What should I do with my life?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Its junior year. The year of planning, preparing, and freaking out because you've realized you have no idea what you actually want to do with your life. Sure, you've declared a major and you know what you want to study, but what next? </p>

<p>I have absolutely no idea.</p>

<p>As a math major I realized that the possibilities are endless. This is both a great advantage and a serious problem. I picked math because I couldn't decide early on what I wanted to major in, but realized math was used in all sciences and engineering. Somewhere along the way though I got sucked into it and for a while I was considering grad school and maybe even a phd in pure math. </p>

<p>Now I'm not so sure. The conversation I keep having with my mom is what about after that? What kind of job am I going to get? I haven't been able to give her an answer because I honestly don't know. I'm not very interested in an engineering job, but have been considering picking up the double major in some type of engineering since I'm almost done with my math major. </p>

<p>It is practical after all. I just know though that its not what I want to do for the rest of my life. The other options on my list are going into finance and perhaps taking a few courses in bio and chem and applying to med schools. These two options are really tempting for a few reasons.</p>

<p>My dad is a doctor. I really like the lifestyle my parents have been able to provide me with. I am probably spoiled, but I am not arrogant or cocky and I don't show it off. Whenever I want something I just have to ask my parents and they will usually give it to me. Of course I have been told no before, and that is completely fine. I understand how lucky I am as it is and don't whine when they say no. I just quietly accept whatever decision they make. </p>

<p>I would like to be able to continue living this lifestyle, but not have to rely on my parents. That is why medical school or finance seems like a good option. I just don't know if I will actually be happy. </p>

<p>For a long time I thought my ideal job would be being a high school math teacher. I mean sure I wouldn't be able to keep living the lifestyle my parents have provided me with, where I can have whatever I want whenever I want it, but at least I know I would be happy. I am really passionate about math and think I would enjoy spreading my love for math. However, now I'm not so sure if I can live with the sacrifices that I would need to make. </p>

<p>I guess what I'm looking for is a balance between wanting to continue to live the way I do while being happy at the same time. My biggest fear is not being happy.</p>

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<p>If you are going to be a doctor, you will be spending the next 10-15 years without a lot of money and will be working very hard. </p>

<p>What kind of lifestyle do you live? What kind of allowance do you get? Do you get fancy new cars? Fancy vacations? Fancy electronics?</p>

<p>It seems to be like you value money and materialistic items over personal happiness. You said you would consider being a high school teacher, but would still want to live the same lifestyle as you do now. You have to choose one way or another. Do you become a teacher and not live the same lifestyle or do something else that you might not like and make more money. </p>

<p>The choice is up to you and to you only.</p>

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<p>Instead of high school, college professor?</p>

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<p>The bulk of the professors do not make a large amount of money (especially starting out). Many have 2nd jobs (especially if you only are given 2 classes to teach) The OP stated he wants to live the same lifestyle as he does now. Unless the OP wants to go into debt, I highly doubt a professor starting out will provide enough money for the lifesetyle that wants to be lived.</p>

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<p>It might not be a bad idea to try out the living-small lifestyle now while you still have a choice in the matter, you might adapt better than you think. It can be very rewarding. I am not talking about outright poverty, I am not going to try and glorify the pure suckage that life is when necessities aren’t givens-- but having to wait and plan for the wants is not the end of the world, even if it takes some getting used to. If you can put a roof over your head and food on your table, you’d be surprised how soon you realize the rest isn’t all that important. Since you’re not spoiled, as you say, I wouldn’t expect it to be too difficult a transition for you. </p>

<p>Get a job if you don’t have one already and stop asking your parents for things outside of emergencies and tuition. Downsize. Learn to look for deals and ways to cut costs. Save up for the big wants and pay for them yourself. Budget. You might find you can live on a lot less than you think. And if that’s the case, that opens up your options. You may still decide a high paying career is what you want, but at least you won’t feel that your lifestyle forced you into that route. You get to choose. </p>

<p>Unless you have already totally given up on the idea of reducing your lifestyle, whichcase you need to consider the bottom line in your choice of careers. Adding some sort of an engineering degree or something might not be a bad idea, based on what I have been told. I am a liberal arts major so I wouldn’t know. :stuck_out_tongue: </p>

<p>The bottom line here is that you may very well have to choose one or the other. The doctor lifestyle doesn’t come with a whole lot of careers, and not even all doctors live large. A reality check may be called for here, friend.</p>

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<p>I have no advice to add here but this is a really interesting thread. I think Ema gave great advice.</p>

<p>Could your parents help you start your own business? Would that be something you might be interested in?</p>

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<p>Insomniatic, </p>

<p>I don’t get an allowance. But here are some examples of stuff. I got a brand new car over the summer. Scion XD. I didn’t ask for it but my parents just gave it to me. Before that I used to drive a 1996 toyota corolla which I also didn’t ask for and my parents just gave me. My parents actually bought the scion for my brother, who also didn’t ask for it, but he ended up liking my car more and wanted to trade. My parents also pay for gas and insurance. </p>

<p>I have travelled a lot. I have been to japan, china for the olympics, alaska, new zealand, india 3 times (i am indian. my parents are from india), dubai, london, paris, and a bunch of other places. When my dad found out that I am taking arabic he wanted to send me to stay with my uncle in the middle east for a few weeks so I could become fluent in it. I said no.</p>

<p>My dad, my brother, and I bought my mom an ipad for her birthday because she reads a lot of books. My dad asked both my brother and I if either of us wanted one too. We both said no.</p>

<p>Now, I have asked my parents for stuff which I didn’t really need but they have gotten me. I have a really nice drumset that cost a few thousand dollars that was handmade and custom ordered. I also just recently got a second drumset. I went to a local drum store and happened to see something I liked. Called my mom, told her it was $500 and asked if I could buy it. She didn’t even hesitate to say yes.</p>

<p>I have a yoyo collection that is worth about $2000. Completely unnecessary. I just went through a phase in highschool when I was really into yoyoing, and even went to the state yoyo competition. </p>

<p>I don’t feel like I am entitled to any of this stuff. I just really like having nice things and have gotten used to it. In fact, this past summer was the first summer since I can’t even remember when that we didn’t travel anywhere, and I was slightly disappointed. I never told my parents that though.</p>

<p>Admittedly I don’t ask my parents for things very often. I also feel really uncomfortable asking them for things sometimes, especially when they are things I don’t need but just want. I guess the thing about my parents is that they have always supported me in my interests and hobbies. I know how lucky I am to have parents like that. </p>

<p>I have thought about getting a job before. I just don’t think that during the school year I have the time. Especially this year, I am overloading on credits and I’m taking some pretty hard upper level math and physics courses. I don’t really do anything but study. I have spent more than a few friday and saturday nights in the library this semester. Don’t really procrastinate that much, just have a lot of work.</p>

<p>The past few summers I have worked in my dad’s office. My mom is the office manager she does all the billing and hires and fires the secretaries, who are usually just high school girls from the local vocational school. They can be pretty unreliable so I have done their job more than a few times. It involves answering the phone, taking patients height and weight and putting them in an exam room.</p>

<p>I tried once before getting a real job in high school. My mom told me that my dad would be completely against the idea of me getting a job. My parents kind of have this pride thing going on. My mom was completely against the idea of me applying for any financial aid whatsoever. They pay tuition in full. They were well prepared for the burden though. They started saving for college when I was in the fifth grade. </p>

<p>I don’t think I have totally given up on the idea of giving some of this stuff up, its just that I’m starting to feel like the time to make a decision is getting closer and closer. I suppose this summer will be the summer where I can truly make an attempt at it.</p>

<p>Individualized, I am glad that you find this interesting. The future is something I have put a lot of thought into. It both excites me and scares me. Part of me just cannot wait to be done with school and get on with living my life. While part of me just wants to stay in school for the rest of my life.</p>

<p>As for starting a business, I think they would help me. It seems like a big risk though. I don’t know if I would ever be comfortable doing something like that, or if I am even capable of it. I also don’t really know what I would do.</p>

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<p>You are a very, very privileged person. </p>

<p>Emaheevul07 provided some very useful advice. Downsize now. It is fun when you save up for things and actually have to use your own money to pay for it.</p>

<p>I can bet that you have no idea the value of a dollar is since you have never worked. Most people in college do work and pay for their own things that they want. They have to manage their money and don’t have mommy and daddy paying for things.</p>

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<p>You may not decide what you want to do with your life until you’ve lived more of it.</p>

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<p>^Amen to that!</p>

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<p>I’m just chiming in here to say that it’s impressive that you’ve stayed down-to-earth despite some clear privileges and wealth. Try a semester or so living minimally and volunteering your time, and see if you’re comfortable with that, at first. </p>

<p>Also, people make career changes all the time (a word of caution here: it’s far easier to go “downward” than “upward” i.e. becoming a teacher after having been an investment banker)</p>

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<p>You say you’d be happier being a math teacher, but you also want the lifestyle you have now. Ask yourself which one you value more, then choose that one.</p>

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<p>^^^^^ YES!</p>

<p>Also you can take a year off and explore your interests. You also have to ask your self why this and why that and find your passion…This comes with time and knowing who you are.</p>