Where are you on your career path?

[Junior]

Well, I just finished High School and I'm taking this year off.

I can't decide what to do. For some strange reason, I want to do something that'll help people. So I've looked at being a Doctor, Nurse, Police officer and Forensics(help put the bad guy in jail? XD). I also considered Mechanical Engineering as well as being a Beautician (but those don't really help people)

I'm leaning strongly towards a Doctor, but I'm thinking about stupid things. Like, it's 6 years of studying. What if I die before I become a doctor? My life would've been wasted! Studying! D: *is paranoid*

But I've always wanted to have an ability that I could lend to under-privileged people. Awhile back, my grandmother had an operation and it wasn't done correctly and she had it to have it done again. And since she's a senior citzen, it's for free. And I kept thinking the Doctor was obviously lazy because he wasn't getting money from it so he didn't do it properly.

Since then, I've considered being a Doctor. I could give medical care to those who can't afford it. (As a bonus, I like Biology.)

...man, that sounded lame.

[Animeniax]

Well, I just finished High School and I'm taking this year off.

I can't decide what to do. For some strange reason, I want to do something that'll help people. So I've looked at being a Doctor, Nurse, Police officer and Forensics(help put the bad guy in jail? XD). I also considered Mechanical Engineering as well as being a Beautician (but those don't really help people).

Shit towns where poor people live need engineers, but usually civil engineers. Still, they'd appreciate the clean running water or electricity that a mechanical engineer could provide them. If you were in the US, you could pursue a career in Pharmacy to help people. There is a dire need for them (here and in Japan I think), so the pay is good.

[Assertn]

I see what you're trying to do, Animeniax, but its futile to try to convince a girl to be an engineer. Sorry man

[Junior]

Civil engineering? Hm...(well, I am a jack of all trades, just a master of none.)

This may sound stupid, but how would I be able to use that to help people? Wouldn't I need outside help as well? (Since all I can do then, would be design houses)

Then again...I guess as a mechanical engineer, I'd need outside help too...but that Pharmacy idea sounds good but I'm not interested in money that much.

EDIT: Hey Assertn, my dad keeps egging me to be an engineer. XD I might do it.

[Animeniax]

I knew this cute girl who got an electrical engineering degree. Imagine how much free tutoring and help she got. She now works for NASA. I also knew this other cute girl who was an electrical engineer, and she now works for a major oilfield services company. It pays to be a woman amongst many many pathetic men I guess.

@Junior: You're thinking of architects. Civil engineers help establish civic necessities and organize people and resources, plan public works and construction of bridges and structures, basically anything that's needed to make a town... a town. In a shit town, they are needed more than the other types of engineers.

[Junior]

*thinks about electrical engineering* My father did that and my brother's doing that when he's older. Hmm...

Wow...I could help build proper houses for people. I hadn't even thought of going in that direction!
Well, Ani, I think I'll add that to possibilities. I want to make the best choice. (I'm glad I took this year off...hard choice to make)

[Assertn]

The most helpful position to be in is in a market with the lowest saturation of workers. Whether that's being a doctor or an electrical engineer....I wouldn't know without looking into it. Another good option to consider is going into sciences, like immunology or cancer research.

[itadakimasu]

about 2 years ago i was hoping i'd be making about 33% more than I'm making right now doing IT work. My new years resolutions include getting back to studying and to get at least a few certs this year. I took the CCNP : Optiimizing Converged Networks exam twice, because there was free re-take. I studied up on most of the stuff I missed on the first exam and somehow did worse on it... no idea how.

might be looking to advance by next year, theres not really any room for growth where i'm working currently but I am enjoying my rather large office I've had since december ^^ beats the hell out of a little cube.

-side note : I need 3 classes to get my associates degree, but they're all core classes I could care less about and at this point since i'm working full time, I'm starting to wonder if an associates degree is even worth anything at all.

[Buffalobiian]

But I've always wanted to have an ability that I could lend to under-privileged people. Awhile back, my grandmother had an operation and it wasn't done correctly and she had it to have it done again. And since she's a senior citzen, it's for free. And I kept thinking the Doctor was obviously lazy because he wasn't getting money from it so he didn't do it properly.

Isn't it just subsidized by the government health fund, and the Dr just palms the bill to them?

In my opinion, most jobs, directly or indirectly, help people. I guess it depends on how you want to do it.

[Junior]

The most helpful position to be in is in a market with the lowest saturation of workers. Whether that's being a doctor or an electrical engineer....I wouldn't know without looking into it. Another good option to consider is going into sciences, like immunology or cancer research.

My dad said that too! Engineers are in demand here.

But I really want to help people who can't afford all the best things. Although, I feel like I haven't thought this out properly...I mean, if I did become a doctor, what am I gonna do? Go by myself to some poor country and just help people? I'd need a team at least. And...probably funding...maybe. *thinks of the anime Black Jack*

Isn't it just subsidized by the government health fund, and the Dr just palms the bill to them?

In my opinion, most jobs, directly or indirectly, help people. I guess it depends on how you want to do it.

*thinks* How embarassing...I'm not too sure actually. Maybe...the doctor was just incompetent then. That makes me want to become a doctor even more! There are so many bad doctors here. And with this Black Empowerment thing, they're just passing everyone as Doctors when they're not even properly educated. *sigh* This isn't euqality anymore...

But you're right. But I really want to help people with the basic needs. Food, Medical Care and Shelter.

I think I'm being unrealistic.

[Abdula]

Not unrealistic perhaps just a bit overzealous.

[Junior]

Yeah...way overzealous(big word)

But I figured, rather than complaining this world sucks, I'll do something about it. Hard work can accomplish anything!


Yes...way too over-eager...

[Ryllharu]

I'm a little late to the party.

If you want to go medical route, definitely go Pharmacy instead. It's still 6 years, but they are in enormous demand, and you get to help people all day long, potentially more than a doctor might. A lot of people out there really don't know what they're doing with their medications, and a pharmacist's advice can be really helpful to a lot of people. It also gives you a better sense of the people in the community where you work. I go into the local pharmacy about once a month, and the pharmacy staff knows nearly everyone in my town.

Civil engineering definitely helps people out more than mechanical. The old adage always was, "mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets." A lot of mechanical work (being one myself) ends up working on flows through a pipe, valve, against blades (aircraft), heat transfer into any of the above, and other non-glamorous pieces of really awesome things. Be aware that in the US anyway, Civil Engineers are required to take the Professional Engineer (PE) exam to be certified to work. Mechanical and other engineering disciplines can get away with it as long as they work for a company. Consultants or small-business founders are required as well. Mechanical is rewarding work, but you rarely help out individual people.


Tossing this one in, one thing you may also want to consider is something like Big Brothers Big Sisters or an equivalent program. It doesn't take a lot of time, and you can really help out a kid who just needs someone to listen to or hang out with. I can't say I do it myself because of where I live (middle of nowhere) but that may be another avenue you may want to check out if you want to help people.

[darkshadow]

It is said -for once- that France as got pretty good schools in that domain. I wonder if it's true... but even if it was you probably don't care/don't speak the language.

I wouldn't know, I know our school is the 7th best in Europe.
I was also talking about an internship, as in an actual job, not studying abroad

[animus]

I'm a little late to the party.

If you want to go medical route, definitely go Pharmacy instead. It's still 6 years, but they are in enormous demand, and you get to help people all day long, potentially more than a doctor might. A lot of people out there really don't know what they're doing with their medications, and a pharmacist's advice can be really helpful to a lot of people. It also gives you a better sense of the people in the community where you work. I go into the local pharmacy about once a month, and the pharmacy staff knows nearly everyone in my town.

Civil engineering definitely helps people out more than mechanical. The old adage always was, "mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets." A lot of mechanical work (being one myself) ends up working on flows through a pipe, valve, against blades (aircraft), heat transfer into any of the above, and other non-glamorous pieces of really awesome things. Be aware that in the US anyway, Civil Engineers are required to take the Professional Engineer (PE) exam to be certified to work. Mechanical and other engineering disciplines can get away with it as long as they work for a company. Consultants or small-business founders are required as well. Mechanical is rewarding work, but you rarely help out individual people.


Tossing this one in, one thing you may also want to consider is something like Big Brothers Big Sisters or an equivalent program. It doesn't take a lot of time, and you can really help out a kid who just needs someone to listen to or hang out with. I can't say I do it myself because of where I live (middle of nowhere) but that may be another avenue you may want to check out if you want to help people.

Pharmacy's decent. They have a decently high starting salary (somewhere close to six figures), but their maximum growth is very very limited.

[Buffalobiian]

Pharmacy's decent. They have a decently high starting salary (somewhere close to six figures), but their maximum growth is very very limited.

Aye. You've got to save and find a way to use your capital rather than rely one that one income alone. Starting up your own pharmacy costs a hell of a lot too, though the turnover rate is pretty quick (2yrs in some cases I've heard).

[Honoko]

If there's anything I learned about so-called "career paths," it's that nothing is ever really set in stone and you're not automatically doomed if your current venture doesn't pan out exactly the way you envisioned it. Then again, this is advice from someone who got a degree in electrical engineering, then became a graphic designer, and is now back in school studying to become a psychotherapist (which would also explain my very long absence on these forums =P).

Basically, if you still don't know what the hell you're going to do with your life career-wise, no need to fret over it too much.

[KitKat]

Honokooooo! *hugs* I missed you! Welcome back!

And I second everything Honoko said (coming from the girl who got a degree in engineering physics and is now getting her masters in linguistics). Junior, I wouldn't worry about setting your goals too high. If anything, worry about setting your goals too low and not accomplishing what you want to in your life. I think that wanting a career that will help people is fantastic, and whichever area you choose to study, there will always be opportunities for you to volunteer. I would say, find something to study that you really want to study. If you don't know what you want to study, try a bunch of different things out, and talk to people who work in those fields. There's no shortage of ways for you to help other people, and in the end, the most valuable thing you can give to others is your time.

[Junior]

I'm a little late to the party.

If you want to go medical route, definitely go Pharmacy instead. It's still 6 years, but they are in enormous demand, and you get to help people all day long, potentially more than a doctor might. A lot of people out there really don't know what they're doing with their medications, and a pharmacist's advice can be really helpful to a lot of people. It also gives you a better sense of the people in the community where you work. I go into the local pharmacy about once a month, and the pharmacy staff knows nearly everyone in my town.

Civil engineering definitely helps people out more than mechanical. The old adage always was, "mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets." A lot of mechanical work (being one myself) ends up working on flows through a pipe, valve, against blades (aircraft), heat transfer into any of the above, and other non-glamorous pieces of really awesome things. Be aware that in the US anyway, Civil Engineers are required to take the Professional Engineer (PE) exam to be certified to work. Mechanical and other engineering disciplines can get away with it as long as they work for a company. Consultants or small-business founders are required as well. Mechanical is rewarding work, but you rarely help out individual people.


Tossing this one in, one thing you may also want to consider is something like Big Brothers Big Sisters or an equivalent program. It doesn't take a lot of time, and you can really help out a kid who just needs someone to listen to or hang out with. I can't say I do it myself because of where I live (middle of nowhere) but that may be another avenue you may want to check out if you want to help people.

I'm really surprised Pharmacy is in such a demand. I didn't think you had to study THAT long for it. *considers it*

Hmm...well, I considered Mechanical engineering before I had the whole 'let's help people' thing. I mean, I'd like a job that was entertaining too. It looks like Civil engineering is serious business.

...looks like we don't have that programme here. Well, I'm not surprised. People don't care THAT much.

Then again, this is advice from someone who got a degree in electrical engineering, then became a graphic designer, and is now back in school studying to become a psychotherapist

So...you studied Electrical engineering and graphic desigining before you discovered you'd rather be a psychotherapist? Don't you feel like you wasted all that time? I'd be really upset. ^^;

Junior, I wouldn't worry about setting your goals too high. If anything, worry about setting your goals too low and not accomplishing what you want to in your life. I think that wanting a career that will help people is fantastic, and whichever area you choose to study, there will always be opportunities for you to volunteer. I would say, find something to study that you really want to study. If you don't know what you want to study, try a bunch of different things out, and talk to people who work in those fields. There's no shortage of ways for you to help other people, and in the end, the most valuable thing you can give to others is your time.

Thanks Kitkat, you're right! I should study something I really want to...or else work will be torture. And I might not end up doing my job properly if I'm unhappy.

[Assertn]

if you really want to see how much more interested you are in helping other people out over your own interests, try taking up a job before pursuing a degree to see how you feel about it.

Something like driving an ambulance, perhaps?