Need Help with Making a Decision About Career & College

[PluckyClucker99]

I need help making a decision about my career and what college I would like to attend when I grow up...

I would like to be a neurosurgeon, who first gets her bachelor's in neurobiology at UW-Madison, then continuing on to Stanford Med School.

My second job choice would be going into law, first becoming the mayor of my hometown, then Governor of Wisconsin, then work my way up to President, if at all possible. My dream is to become the first woman president. I know that is wishful thinking, but I am determined. (Hilary Clinton may beat me to it, though). If I go this path, I would like to attend Harvard Business school.

I would still like to own and raise chickens, horses and have about 3 kids, so which job would be more low-stress and the least time-consuming? I understand that they both are, very much, but which is less?

I love them both so much, but I just can't make a decison. I don't have to decide right now, I have a some years until I go to high school.

And honestly, do you think I could do it? Let's see... I do cross country, have started and held high leadership roles on two seperate Student Councils, have an average 4.33 GPA (non-weighted), never gotten below a B+ on my report card, etc. I have always loved helping people, and plan on starting to volunteer at our local humane society, hospital, and food pantry. I also play the clarinet and french horn. What do you think? Am I taking it too fast?

 

[chooks4life]

I need help making a decision about my career and what college I would like to attend when I grow up...

Sounds to me like your parents have raised you with some keen awareness of your possible potential. But, sometimes parents can be too kind in some ways and won't tell you how very, very slim the likelihood can be of you actually achieving the dreams they support your having...

It's great to aim for the stars, but also good to recognize most people never get there and there are other worthy causes and uses of your life as well which aren't well-respected or high-paying or publicly lauded. Ambition is great, as long as there is some realism mixed in, otherwise you run the risk of not realizing what it will take, not putting in the time and effort, not being prepared for or accepting of the struggle, and being crushed or disheartened at the first obstacle, or the tenth...

If you need help from strangers to make important decisions in your life, well, chances are you're not going to do well. People who love you and who know your strengths and weaknesses are better suited to help guide you than strangers on the internet who know nothing about you. Sorry if that's a bit harsh.

I would like to be a neurosurgeon, who first gets her bachelor's in neurobiology at UW-Madison, then continuing on to Stanford Med School.

Why, though? Why that job, why those schools? Do you know anything about medicine or physiology etc yet?

It's great to be a doctor and help people, but why would you want to do that? You don't need to answer that question to me, I just hope you're asking yourself, because if your reasons are based on cosmetic or financial or public perception related incentives, you should probably forget about it. It's good to want to be a high achiever, but asking people if you should do 'x' to get to 'y' when there's not yet any proof you're capable of or even wanting to do either 'x' or 'y' isn't much use.

I assume you have your reasons though, for all I know you may be able to achieve this dream, but plenty of kids have big dreams which go nowhere and leave them crushed. The world seems very simple when you're a kid, even though most kids are pretty sure they have a handle on how complex it is.

To be a neurosurgeon would require often stressful and long-hours work, taking a heck of a lot of study, risking human lives and capacities --- it's not something one should attempt to do without being seriously passionate about helping others in specifically this way. There are many outlets for being passionate about helping others, neurosurgery is not suited to the majority of wannabe do-gooders though.

It won't leave you with much of a personal life either.

If you become a neurosurgeon, you will have to live with the fact that you cripple and kill people; not every patient can be helped, and mistakes will be made. That's harsh but virtually inevitable. With one mis-stroke of the scalpel you can strip a vital part of someone's memories or abilities away from them, leaving their family to grieve the loss and know you are responsible, and possibly sue you. You can do everything textbook right and still find disastrous results occur.

My second job choice would be going into law, first becoming the mayor of my hometown, then Governor of Wisconsin, then work my way up to President, if at all possible. My dream is to become the first woman president. I know that is wishful thinking, but I am determined. (Hilary Clinton may beat me to it, though). If I go this path, I would like to attend Harvard Business school.

I'm not going to discuss politics... No interest in or love for that, personally... But if that's what you want, and you find that when you're in your early twenties you still want it, then by all means go for it.

You're asking for public opinion from strangers to guide you, though, on personal matters... No vote of confidence for that. Probably most if not all past presidents have had to brace against storms of public or personal rejection.

I would still like to own and raise chickens, horses and have about 3 kids, so which job would be more low-stress and the least time-consuming? I understand that they both are, very much, but which is less?

What is time consuming and stressful varies according to personality and other circumstances. Some women can't manage more than a normal job and raising kids at the same time (pretty heroic when single parents manage that, also pretty consuming for partnered parents and many don't have much of a personal life for a while) whereas others manage a heck of a lot more.

If you want to be a neurosurgeon though that will likely take far more time on average than being a lawyer, mayor, or possibly even President, depending on the individual circumstances of course. Many doctors work literally crazy hours in long shifts with never enough rest... Increasing incidence of mistakes.

I love them both so much, but I just can't make a decison. I don't have to decide right now, I have a some years until I go to high school.

High school? ...Are you still in primary school?!

Never mind. No matter what anyone says, you yourself won't know what you truly want to do for possibly a long time to come unless you're one of the rare few who knows early. Doesn't sound like it, since you're asking others to help you make up your mind; if you were completely devoted to something you wouldn't care for anyone else's opinion on it, never mind randoms on the internet who've never met you.

In a few years' time you won't be the same person you are now. In a few more years' time you will be even more different. I think you should just enjoy what's left of your childhood, do your best, and leave room to grow and explore new things without cementing yourself into some arbitrarily predetermined concept of your future self/career/etc.

And honestly, do you think I could do it? Let's see... I do cross country, have started and held high leadership roles on two seperate Student Councils, have an average 4.33 GPA (non-weighted), never gotten below a B+ on my report card, etc. I have always loved helping people, and plan on starting to volunteer at our local humane society, hospital, and food pantry. I also play the clarinet and french horn. What do you think? Am I taking it too fast?

Hmm... If you 'plan on starting'... That generally means it won't happen. Most people who say that simply won't. Many use it as resume filler, thinking it almost sounds like something they've done, almost something they can add to their list of achievements. In this case, it's not the thought that counts, it's do, or do not, not talk about thinking about doing.

The world is literally swarming with talented, intelligent, capable, worthy people, and animals too while we're at it. There is not enough in the way of space and resources for them all to be their very best, nor enough high-profile/ high-paying careers and respect to go around, lol.

Most people (and domestic animals) will never achieve their fullest potential. They go to waste, or never go anywhere with their talents, skills, dreams, capacities... And you may have noticed the 'average' gets a fair bit of disrespect thrown their way for merely being average, even from (and especially from) other 'averages'. (Stifled dreams can feed green-eyed monsters).

Most humans and animals never get full recognition of, or an outlet for, their true value or ability. Even those most deserving often get passed over and remain unknown or never celebrated for their true worth. Consequently many become nasty or depressed about it and further divorce themselves from that seemingly unattainable dream.

You've accomplished some things, good job... Some kids your age are already miles ahead of you. Harsh, again, but true. Never rest on your laurels, it doesn't matter how much you've achieved. By the same token, some kids who are way, way behind you are capable of rapidly overtaking you if someone only gives them a suggestion of a chance or support. You need to compete with yourself to always improve and make the most of your short tenure on this planet.

There's an old African proverb... I don't know the exact wording, but, basically... The sun rises, a gazelle wakes up; he knows he has to run faster than the fastest lion or he will be eaten. The sun rises, a lion wakes up. He knows he has to run faster than the slowest gazelle or he will starve. Moral of the story is that when the sun rises, it doesn't matter if you're a gazelle or a lion, you'd better start running. It's sort of an exhortation to people to do the best they have with what they have, whether small or great, within our respective timeframes, which are shorter than many of us think. The clock's ticking and many of us are taking it slower and easier than we should, banking on the expectation of old age and decades to come being a given, not a possibility.

If you need public recognition or reinforcement to guide you or support you.... You're in one seriously vulnerable and dangerous place. Be your best, that's about all you can do. But do it for you, not for strangers with their random opinions.

Best wishes with your future.

 

[PluckyClucker99]

Thank you for your opinion. I have done research on becoming a neurosurgeon, and from what I have read, it takes about 16 years to complete school and get my medical license. I am glad I do not have to decide today.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I applaud you for doing well in school and participating in so many activities. I definitely recommend keeping that up, as it helps make people into better people, and can help give you a direction in life.

I think it is good to have dreams and goals, but with those dreams and goals, one needs to be aware of reality. It also helps to take things one step at a time. I wanted to be a vet for as long as I can remember, but many times through my academic and work career, I was overwhelmed by the amount of work and number of years it would take to reach this goal. I changed my mind a few times, started on different paths, but ultimately came back around to veterinary medicine. I found that by taking things step by step, it was much more manageable. Now that I am in vet school, I can look back and see just how much work it took to get here. In a few years, when I graduate, I will once again look back and be amazed by how much I had to do and how much hard work I had to put in. But right now, I'm just focusing on getting through this semester, then the year, then the next year. It's not quite as overwhelming that way.

I can guarantee you will change your path at least once during your academic career, but probably more than that. You may ultimately return to your original path, but I think it is best to keep an open mind and to get as much experience in your interests as possible. That way you can see if you still have an interest without making too big of a commitment.

Don't get hung up on school names either. It is always best to go to more affordable schools, especially for undergrad. I speak from experience when I say I went to a small state school and made the most of it. I was still able to get into the number 1 vet school in the country despite that. However, I was willing to go to any vet school that would accept me. I imagine it would be the same with human medicine and law as well. Unfortunately, due to the competitive nature of those fields, you don't get much of a choice of where you actually go. however, you can help the case by making your resume look as impressive as possible, and keeping up a good GPA.

 

[Drivernumber22]

Thing about college is that you have awhile to get threw all the core classes to think about what you really want to do and listen to your heart. Go for it with an open mind!

 

[MeepBeep]

[COLOR=000080]In a few years' time you won't be the same person you are now. In a few more years' time you will be even more different. I think you should just enjoy what's left of your childhood, do your best, and leave room to grow and explore new things without cementing yourself into some arbitrarily predetermined concept of your future self/career/etc.[/COLOR]

I believe that sums it up best, as young children we all 'dream' of the stars and fantasize out our careers, but very few actually pursue those childhood dreams and careers as we mature into adults, if for nothing else then the mere fact that life happens and that changes dreams, desires and adds responsibility... I'm not saying some don't pursue childhood dreams, but the reality is very few do in the end... The fact that you tossed up about a dozen career ambitions already shows the fluidity of choice and that will only become more fluid with age and experience...

Sit back and enjoy childhood, the responsibilities and stresses the come with age will leave you wishing for the carefree childhood days that seemed to last forever...