Is Lawyer the career for me?

Help deciding a career? doctor, lawyer or software engineer?

• Here's the situation: I have done Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computing for my A-levels (our equivalent of US SAT) and got "A" grading for every subject, except Mathematics (I got a B). I desperately want to be a software engineer (that IS my ambition), but my parents are really against that option. They want me to be a lawyer or doctor, but not a software engineer. They tell me that software engineers don't get a lot of respect from society, since its not a 'profession'. They say that since I have got good grading, I'm suited to be a doctor or a lawyer. They also say that I'm going to regret it in the future, if I don't become a doctor or a lawyer. Its really confusing, as I'm battling between myself and my parents. I always respect my parents and listen to them, so now I'm in a really tough position. I'm really good at software engineering and desperately want to learn it; that why I took up computing for my A-levels (in the first place) and studied it all by myself by borrowing the notes of other computing students (since I couldn't attend the computing class myself as the Biology class clashed with it and my parents wanted me to attend the biology class). However, I desperately need HELP, right now. Should I listen to my parents to myself? Please suggest your ideas and don't be too harsh on me; I'm only asking because I need your advice. Thanks!

• Answer:

  My advice would be to listen to yourself because once you pick one career and go forth with it, there is no turning back. If of course you want to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars again. But besides that yes I do believe you should pick the career you want because you will be happy with your choice and no matter what you chose and if 20 years from now your in a operating room you won't be wondering what if. You've only got one life to live and you should spend it doing something you want to do. In personal experience I have learned that if your not passionate with something it won't reach it's full potential, meaning if being a lawyer or doctor is not your first choice than it will never be #1 compared to software engineering. You should talk with your parents and explain to them what software engineering is and means to you and maybe some statistics on software engineers, so if they dont agree with your choice in the end you will know you tried your best to convince them and you can work hard as hell to prove them wrong. I hope and wish you all the best. ;)