CHOOSING OR CHANGING A CAREER________________
There are two truly difficult tasks in almost everyone’s life: choosing a spouse and choosing a career. This text can offer no assistance with the first task, but it can with the second, at least to those with a yet untested interest in ornamental horticulture.
So far, this section has described the traditional careers in ornamental horticulture. Those careers have been attracting people to the profession for many years and will continue to do so. Many persons have entered the profession after preparation at colleges and trade schools; others have entered as the sons and daughters of industry personnel; still others have had few prior credentials but a sincere interest and willingness to work hard. The industry is sufficiently diverse and healthy to accommodate a work force that ranges from the wage-earning laborer to the salaried scientist.
Still, there are individuals whose interest in ornamental horticulture is just as genuine, but who seek different ways to apply the interest. They include, but are not limited to, people who wish to
• supplement their income with part-time work in ornamental horticulture.
• be involved with both the applied and the scientific branches of the profession.
• combine their interest in ornamental horticulture with their desire to serve others.
• specialize in the care of a single type of plant.
• combine their interest in ornamental horticulture with an interest in writing or other modes of communication.
