Currently perusing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, not really sure if I want to continue it though. The classes are proving to be very challenging and very theoretical so far. Which is frustrating because I am a hands on type of person, I like making things and fixing things and taking things apart to see how they work. I am starting to get into turning Damas even! But like everyone has been saying, I am not too worried with what my degree is in, everyone's interests change and often the careers they persue after college are much different that what they thought they were going to do. My mom graduated with a degree in art history and is a realtor now!
In high school, was hoping to go to school to study film, applied all over. Got accepted to USC and Loyola-Marymount, and was invited down to Loyola for the presidential preview weekend, where we toured and learned about the school and were interviewed for scholarships. I ended up winning a half-ride scholarship there, but I simply could not afford the other half, and did not think going that deep into debt for an art degree was a great idea. Was also accepted to the University of Nevada, Reno, very close to home with a scholarship offer I couldn't turn down, but they didn't have a film department, so I sort of arbitrarily decided to start in mechanical engineering. After the tours however, decided to switch to computer science, an option I barely even considered at first. Currently halfway through my junior year, loving it, just started an internship at a big software development company. Continuing to do film and photo stuff on the side, so I'm keeping that option open, even if just as a hobby or a small side job. Don't worry if you don't have it all figured out in high school, you'll eventually find something right for you, and you'll know when you do.
I am a music education major with a percussion emphasis!! I teach high school drumline now and after I get my degree I plan to teach middle school music and write for k-12 percussion ensembles. And I didn't know what I wanted to do until well into my senior year of high school.. you've got time!
@A_Bachman those film schools are top in the nation but they are a monumental moneysuck. It did indeed help in getting a foot in the door at the first internship. But if you can get around that, you probably made a more rational decision than I did.
@Cheech_Sander It's not just about the money though, have to find something you love and you're good at. You definitely have more natural talent in film, and thankfully I was able to find something I'm talented at in engineering. If I had hated it though, would have packed up and gone to film school.
Props to you (and everyone else) for doing mechanical engineering. I have a friend who's doing that right now and his life just sounds like hell. I'm definitely a hands on type of person as well. Loved making stuff with my legos when I was younger lol This is so true and makes me feel better at times when I get stressed about school. My mom majored in English with a minor in business; now she works in a government building. She originally wanted to be a lawyer!
I got my majors at the University of Hawaii in Japanese and Second Language Studies, and now I teach English at a Jr/Sr high school in Japan and help with the international program taking kids abroad and welcoming kids from other countries. One thing I tell my students when they tell me they don't know what to do in life, is to not think about what kind of job they want, but how they want to help people. Jobs are all about getting money to help people around you. If you keep searching for that, it may guide you a bit further. Another thing I tell students: in ten years or so, a lot of the jobs that exist today may not exist anymore. Examples of jobs that no longer exist: typist, pager developers... And jobs that may disappear soon: newspaper authors, super market register workers, anything robots can do in the place of humans (surgeons, call operators, repair work..) And jobs that exist today that didn't exist years ago: youtubers, cell phone shop clerks, app developers.. Things to keep in mind when thinking about the future. we have to be better than the robots that are gonna take our place.
Have you ever tried turning!? It's the bomb and you can make your own Damas/kururins/pills/bowls/whatever. It is super fun
I wish, but I have no access to anything involving turning. I did try to make my own kendama in ceramics class my junior year of high school, but I had to give it up because I ended up switching the class out for something else. Turning does seem super interesting, even more so now because I play with wooden toys
I walked into the University of Nevada, Reno during orientation with no clue what I wanted to do...randomly was like I'm gonna be a scientist. Now I have roughly a year and a half left of an environmental science/rangeland ecology degree + an internship with U.S. Deparment of Agriculture that should lead into a full time career. I guess my point is that you don't need to stress about what you want to be because you probably don't know yet, and you will likely stumble across the path you want to take in life.
I am in grade 7 now, interested in filming and making movies. I like to play soccer a seek a career in it. I also like to pursue sciences and math. Don't have a job yet but interested and looking into refine for soccer.
I go to High School here in Sweden (7th grade). I think Its pretty boring right now, Im 14 so Its my first year so it will probably get better But when I grow up i want to be football player For now, I train with a U17 team. I also like photografing, so if I dont get a career as a football player, who know, I'll maybe be a photografer then For now, I "work" in a skate shop here in sweden. (I usually just mount some boards and stuff, But its fun)
Sick!!! I play Afro Cuban percussion. Very interesting history on these rhythms that date back to slave trade and beyond! I recommend Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Yoruba Andabo, and Los Papines for starters. I can you break some things down, if you ever become interested. @Kelsey Dunn
I like reading about everyone's different experiences! I'm one of those "rare" ones that worked towards one thing and now does the one thing. I wanted to be an artist since I was a kid, worked on getting to art school in high school, went to Art Center College of Design, graduated with a BFA, and now am a working designer and artist! So I guess you could say I did have a pretty set path. But I don't think it's necessarily all about having that linear progression. For instance, my beginning career started out in themed entertainment design (theme parks, museum exhibits, experience design) and I had NO idea I would end up there, but it all came about by being open to taking a themed entertainment internship in college. And definitely if I could look back and give myself advice and insight into what I'm experiencing now, it's that career doesn't ever happen the way you think it will. Things are different from school and working as an adult, and being a working artist (fun and amazing as it is) comes with its own set of challenges, and isn't the rosy, glamorous path that it's painted or perceived as being. Still, I'm a HUGE HUGE advocate for higher education, and I would definitely encourage anyone who has the means to go to college, to go and learn everything they possibly can. You don't have to necessarily have your major tamped down, or know what you're supposed to do. ^_^ But definitely soak everything up like a sponge, and work hard. Even if your path ends up changing several times, if you work with vigor, passion, and put your determination and diligence towards everything you do, you're bound to find a direction eventually, and your hard work will pay off. Stay open to everything, never shut down an opportunity at face value because you'll never know what you can learn out of your experiences! That's my advice.
Currently I'm working full time, but next fall/spring I plan on going for a major in Astrophysics. I have a lot of down time on the night shift at my workplace, so it gives me plenty of time to teach myself Calculus. Other than my science goals, I hope to one day be able to financially support myself as a magician.
Wow!! Teach yourself calculus?! That's awesome! I loved all my calculus courses through vector calculus. It really brings a greater understanding to the dimensions we live in. Good luck and feel free to ask me some questions.
I guess I should say "attempting" to teach myself calc lol. A friend of mine who dropped out of engineering let me keep his textbook for myself so I've been slowly working through it.
34, continuation high school student graduate, no degree, no college. Im a devops engineer for a company in sf, work remotely in socal. word of advise, get contacts, be a humble person, driven to do good and dont be a lazy. Its tough out there and alot of competiton so its a big hustle game.