One Man, 52 Jobs

After graduating from college, Sean Aiken knew he would need to find a job soon. The problem was that he wasn't sure what kind of work he wanted to do.

One night at the dinner table, his father encouraged him to do what he liked most. His father said he had worked his whole life doing a job he didn't really enjoy. Aiken wanted a different future. That night, he promised himself that he would find something that he was passionate¹ about.

Aiken set a goal to work a new job each week for a year. That's 52 occupations in one year. And he did it! Qne week, as a dairy farmer, he milked cows every morning. Then, in another week, he was an astronomer studying the night sky. Aiken's favorite job, though, was teaching. He learned he was happiest when he was helping others.

Aiken also learned that it's OK to not know what you want to do right away. He wrote a book about his experiences, and today he tells his story to college and university students. His message? You'll find your perfect job one day. After all, Aiken found his.

¹ If you are passionate about something, you have strong feelings about it.

Reading Skill - Scanning

A. Look at the passage. Read only the title and the first paragraph. Then answer the question below.

B. Scan the passage on the next page. Find answers to the questions below.

1. What was Sean Aiken's problem after college?
2. What was Aiken's goal?
3. How long did Aiken work at each job?
4. What was Aiken's favorite job?
5. What does Aiken do today?

C. Now read the entire passage. Check your answers in B.