8 answers
katherine
Student
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
1
Question
Asked
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i am in 8th grade and have to pick courses to take that will have an impact on collage and later the job I end up in. it is a very hard decision, I have always loved helping people and enjoy learning about how something happens and how to fix it medically speaking but I also want to be able to do cosmetology becouse that is another thing I love doing but it does not make as much money and if your not good you will probably be really poor is there any opinions you guys have ?
I'm going into highschool and I need to make the right choice if I don't want to work really hard for something and it not to be right for me
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8 answers
Dan Costigan
Application Engineer
3
Answers
Brookfield, Wisconsin
Updated
Dan’s Answer
Hello Katherine,
Take it from a 35-year-old engineer that had NO IDEA what he wanted to be when he grew up: focus on learning about things you love and that you're passionate about. If you are truly driven and passionate about the courses you choose, you will outshine your peers.
Look into the Japanese philosophy "Ikigai." Do something you love that you are good at that also provides value to the world. The world needs passionate and caring people in every single professional field. Don't stress out about your decisions now. I changed my major 5 times in college, and I still don't know "what I want to be when I grow up."
One more thing- you will have failures in life. Success is not possible without failure along the way. Don't let setbacks define who you are, keep striving towards your goals and you will wake up one day and be glad with where you are. Take it one day at a time and focus on your passions and what motivates you to continue learning. Good luck, I'm sure you will do great things!
Take it from a 35-year-old engineer that had NO IDEA what he wanted to be when he grew up: focus on learning about things you love and that you're passionate about. If you are truly driven and passionate about the courses you choose, you will outshine your peers.
Look into the Japanese philosophy "Ikigai." Do something you love that you are good at that also provides value to the world. The world needs passionate and caring people in every single professional field. Don't stress out about your decisions now. I changed my major 5 times in college, and I still don't know "what I want to be when I grow up."
One more thing- you will have failures in life. Success is not possible without failure along the way. Don't let setbacks define who you are, keep striving towards your goals and you will wake up one day and be glad with where you are. Take it one day at a time and focus on your passions and what motivates you to continue learning. Good luck, I'm sure you will do great things!
Sofia Saavedra Huertas
Graphic designer
7
Answers
Bogotá, Colombia
Updated
Sofia’s Answer
Hi girl c:
It is a very important decision to make. In my experience, you should balance both options and pick something you both enjoy and know that will give you some sort of financial stability. Remember it is still possible to continue studying other things once you have a career and a stable job, as well as having hobbies and researching stuff you are interested in! So don´t be scared of picking just one thing for now.
As for how to make the decision, I recommend you make a list of the things you would like to consider, and start breaking down each option including reasons why you should consider them, reasons why they may not be the best option, job opportunities you could go for, and everything you consider important for your career. There you will have a clearer idea of what you should be going for, and once you do, just go for it and enjoy the process.
Best of luck <3
It is a very important decision to make. In my experience, you should balance both options and pick something you both enjoy and know that will give you some sort of financial stability. Remember it is still possible to continue studying other things once you have a career and a stable job, as well as having hobbies and researching stuff you are interested in! So don´t be scared of picking just one thing for now.
As for how to make the decision, I recommend you make a list of the things you would like to consider, and start breaking down each option including reasons why you should consider them, reasons why they may not be the best option, job opportunities you could go for, and everything you consider important for your career. There you will have a clearer idea of what you should be going for, and once you do, just go for it and enjoy the process.
Best of luck <3
Natalie Goin
Marketing Analyst
22
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Natalie’s Answer
It’s great that you’re already thinking about your future and the decisions you make now! It sounds like you have a passion for both helping people through medicine and expressing your creativity through cosmetology, which are both awesome paths. To get a feel for both, you could look for opportunities in your school, like helping with makeup for theater productions, or opting to take classes like anatomy and biology will help you get a head start on the medical side. Exploring both options will give you more clarity on what excites you most!
Remember, it’s okay to be interested in multiple things, and you don’t have to choose just one thing forever. It’s also important to remember that high school and college are all about exploring yourself and discovering what truly excites you. Don’t stress too much about making the ‘perfect’ choice right now. You have time to try new things, and you’ll learn more about yourself along the way.
And always remember—success isn’t just about money. It’s about doing what makes you happy and finding a way to make a living doing it!
Remember, it’s okay to be interested in multiple things, and you don’t have to choose just one thing forever. It’s also important to remember that high school and college are all about exploring yourself and discovering what truly excites you. Don’t stress too much about making the ‘perfect’ choice right now. You have time to try new things, and you’ll learn more about yourself along the way.
And always remember—success isn’t just about money. It’s about doing what makes you happy and finding a way to make a living doing it!
Jerome Dees Jr.
Sales Professional and Networking Expert
652
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jerome’s Answer
This can be a very exciting time. I levitated towards classes that I was simply interested in. It may feel like you have to figure out your whole future right now, but as you get into high school and again in college, there are a whole bunch of elective options for you to explore.
I’d recommend having fun and doing things that you enjoy at this point! When in doubt, go chat with some of the teachers and see if you get good vibes from them.
I’d recommend having fun and doing things that you enjoy at this point! When in doubt, go chat with some of the teachers and see if you get good vibes from them.
Crystal Hodgkinson
Retail Hospitality Director
3
Answers
Tacoma, Washington
Updated
Crystal’s Answer
Hi Kathrine,
I applaud your ambition! There are not many 8th graders that have this much focus on their financial future.
That being said, you only get to be a kid once. Enjoy this time with friends and hobbies. Explore different extraciricular activities, step outside your comfort zone and see what other fun things are out there. Take your time to get to know yourself. Your brain and your body will be making many major upgrades over the next 5ish years. What excites you now may not be the same later on, and that's by design.
Your only job right now is to explore who you are and what is important to you i.e what makes you happy. Choose classes that interest you and that you think you will excel at. Maintaining a high GPA will be important when it comes to scholarships and transitioning to college. If there are AP courses that you qualify for and can take with out jeapordizing your GPA, do it. This will help get better placement in college level classes and help keep costs down a little.
High school is also designed to help prepare you socially for the world. Working on your social skills at this time is important. Join clubs, form peer groups, volunteer at a senior center. Get a part time job doing anything that sounds like fun or that interests you like scooping ice cream at a stadium, walking dogs, etc. You need to develop a strong work ethic to be successful in college. This also helps you get comfortable with the public and talking to people you don't know (building social skills). By senior year you should have enough self confidence socially to be able to handle the next stage at college.
College is designed to help you figure out who and what you want to be. The first couple years you're taking manadatory basic classes depending on how well you did in highschool. The extraciricular classes are where you get to explore different fields of study to help guide you toward a major you might love. Maybe you take a couple biology classes and some art classes. You'll hear how people "changed their major several times" this is why. They explored their options until they found what felt right. You won't actually choose your major until the last year or two.
In college you get a taste of adulthood with a safety net under you. You should be enjoying this time too. 60% of your time should be dedicated to school work, 40% should be enjoying the college experience. Join a club or peer group, explore the area you are in. It's especially important to take care of yourself physically and mentally during this time. You are prepparing yourself to be on your own. You are not supposed to know who or what you want to be yet, that's what this time is for. I highly reccommend taking at least one economics or finance course. Regardless of the field you enter you need to know how to manage your money. Remember you are in training for adulthood not just a career.
During these next few years you'll have many opportunites to try new things. It's the only way to learn who you are truly meant to be. Take time to "daydream" about your wants and desires for the future. These are important thoughts and I encourage you to do this often. It's like meditation and allows your subconsious mind to help guide you along the way. Follow your intuition, that's the little voice or feeling inside that tells you what seems righ or wrong. Trust this voice and go forward with courage. The world is your oyster, and your pearl is out there!
You got this,
Crystal
I applaud your ambition! There are not many 8th graders that have this much focus on their financial future.
That being said, you only get to be a kid once. Enjoy this time with friends and hobbies. Explore different extraciricular activities, step outside your comfort zone and see what other fun things are out there. Take your time to get to know yourself. Your brain and your body will be making many major upgrades over the next 5ish years. What excites you now may not be the same later on, and that's by design.
Your only job right now is to explore who you are and what is important to you i.e what makes you happy. Choose classes that interest you and that you think you will excel at. Maintaining a high GPA will be important when it comes to scholarships and transitioning to college. If there are AP courses that you qualify for and can take with out jeapordizing your GPA, do it. This will help get better placement in college level classes and help keep costs down a little.
High school is also designed to help prepare you socially for the world. Working on your social skills at this time is important. Join clubs, form peer groups, volunteer at a senior center. Get a part time job doing anything that sounds like fun or that interests you like scooping ice cream at a stadium, walking dogs, etc. You need to develop a strong work ethic to be successful in college. This also helps you get comfortable with the public and talking to people you don't know (building social skills). By senior year you should have enough self confidence socially to be able to handle the next stage at college.
College is designed to help you figure out who and what you want to be. The first couple years you're taking manadatory basic classes depending on how well you did in highschool. The extraciricular classes are where you get to explore different fields of study to help guide you toward a major you might love. Maybe you take a couple biology classes and some art classes. You'll hear how people "changed their major several times" this is why. They explored their options until they found what felt right. You won't actually choose your major until the last year or two.
In college you get a taste of adulthood with a safety net under you. You should be enjoying this time too. 60% of your time should be dedicated to school work, 40% should be enjoying the college experience. Join a club or peer group, explore the area you are in. It's especially important to take care of yourself physically and mentally during this time. You are prepparing yourself to be on your own. You are not supposed to know who or what you want to be yet, that's what this time is for. I highly reccommend taking at least one economics or finance course. Regardless of the field you enter you need to know how to manage your money. Remember you are in training for adulthood not just a career.
During these next few years you'll have many opportunites to try new things. It's the only way to learn who you are truly meant to be. Take time to "daydream" about your wants and desires for the future. These are important thoughts and I encourage you to do this often. It's like meditation and allows your subconsious mind to help guide you along the way. Follow your intuition, that's the little voice or feeling inside that tells you what seems righ or wrong. Trust this voice and go forward with courage. The world is your oyster, and your pearl is out there!
You got this,
Crystal
Pamela Bautista
Lead Registered Dental Assistant
1
Answer
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Pamela’s Answer
Honestly for me personally, High school was not a milestone. I want to emphasis the me part. Don’t get me wrong, School gives you what you need in a sense of having access to people who have lived through the same experience and made their own mistakes to get to where they felt they belonged or found their passion. Choosing your classes correctly and thinking about your future is the best possible thing you can do at your age, which is something I feel I should of done but not all my friends were worried about the same things for example: what job/career I really wanted to feel proud of myself or even just enjoy what I did that it didn’t even feel like an obligation or something i worked for and now I’m stuck with it. My point is, Finding a job that has both the things you’re looking for does take time. Choosing your classes wisely to what you think will be helpful in the future is the first thing you do, basics as always, then extracurricular’s that will show you a different side of you. Don’t choose something that only slightly interest you, Something for example like Culinary class, Finance, or even a computer class shows you and is helpful for the outside world beyond school. Culinary shows you how to work as a team, how to cook a meal from start to finish, how to run a business or something as simple as your own work ethic. Those kinds of experiences help guide you and make you critically think of the environment that best encourages you, uplifts your mood, and fulfills the parts of you that you want to nourish more and more each day. A computer class can show you how well you work independently and what you would need help with, which helps to get you out of your shell and reach out for help when you need it. Never be afraid to ask for help or speak up about something you don’t understand. Trust me even as an adult, I have to ask questions and have things clarified in a step by step manner. We all learn differently, but the results are still progressive. I know my response is long haha but I’m a registered dental assistant, I didn’t exactly choose the career, i fell into it, but it has both of the things I ever wanted in a a job: Helping others, Learning each day about something new in dentistry, How to fix something, and making temporary teeth as well as molding and pouring impressions for whitening trays, retainers, nightguard or a partial denture all cosmetic and aesthetically pleasing things that i feel proud of when they come out perfect! My job doesn’t feel like a job because of how much i enjoy it. There will always be ups and downs but you gotta work through it and NEVER GIVE UP! It’s the best feeling to enjoy and have a job that fulfills all you desire, plus you get paid for it? WOW talk about a win win situation. I hope this helps and that you truly find the answers you’re looking for! Have a great day and keep us updated on your journey to success!
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1119
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
It sounds like you're asking for some advice on picking a career path that brings both joy *and* a paycheck—totally with you on that one! 😊
Okay, here’s the deal: Money's great for, well, bills and pizza, but it’s not everything (and trust me, I’ve met plenty of people who’ve chased money and ended up chasing their own tails 🐍). Those who follow their passion *and* are willing to hustle are the ones who usually find the real treasure—happiness AND success! 💡💪
Here are some fun tips to help you stay on track and make those smart decisions:
1. **Follow Your Heart, But Check the Map** 💖🗺️
Make sure you’re following what excites you, but also *think about the path* ahead. Some careers, like design, have a bunch of cool niches, from fashion to web design to interior design. Do a little research, but don’t be afraid to dive in and figure things out along the way!
2. **Side Hustle = Side Fun** 😎
Have a passion? Maybe test it out on the side while you're building your skills. Whether it’s sketching designs, tinkering with websites, or brainstorming fashion ideas, those side projects might just turn into something *bigger* (and more profitable) down the road!
3. **Skills + Heart = Ultimate Power Combo** 💪❤️
Learn the skills you need for your dream job, but don’t forget to pour your heart into it. Passion fuels creativity and creativity is *always* in demand.
4. **Stay Open to Surprises** 🎉
Your path might take unexpected twists and turns. A good example? People who start in one field and end up designing something totally different (like graphic designers who become app designers—who knew?!). Keep your eyes open!
And hey, remember, a career is not just about getting the paycheck; it's about loving what you do. So, even if you take a job to pay the bills, always keep that passion bubbling under the surface. You *got this*! ✨
And seriously—don't let the world make you feel like you need to “fit in” with the norm. Your happiness is WAY more valuable than pretending to be happy just for the sake of a paycheck. Keep your vibe true to yourself and the world will catch up. 🌍💫
Got more questions or thoughts? I’m all ears!
Okay, here’s the deal: Money's great for, well, bills and pizza, but it’s not everything (and trust me, I’ve met plenty of people who’ve chased money and ended up chasing their own tails 🐍). Those who follow their passion *and* are willing to hustle are the ones who usually find the real treasure—happiness AND success! 💡💪
Here are some fun tips to help you stay on track and make those smart decisions:
1. **Follow Your Heart, But Check the Map** 💖🗺️
Make sure you’re following what excites you, but also *think about the path* ahead. Some careers, like design, have a bunch of cool niches, from fashion to web design to interior design. Do a little research, but don’t be afraid to dive in and figure things out along the way!
2. **Side Hustle = Side Fun** 😎
Have a passion? Maybe test it out on the side while you're building your skills. Whether it’s sketching designs, tinkering with websites, or brainstorming fashion ideas, those side projects might just turn into something *bigger* (and more profitable) down the road!
3. **Skills + Heart = Ultimate Power Combo** 💪❤️
Learn the skills you need for your dream job, but don’t forget to pour your heart into it. Passion fuels creativity and creativity is *always* in demand.
4. **Stay Open to Surprises** 🎉
Your path might take unexpected twists and turns. A good example? People who start in one field and end up designing something totally different (like graphic designers who become app designers—who knew?!). Keep your eyes open!
And hey, remember, a career is not just about getting the paycheck; it's about loving what you do. So, even if you take a job to pay the bills, always keep that passion bubbling under the surface. You *got this*! ✨
And seriously—don't let the world make you feel like you need to “fit in” with the norm. Your happiness is WAY more valuable than pretending to be happy just for the sake of a paycheck. Keep your vibe true to yourself and the world will catch up. 🌍💫
Got more questions or thoughts? I’m all ears!
Stevan Porter
Technical Support Manager
5
Answers
Herndon, Virginia
Updated
Stevan’s Answer
There are two basic approaches to careers -- doing something you love and doing something you can tolerate to bring in money to do things you love. Neither is necessarily right or wrong but doing something you truly dislike is almost never worth the money (at least not in the long run).
One thing to consider about the money aspect for cosmetology -- service industries will likely be in high demand for quite some time. AI, etc. is probably not going to be cutting hair (although I could be wrong about that). So while they may not pay as much as some of the other jobs they may offer better overall job security. So I would not dismiss it out of hand.
Ultimately you only live once -- be ready to try different things, explore, and if you start down a path and it does not work out try something else. :-)
Best wishes!
One thing to consider about the money aspect for cosmetology -- service industries will likely be in high demand for quite some time. AI, etc. is probably not going to be cutting hair (although I could be wrong about that). So while they may not pay as much as some of the other jobs they may offer better overall job security. So I would not dismiss it out of hand.
Ultimately you only live once -- be ready to try different things, explore, and if you start down a path and it does not work out try something else. :-)
Best wishes!