Career

<p>Does anyone else get chills when you think about your future job? Whenever I sit down and really think about it, I get so overwhelmed, in a good way. It just happened to me, and it seems like nothing else in the world matters because thats what I want so badly. Sometimes I'll look in the mirror and I'll be shocked because I've just imagined myself being at that point in my life that I consider a success. It's just so crazy. I was just wondering if this happens to anyone else?</p>

<p>I think you explained that feeling more accurately than I ever could. What also gets me - in a good way - is thinking about the work I'll have do to get there, and the challenge present in that.</p>

<p>Yeah. I feel stupid now, but there you are.</p>

<p>Yeah I think the same thing. I've always thought that if someone were to offer me instant success, I wouldn't want it, because I have not earned it. And that is what makes success so important. So I'm right there with you.</p>

<p>Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I ended up in some rote, meaningless job, and I go CRAZY; I almost want to kill myself. I want to become a physics professor/researcher, and I can't wait till that day comes.</p>

<p>i doubt myself every time i look at any college stuff.. its like i should go biochem so then i can be a doctor, immediately followed by what if i cant cut it in med school and then there is maybe i should go with engineering followed by maybe i cant handle the math</p>

<p>I think the best way to do it is just picture yourself doing this job some years in the future. Now picture yourself doing it for years and years and years. Can you be happy doing it? It's hard to tell, but if you understand your personality you might have some idea. Just wait a few years into college and follow your gut.</p>

<p>I'm always scared about what will happen. I'm scared of going into a job I don't really like or being stuck in one place. I'm also scared of not being able to get a job. The idea of debt scares me completely.</p>

<p>I always wanted to do genetic engineering, but to do that, I would probably have to get a phD in genomics after I get my BS in genetics. Thing is, I have to either work my ass off in college to get some scholarships/money or finance my phD and pay for it for a long time. I'm willing to do both, but the prospect of debt still scares me (geneticists are not the most highly paid people).
Astrobiology also sounds fun though =P</p>

<p>I'm into math/computer science/physics, so I fear that I will end up as a code monkey being overworked instead of a famed researcher/theorist. I'll probably end up in between at a nice software company, that I can dream.</p>

<p>"Success usually comes to those too busy to be looking for it." - Henry David Thoreau</p>

<p>I miss being 17 and knowing what I wanted to do with my life. It was swell.</p>

<p>Old thoreau... UCLAri, you act like your old? So are you implying that in 5 years we won't know what we want to do with our lives?</p>

<p>Let's just say that I knew more people going into college who knew what they wanted to do career wise than I knew people leaving who knew.</p>

<p>Well let's just hope I'm not one of those people :) I can't say that I won't be there in 5 years, but as for now... everything my hearts tell me is pointing me in this direction... believe me... I've tried to find other things to pursue but it's always there.</p>

<p>And what do you do after you achieved it? Just stop? Sure, I imagine myself ten years from now being where I want to be, doing what I want to do, but I also imagine myself 20, 30, 50 years from now too. A career IS NOT what defines you, in my book.</p>

<p>Good, hang onto that. I lost that the first time I studied abroad and got time to do some introspective thinkun'. </p>

<p>Damn you Japan.</p>

<p>
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And what do you do after you achieved it? Just stop? Sure, I imagine myself ten years from now being where I want to be, doing what I want to do, but I also imagine myself 20, 30, 50 years from now too. A career IS NOT what defines you, in my book.

[/quote]
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<p>Ew. I so do not think about myself 30 years from now. I'm already getting the grey hairs, and I shudder to think what 30 years will bring.</p>

<p>What will I do? Keep doing it. What I want to do is honestly the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life... although this is a huge guess, but I've analyzed and researched and even experienced a bit... it's just what I want.</p>

<p>22 with grey hairs? hmmm.... :)
I look forward to ALL parts of life, haha. Right now, I'm young. 10 years from now...still young. 20 years from now...married w/ children maybe? and so on. It's not a timeline, but its something to look forward to. Career-wise, as long as you are smart (and not just academically smart) you would probably do fine, am I wrong?</p>

<p>I swear guys, it ALL looks different after 21.</p>