Whether I choose to go to college or not, I need to have some idea what sort of career I'm aiming for. I have no vocational training of any sort and, apart from a bit of volunteering at a thrift shop, I've never had anything resembling an ordinary job. I'll describe my basic abilities and disabilities without bravado or false modesty, since I recognize that self-deceit is the leading cause of bad career choices.

My assets are the following. I have above average intelligence. Specifically, I'm skilled at constructing and deconstructing ideas, seeing alternatives and understanding multiple levels of meaning (metaphors, for example). My spatial sense is my intellect's weakest link. I'm no better than average at mentally manipulating objects. I have some potential in philosophy, social sciences and creative writing, I suspect, but I understand that careers in those fields are difficult to obtain. If all else fails, I'm fairly large and can do heavy lifting.

My primary liabilities are my emotions. While I can, with effort, control them in normal circumstances, if I were in a career that put me under extraordinary stress, I am certain that I would crack. I tend towards panic, depression, paranoia and rage, and any career that demands near perfect psychological health is just not for me.

My other weakness is that I tend to be somewhat absent-minded. My mind is seldom where my body is. Most of the time I am theorizing, predicting, speculating and so forth, and so I am in some sense impractical. I can discipline my mind to focus on the here and now, but it isn't something that comes naturally.

Given these strengths and weakness, what sort of career should I be thinking about? Moreover, what type of tertiary education (if any) would be best for obtaining such a career? I'm grateful for all replies and advice. Thank you very much.

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"Some people complain about the system. The system is not good, so they can't do anything. It's an excuse. Freedom is in your heart." (Jin Xing)