How to maintain state of views in fragment?

Future Career Options: Doctor? Engineer?

• I know there is an extreme over-posting of this type of question, but it seems rather hard to find a one-fits-all answer to my unique circumstances. I am currently a Junior in high school, and I live in Louisiana. I maintain a healthy 4.0 Grade Point Average, and am enrolled in the TOPS program, which basically pays for college tuition, so long as you remain in-state. With that being said, my high school is already well under way, and I'm taking pretty good care of it. I'm taking advanced math and science courses, as my school offers them. I exceed in school, and consider myself a very educated person, in all aspects. However; I feel I'm strongest in Math, Science, and Technology (Computer kind-of guy). I have long decided that I want to pursue a prestigious career, I want something that I can look back on as an old fart and say, "Yeah, I did that for 30 years." I want to be able to utilize my academic abilities that I've been given. Most people aren't given the opportunity to learn extremely easily as I do, and others take it for granted. I am mostly considering attending LSU once I graduate high school, and I plan on applying for many scholarships to help with funding. I've recently taken my first ACT test (quarter way into my Junior year, first time test, and I made a 27 Composite Score). I plan on doing much better on my test, potentially reaching a 30 or so to get a healthy amount of scholarship funds, to help with my college. The main issue I have, is that I'm having a really hard time finding what I truly want to do. I want to make money (who doesn't?), but the difference between me and the people who want to be a doctor or whatever just to make money is that I believe I'd probably have great interest for doing it. I am strongly considering becoming an Anesthesiologist, but it takes a lot of dedication, and I figure it may be in my best interest to consider all possibilities before devoting myself to 12 years of further education, without even knowing what to expect. On the other hand, I've also considered a Petroleum Engineer. They have starting salaries of around $100,000 so that obviously is a rewarding job, but I'm not sure how family life would go if I were to pursue that career, as I'd have (to my understanding) a rough 2 week on / 2 week off - type schedule. I'm not sure if that particularly tickles my interests. There are other things like Professional pilots that also rake in a nice pay, but also require a lot of time away from home. A Petroleum Engineer would take 6-8 years to become, and an Anesthesiologist would take about 12 years, which would be more worth it in the long run if I had to choose one over the other? I am really and truly looking for a job I can love and enjoy, while implementing my academic talents to rake in a luxurious paycheck... if that makes any sense. I would like any suggestions possible; please don't take me to be an uneducated brat who is just seeking an answer for what jobs will make me rich some day. I am genuinely looking for a high-paying career that I could diligently pursue, and live a happy life while doing. I'd love to have a decent work schedule, to be able to spend time with my future family and that sort of thing. I'd love to be able to buy my children the things I've always wanted but yet I could never afford. I have great ambitions to achieve great things, but I'm willing to accept that there are people in this world who have far greater knowledge and experience and can direct me in ways that may ultimately change my views and decisions completely. That could very well be your advice. Please, do write thoughtful and helpful answers, it would be extremely greatly appreciated. If you have any specific career suggestions, would you mind also including the typical work schedule, what kind of salary I could expect starting out, mid way, and maybe even top end? How about how long it takes to become, and what areas of strength are required? Family Life? Thanks a million! Sincerely, Josh

• Answer:

  That's nice. Keep in mind that people are sick 24 hours a day 7 days a week and many computers and industrial equipment also runs 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It's easy to wind up where the job runs your life. Also try to study a little something on financial engineering so that you can get your personal finances sorted out from day 1, it's a lot harder to catch up even if you do make more money in the future. Even a dishwasher can retire a millionaire if they invest and someone with a six digit a year income can still retire a pauper if they don't.