had a fantastic physics professor who suggested that I become an engineer. Well I didnt even know what that meant. I thought he was telling me to drive trains! When I finally caught on I went to the aerospace department and filled out an application. Long story short I switched again to mechanical engineering and have my feet firmly planted on the ground now.

I went from wanting a career in space to having a career in new buildings that are being constructed. I am on construction sites about 60% of the time looking on large pieces of equipment and testing them. The other part of the time I have reports to write.

I am in the process of considering going part time due to my disease level. This is a very hard choice for me to make since I am so young. I didnt think I would have to make this decision ever! I thought I would be working full time until retirement but I guess that there are other plans for me. I just dont think I can keep pretending that this doesnt affect my job. I love my company and hope that they will understand when I tell them what I need.

I just dont have the energy and mental clarity needed. Anyway lots of things to consider.

Sunshine, I know it's a totally different industry and would require extensive retraining, but my software engineer husband has always said that many of the best engineers he has worked with came from a mechanical engineering background. It's more the thought process and problem solving ability that makes a good software engineer, I'm sure just like in other engineering industries. Just a thought. The hours are still brutal, but it's definitely a less physically demanding job. My husband has worked remotely from home for the last 5 years. It's an industry much more open to remote employees than most.

Of course, he's told me I'd make a good software engineer but coding makes me want to gouge my eyeballs out with a spork, sooo. Yeah. Not for everyone.

When I "grow up" (I think technically I'm already there :P) I want to be a farmer.

I've tried several job paths but I'm just not happy working for other people. Or the same thing day after day, six months of the same thing five days a week and I'm sooo bored lol

I'm hoping to get a loan soon and start raising beefers on my Dads farm and eventually getting my own farm. Hopefully with the more automated feeding programs I can do it.

Wow Pyro!
That's a really great thing you're going to get going! I really wish I could do something like that, although I'm sure I would get far too attached to the animals to have a productive business
There's also the issue that I am very, very allergic to hay... Not a great combo.

I wish you the best of luck and I hope you get your own farm someday!

Ken, have you looked into owning your own restaurant? As head chef/ owner, you would be able to be a little kinder to your body, and still realize your dream. You would be able to create fabulous food, teach new and aspiring chefs, and stand and sit as you needed. You could also look into things such as being a personal chef, teaching culinary, or many other pathes in the food industry.

As for what I want to be when I grow up? I am going back to school in the fall (I hope) to get my MBA. I want to move into the marketing department in my current company. I am currently a Restuarant Manager, and while this job allows me to be in motion rather than sitting at a desk, I have days where it is very taxing on my body. I love marketing, I love people, and I love food. I can't imagine any life other than the service industry I just decided to find a new angle to pursue it from.

Asgirl, that's perfect. I dream of working in the design department for Starbucks, my previous employer.

I am a full time artist. I had to quit my second year of art early because i had a massive flare up. I was able to get my money back and I instead and i built a studio out on my parents farm. I am on dissability now. but the art is something i can do when i feel like it usually more then 40 hours a week.

www.jthomasstudios.com is my website

I had 500 hours as a heavy duty mechanic back in high school, I have also worked as a Resident assistant in college and last job i tried was autobody. i lasted 2 days then flared up for 4 days. it was not even hard work i just stood there and moved around a bit sanding body panels. i sure wish i could go back. I like working on cars and old tractors. Its therapy for me. I relate to old cars people often abandon them cause they are not as good as a new machine. quite often how i have been treated i like fixing them up to working or new condition and showing people how capable these old machines are. plus i cant fix myself but i can fix them

LittleArtist, that's awesome, though. Certainly, it would be ideal to be able to work fulltime anywhere like a fully able-bodied person, but it really sounds like you're making the best of it. I'm working toward working on my art full-time for myself (well, for clients, but no particular "employer") so I have a bit of jealousy for your studio space, personally set flexible schedule, and self-employment.

Wow!! I'm fascinated by all of the diverse passions and how everyone is figuring out how to make jobs accommodate needs. My dream job would follow along the lines of the 4 Hour work week by Timothy Ferriss. So far I haven't found such an opportunity, but I keep looking! =)

I'm very fortunate to be a Speech-Language Pathologist in an elementary school. I love my job most days. I see students every 30 minutes. When I am finished with a group, I walk to get the next group rather than having their teacher send them. It is an ideal amount of sitting/movement for me through out the day. I'd highly recommend the profession to anyone thinking about being a teacher but worried about being on your feet, stooping over desks, etc. There is a lot of paperwork though and I have had to sit through a few 2 1/2 hour meetings where walking/stretching is not very feasible. Strangely, vacations have been an unexpected challenge for me. I struggle with finding a routine that isn't over taxing or lazy, but it's a nice challenge to have to figure out =)

When I grow up I want to be an Administrator for a group medical practice. It is a very different field than what I wanted to be when I was 18 and wanted to go into politics. I figure that I have 2 edges for this field. The first being that I am following in my mother's footsteps. The second being that I have been the patient so I understand where they are coming from. Luckily for me I work for an amazing doctor in a solo practice as the office manager. Unfortunately, I really need to finish my BA and then get my MBA in healthcare administration. I have repeatedly attempted to go back to school with no luck. I get into it and cannot finish because I flare so bad. I am currently taking a break and hoping that come fall I can start with just 1 class. The other complication is that I am a single mom of a two year old whose father is not involved with her at all. While she is the light of my life and the reason I fight so hard everyday, she takes what little energy I have left after working 40 hours a week. So while I hope to follow my dreams, I am also learning that sometimes you have to take baby steps instead of massive leaps forward.

Yoga therapist. After I discovered yoga helped my pain and stiffness tremendously, it inspired me to teach I'll be starting my program in 2 weeks.

Wow! I am really impressed with all of your career paths. I am really happy to hear that you guys are able to alter your original dream to make it into something you love and that works with AS. That is a difficult thing to do. You are very strong, inspiring people.

I planned on being a neuroscientist because I love science and medicine. Now as I get older I think I would have eventually become a doctor since I think I would really love it. In college, when I was in too much pain to go to the required science labs, I wanted to be a social worker. Unfortunatley, I had to stop school because I was in too much pain. I have never been able to go back. I still can't believe that I worked hard all my life with straight A's and now don't even have a college degree. I have really been struggling with that. I just feel I don't have the energy or strength to even try school again since I am much worse now anyway. I went to a pretty good private school, but I didn't realize their credits wouldn't transfer well to a state school, so I'd basically be starting over. At the beginning I assumed I would be out a semester, figure out what was wrong with me, get medication, and then go back to school. Hard work and school was such an identity to me. Since I am in too much pain to work, it's hard to think about going through school again to get a degree when I probably can't put it to use. Now I have found stamping and card making which is fun and helps distract me from my pain. I still have to get used to the idea and embarrassment though. But we all have to change things according to life experiences. I'm sure it will all work out someday. I am very lucky in most of my life besides my illness.

Good luck to you all!

I was diagnosed with AS last year after about three and a half years of trying to find out what was wrong. I was feeling so bad and having health issues that I had to take a lighter course load to work toward my bachelor's degree. I am now 29 and I recently graduated. Before I was diagnosed, I was considering of becoming an elementary school teacher. Since I am on medicine that suppresses my immune system, I came down with whatever virus during my student teaching time. Teaching can be a stressful job and more stress usually leads to illnesses. Needless to say, I thought that was not worth it and decided that teaching was not for me. I was able to finish college and graduate with my liberal arts degree this past May. I am looking for a job as a assistant librarian or a secretary. I also make jewelry as a hobby and I sell some of it. The key to a happy, successful career is to do what makes you happy.

I am on Remicade every eight weeks and take methotrexate.

Welcome Jamielynn. You are absolutely right about doing what makes you happy. I started out going to school to get a bachelor's of business administration, then realized every relevant job listing I saw sounded like the biggest SnoozeFest ever. I transferred schools to pursue graphic design and while I'm still in school and have a job I LOVE doing predominately graphic design, I've realized that photography is my true career love. I'm doing all I can to make my career in that field.

Dropping down to part time in school has also been a great idea for me. It will stretch out how long it takes me to graduate, but not by much. At last count, I should graduate Spring 2013. Congratulations on your recent graduation! Being finished must feel *awesome*!

Good luck on your job hunt! I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for posthaste. If you're struggling, you might try going through a temp agency. My best friend has worked as a secretary/receptionist/office staff at a number of companies via her temp agencies since the new year, just now settling on one that is a great match for her.

I wish you the best of luck in finishing college and with perseverence, you can do it if you keep at it. Good luck on pursuing photography.

Thanks JamieLynn. It will happen. Not finishing school and not making my business successful just aren't even options I entertain.

It's so good that all of you have so many dreams! Don't get discouraged and quit, that's like the worst thing you could do.

I want to work for a non-profit organization in the future, I'm studying Non-Profit Leadership and Management. I've had a lot of coverage issues with my state (welfare) health insurance, while trying to treat all these AS symptoms, and I see a lot of people sicker than me having to do the same, leave it up to politicians to decide whether or not they can go to the doctor, people with cancer!! So I want to get into some sort of advocacy or non-profit work focusing on access to health insurance. We're not a socialist country but I do believe everyone should have a basic right to healthcare and that's the goal I want to spend my life and my skills working towards. There were times when I had Iritis flares and couldn't do a damn thing about it because I was uninsured. This should never happen in the wealthiest country in the world!

LOL but enough politics... I would also be happy working in an organization that helps the poor in any way, whether it be job-training for welfare-to-work programs or at a food bank or homeless shelter. I'm very inclined to help those with small incomes like myself.

I'm currently just waitressing, which is horrible news for my achy back, but what's an undergrad to do? :P I had to quit an internship with Amnesty International last spring, simply got too sick. Oh well, I'm looking for a less-demanding volunteer opportunity to put on my resume at the moment.

I am new to the forum, although I wish I would have found this forum so many years ago. I was diagnosed with juvenile spondyloarthropathy in 2004 at the age of 16. After years of Physical Therapy, I decided I wanted to be a Physical Therapist. I continued with that dream until the end of 2010. When I realized that because my grades were not the greatest and PT requires a lot from the Physical Therapist's body, I changed my career route to Occupational Therapist. I was accepted in to an OT program and I am just finishing up my first year.

I am nervous for my career because OTs are still required to some of the physical lifting and moving that PTs are. I hope I am able to control my symptoms in my career as much as I have been while in school. I am currently taking Celebrex on an as needed basis and it has really helped.

I am really excited to hear how many of you out there having successful careers!

MNenteropathic, I believe you'll be able to follow your career goals. It may take some adjustments and some degree of help from coworkers on bad days, but I'm sure you'll make it work. Finding something you're passionate about makes it easier to "make it work", I think.

That's great that Celebrex is currently sufficient. Hopefully it will continue to do the trick, but if not, there are so many more meds to try, and more in development.

I want to be a director of a college program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. I have my bachelors in elementary education and special education. Working on my masters (one more year left, and I am lucky to be on a grant and have an assistantship). Then hopefully get into a doctorate program at the current school I am at.
Currently I work with little kids with autism doing therapy (I do small group instruction -such a blast!) and college age students with intellectual disabilities doing everything else (teaching, research, and program development). I love the older population of individuals with disabilities.

Iam 29 im a doctor unforutunately now i take the medications that i used to prescribe its cruel i dont feel confident facing patients anymore i want to change career dont know which one to choose

Why do you not feel confident facing patients? If anything, I would think your ability to empathize would be quite a boon. I'm sure the job has copious difficulties (as almost all jobs do with our disease) but I'm curious as to why it effects your confidence in that way. On my end, I would be ecstatic to have a doctor who truly understands what we go through.

i just want to add, even tho i am not a 20something to muruga. repeat all that mary said and add...

we NEED docs who understand. please, after all the training you have been through, please do not give up or in.

you do have the AS, correct? if so, and if you have the way to do so, please specialize in rheumatology, and hang out your shingle for AS patients. not sure where you are located, but i would consider going to wherever you are.

prayers and peace, and let your faith in your ability, not in your circumstance, be your guide. something gave you the strength to go to med school. i almost made it there, but got too old.

take care, sequoia

Hi ...I am not a 20 something but my son is. He was just given the blood test for HLAB27 and tested positive. He was given it because I have the antigen. He has had scoliosis his whole life.Not bad enough to wear a brace but uncomfortable. He does not really complain about any pain. He is away right now enjoying his summer and when he comes back I have to tell him that he tested positive and try to explain to him what this really is. It is all pretty new to me too since I only tested positive recently due to a tremendous amount of pain when getting up in the morning.I was put on meloxicam and it really is helping.My question is what other tests should he be given now to determine exactly what he has? Just because he has HLAB27 I know does not necessarily mean he has AS. I was told they think I have Rhumatoid. He has not had xrays in a few years. Is that something he should get. Should they test his sed rate? What exactly would be present if he has AS? Thanks for any help you can give me. I don't want to scare him unnecessarily but I do want him to know he has to stay on top of this. He does not like to go to doctors or take meds...never has. Thanks.

To be honest, chronic pain would be present if he has active AS or any other active inflammatory arthritis. I would just let him know that he potentially has a genetic predisposition, and that he should go to a rheumatologist if he starts experiencing joint discomfort. The rheumatologist will decide what additional testing is necessary. If he's HLA B27 positive with zero symptoms (assuming he doesn't have any he hasn't told you about; maybe something he's just attributing to his scoliosis), he's really not going to get a diagnosis at this point. The antigen is meaningful when it's present with symptoms and radiographic changes, but not on its own, as it's present in 7% of the population at large.

I want to experience a lot of things that AS will restrict. But mainly I want to be a Psychology and English Professor. I am newly diagnosed so I don't know how much AS will affect me.

I am interested in medicine as well but I haven't even started the path yet. I hope you reach your goal. I may need your services in the future.

I had to reply to this one...

It was actually my career choice that pushed me to see one last rheumy. I have had a lot of pain for a long time. But last year as a first year vet student we had a small animal physical exam lab in which I had to stand on concrete for 2 hours pretty much in place. I couldn't move from all the pain. And it was pretty embarrassing with all the stares when it was time to leave without being able to actually say what was wrong...

So, leads me to some big fears. I AM going to finish vet school. But it scares me to death to think I have put this much time and effort into something and I won't be able to do my job. Heck, I want to be an Equine vet! I wanted to specialize in podiatry which is not going to happen (you have to be bent over most of the day)... It's a scary thought. I noticed over the summer I was having problems doing dentals so I really fear I won't make it through a surgery if I can't even hold the polisher!

But one way or another it's going to happen!!

Sirita, I so hope you can achieve your goals. With your determination, I bet you will. Maybe you'll need to share a practice so that you have help on bad days, but I think you can make it work. We're young enough that I have hope that significant improvements in treatment will come in time to help us before too much permanent damage is done.

I am 5th year medical student, going for ophthalmology next year and forever!

I was diagnosed just this year, but I have had a sore and tight back for years before that. I knew something was really going on when in a couple of months I became soooooooooooo tired, my buttocks hurt like hell and my back was always stiff and cracking! Plus, new onset asthma, at 24. Yay? What's going on?

Anyways, I am here now. Patient AND health care provider. Never know which one to check in forms haha. It was kind of weird having my rheumatology rotation... I could totally empathize and understand what patients felt. And I often was no better than them... But well, I could never be rheumy just because I felt like I constantly saw a mirror of myself all day long. Hardest part of my clerkship so far.

As for ophthalmology, this just suits my needs. Short procedures, sitting surgeries, easier hours, lots of patients and thus lots of sitting/standing/walking. Plus, it's fun!

I think anyone can find a career path subfield where they can be comfortable. Don't give up your dreams, that would be accepting defeat!

iviary - I'm currently a graphic designer for a big fashion company and enjoy it. I just don't like the long hours at the computer. Not so good for the AS even if I do take tons of breaks.

My dream job was riding and training horses. I've ridden jumpers my whole life and worked a little as an assistant trainer before the AS took a hold of my life. Had to quit due to heart problems and the increasing pain. There's pretty much no amount of drugs that could get me back to that level of activity again.

I've since altered my dream job a tad and now hope to someday run a breeding farm. I'm really good at keeping horses happy and healthy, so having babies running around would just be an added bonus! I couldn't do everything on my own, and would have to have a few people to do the manual labor for me, but I think it's definitely manageable with my AS!

I want to be happy and relatively healthy. Other than that I couldn't care less.

I originally wanted to be a marine biologist, but when I got "sick" at 17, I realized I wouldn't be able to do what I really wanted to do (work as an animal trainer at Sea World) due to the physical demands. Now I'm ethically against it anyway, but looking back I still could have probably gone into the field. But I've gone through quite a bit of schooling and gotten into psychology, which I also quite enjoy. I'm not quite sure what I want to do within the field, as I don't want to be in school for twelve years as I go part-time and we can't really afford that, but I'm sure I'll figure something out. I like people and I love helping people.
As of right now I work at a job where we import products from the UK (mostly food products) and then we sell them either in our store or wholesale. I manage selling through Amazon, which is pretty cool.

Well, I feel crazy with what most people want to be...I'm a Corrections Officer at a State Prison on the Special Operations Response Team (SORT). I enjoy. I also do painting and photography on the side. The biggest downfall is when I flare, I have not go to work, but upside of a government job is a ton of sick leave. I had wanted to enlist in the military, but I was diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis when I was 18 and would not pass the physical due to all the medication needs I had.