Deciding on a major - high school junior

<p>Hey everyone, I currently finishing up my junior year in high school. I have been thinking a lot lately about my future and I'm hoping some of you could help me out and give me some advice or suggestions. I am an honors and AP student with close to a 4.4 GPA, and I am in many extracurriculars and do lots of volunteer work. I consider myself a pretty studious student, but I also like to have fun in balance with my work and activities. I am thinking that I would like to pursue some degree in science, but I'm not exactly what I what to do.</p>

<p>I am a creative person and hate just sitting in a classroom all day and I know I would also probably hate sitting in an office all day doing the exact same job every day. My workplace needs to be enjoyable in addition to productive. I have thought a lot about going into mechanical engineering, but I've heard that it requires tons of work and studying. I am used to getting a decent amount of work, but how much on average could I expect to receive on a daily/weekly basis if I decided to go into this field? I don't consider myself a big party-goer, but I know for a fact that I do not want to be stuck in in the library or my dorm room all day and night. If becoming a mechanical engineer would mean that I would be unable to go out with friends occasionally, then I would reconsider whether or not I would want to do this major.</p>

<p>Also with mechanical engineering, I am not sure what type of job I would want to have. Green engineering? Aerospace? Roller coaster designing? I would probably be able to make a decent salary, but the most important factor is enjoying what I do and having time off. I do not want a job that I would be unable to spend time with my future family and travel on vacations periodically. </p>

<p>I also thought about architecture. Due to my creative nature, I felt like I would probably enjoy this. However, I don't really know too much about the field including how much work it takes to get an architecture major. So if anyone knows more information about architecture and if you think it could be a good job to go into, please let me know.</p>

<p>So this made me start considering teaching. I would prefer to be some sort of high school math or science teacher. I know the pay is not that great, but being a teacher would better fit my current lifestyle. I would love having weekends, summers, and holidays off. In the future I want to work to live, not live to work. If anyone knows of any other majors you think I would be interested in, I would love it you let me know. Or if you have any other advice or suggestions. Thanks!</p>

<p>You have a lot of information here. I’d love to help you but I think I’d need to know more first. You say you’re creative. How so? Do you like visual arts, music, creative writing, or coming up with creative solutions to problems, or something else? Also, what kind of sciences do you like? Do you mean just any STEM major or are you leaning towards a natural science or engineering? Are you good with computers? And are you sure you’d enjoy being a high school teacher? I think being a high school teacher can sometimes be 90% babysitting and 10% actual teaching, but that also depends on where you teach. Heck, I’d put up with the crappy pay if I got to teach enthusiastic students in a relaxed environment! Haha. </p>

<p>Engineering, Chemistry, Math and Physics (in no particular order) probably have the heaviest course load. If you don’t have a job, you’ll probably be able to enjoy yourself to some degree but there will be times, where you skip hangouts in favor of studying. This includes architecture.</p>