<p>Not necessarily. What if you're, say, a lawyer arguing a case you really believe in, or a doctor helping sick people? Chances are you'll still be making good money, but the difference that you are making is still positive. The two don't often go hand in hand, but they aren't mutually exclusive.</p>
<p>I definitely want to make a decent living, and not be poor. But on the other hand, I feel obligated to help and make a difference in my community and in the world. What is being rich and having influence and power if you dont help others? Maybe it is different for me being a black male where the situation of African-Americans is much more dismal than that of the majority, but I feel my life would be meaningless if I did not do all I could in my power to get more and more African-Americans to go to college and to make something out of their lives. I have such a strong family support system, but not many others can say they have that, and I want to help them get it. I dont want affirmative action and all that other stuff to exist, but it does because of the state of African-Americans and other minorities in this country. I think I would be happiest when one day, minorities achieve just as much as the majority, despite if I have a little or a lot of money.</p>
<p>mjs4n6, I don't think it's an "African American Male" thing wanting to help others. I think many people / students with strong ties to their churches or simply compasionate people want to do the same. You and others who want to help are admirable young adults. I think compasion and understanding along with respect is what this country needs more of. It is great that you have set these types of goals for yourself and you will go far in life because of it! Earning money simply for the sake of having money is not the way to make yourself happy in life. Congrats on having your head on straight!</p>
<p>"Do you think it's possible to make tons of money doing something you absolutely love that is making a huge difference in the world?"</p>
<p>Gates?</p>
<p>I go to college because I love to learn. I have hopes of doing something with my life and not working a typical 9 - 5 job for the rest of my life. Hopefully not doing something that ends up being negative. ;)</p>
<p>I've decided just today (so it really could change at any time). That all I really want is not to have a job where I go home tired every day. I want to go home ready to enjoy life not ready to crawl into bed or crash in front of a TV.</p>
<p>I can contently say that making a difference is more important than just making money. After finishing my course of study at Exeter College-Oxford University I worked in "the City" - London's financial district for almost two years. I made pretty good money; I enjoyed the "West End" nightlife and some weekends in Geneva. However, I felt like I did not have a genuine purpose.</p>
<p>I am now back in the US running a non-profit. Although, I make a bit less money than I did in London. However, I feel that I am making a difference and living for a purpose.</p>
<p>I used to want to do what I loved (work with horses) but in the past couple of years I decided I'd rather make a fortune and then retire to do what I love, so money money money mon-ey MONey I'm going for straight A's to hopefully get into stanford law. I know it sounds pretencious, but I've always just gotten by on my natural smartness, and never really tried, so I never really got solid A's, but because I now really want to push for a good law school, I'm really going to push to work hard. I want to retire by the time I'm 45 and rsie horses lol, so yeah.... that's why I'm motivated in college at least. before that, I wasn't really motivated to do my BEST my good enough was always enough to get by. I guess it helps to be naturally smart. I know that sounds really stuck up, and I totally don't mean to offend anyone, but it's so easy to be lazy and not really try when you can get A-/B+ without studying. I mean, I honestly spent less than an hour a night on homework at an insanely tough prep school. I guess I never really pushed myself in a way, because I was afraid of what would happen if I pushed myself and didn't do any better... </p>
<p>blah, this has turned into a rant, anyways, yeah the $$$ made me do it.</p>
<p>I would enjoy having a career that guarantees a comfortable, affluent lifestyle, but happiness comes first. There's nothing noble in living without financial security or career satisfaction. I can't say that I'll choose a career that doesn't provide a good lifestyle, but, given my personal interests, I'm steering towards either the teaching field, non-profit(Peace Corps, etc.), English/writing, or research(science or math). These careers are not exactly lucrative, but I truly feel that even if I'm not making money I'll be happy. At least I know every day will be different and fulfilling, two traits I don't think Wall Street or some office jobs provide. I can pursuit my career while enjoying other activies I'm interested in, such as travelling, sports (biking, jet skying, etc.), learning, and having an active social life. </p>
<p>College is a good stepping stone for all this. It's the arrow that gives some me information to make an educated decision on which road to take. I think that the better the college, the one that is a perfect fit, I attend the more opportunities I have to discover what I want to do with myself.</p>
<p>WHATEVER you do, make sure that whatever you end up doing for a living brings you some sort of satisfaction. There is nothing worse than dreading getting out of your bed in the morning to report to work, or viewing your job as only that, A JOB, or just as a way to "pay the bills".</p>
<p>I go to college so I can make $$$ in the future. But of course learning is a perk too. I'd like to make a difference though... in my <em>future</em> children's (1 or 2... not like 10) lives by making money so my <em>future</em> wife and I can support them, not just financially but in every way in whatever they want to do as long as it's healthy and legal of course. Simple goal right?</p>
<p>...now let me break out into singing whitney houston's "greatest love of all"... won't you join me?</p>