Is it better to choose a career you know you'll be good at fulfilling or is it better to choose a career you find the most interesting?

This is a really interesting question, and at heart, I don't think there is a "right" or a "better" answer!

Right now you are thinking about what you might be good at vs. what you are interested in. Other criteria might be - what you can make a decent living at, what gives you energy, what gives you flexibility (for example, the ability to choose where you want to live, or choose the hours you want to work), what has "option value" (meaning if you change your mind in a few years, there are other paths you can take because your experience is valuable to a lot of companies), what gives you a sense of meaning or accomplishment, what you think is important to do for the world, what impresses your colleagues/friends/family, what allows you to rise the fastest in an organization, what allows you to work by yourself or manage a team, what provides a stable job... the list goes on and on.

Everybody has different criteria, and they change over time, so there is no general "right" way of looking at things - there is only the way that is right for you at this stage. So - I don't think anyone can tell you that one way is "better." If I were you at this stage in my career, I would try to have an open mind. Take a lot of classes in different fields to see what you are drawn to - and be honest with yourself. Try to pursue both your options, if those are the two you've decided on. Start to take biomed engineering classes but throw in design or architecture projects. Try to intern or shadow a biomed engineer one summer, and an interior designer the next.

I also think it sometimes takes a few "wrong turns" to figure out what is really important to you - like taking a job you are interested in but then realizing later that you aren't making enough money or advancing quickly enough, or taking a job you are good at but realizing you are bored out of your mind! So as you are taking classes and seeking experiences, listen to what your gut is telling you is important.

Hope that helps and best of luck!

I think Gina's advice is excellent. The only thing I'd add is that I think it's important to have some passion for whatever it is you decide to pursue. If you have no interest at all in becoming a biomedical engineer -- even if you think you might be good at it -- it might not be the best choice for you.

"This is a really interesting question, and at heart, I don't think there is a "right" or a "better" answer!"

I would like to echo Gina in saying that when choosing a career path, evaluating your desires, needs, and goals is always a great idea.

When I think about what I can do, and what I want to do, starting out, I wasn't doing either. I was floating from job, to job, to job. I had hobbies and interests, most of which helped to guide me to where I am today. I found passion in what I do, and a desire to learn more. Years later, my passions and interest have become my career, and working and learning is no longer a chore.

I like to put more emphasis on dreams and passions. Sure I can get a job stacking bricks, or moving sand bags, but it wouldn't be what I want to do. I try to do the best I can at whatever it is I'm doing, but always making the time to work on the things I want to work on.

I used to work at Starbucks when I was seventeen or eighteen years old. I worked the night shift, sometimes getting home around 12:30 or 1:00am. When I got home, I put on my headphones, opened Adobe Photoshop, read tutorials, watched videos, observed trends, and experimented with design through the night. The sun having been up for hours by the time I went to sleep. There wasn't anything that could stop me.

I moved on from Starbucks, but the pattern was engrained in me. Moving from job to job, I always made time for learning and expressing my creativity. It is my passion. It's one of the few things I've created myself from the ground up. I built that. The feeling I have when I finish a project, or take on more responsibility, is one that I hope everyone can have. It's so powerful.

If you're doing what you want to do, it isn't work at all. It becomes your world.