1 answer
Sriman
Student
Edison, New Jersey
1
Question
Updated
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How do I decide between a stable, well-defined career path and a riskier path that could lead to greater innovation or impact?
I’m a high school senior with my intended major as civil engineering. I'm really into puzzles and other problems that require one to think outside the box. I know the value of stable and structured journeys, but what truly excites me is innovation and bigger-picture impact. This discord prompts my question.
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1 answer
Ray von Dohren
Retired sanitary engineer
26
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Ray’s Answer
Liam’s answer was so good relating to how much risk, I’m almost afraid to put letters down here on this white screen, but why not? Let’s give it a try. (Those last two sentences: irony.)
Let’s talk about a different area, college. How much time to you want to spend deciding what you want to do? The safe approach would be to decide on civil engineering and four years later, bing, you are a graduate engineering student. Go look for a job, or go to graduate school. Another choice. But what if along the way you find yourself interested in medicine. Do you abandon two or three years of study, and switch to medicine? I did that. I don’t recommend it, but I did it, and it turned out to be a huge amount of work. I went from political science to aeronautical engineering to civil engineering to becoming a sanitary engineer. Was it worth it, absolutely. Would I do it again, mmmmm maybe. By the time I received my degree, I had a wife and two children. I took a chance and tried something else that I thought I liked better. I was right. I love my career in sanitary engineering. I make dirty water clean. I’m proud of that. You see as Liam said, there are risks and rewards along the way, but in the end you are the only one who will make the final decision. You’ll figure it out. In engineering risk is a big part of our daily lives. I’m sure it is in other professions too. You get to decide how much and to what degree. Your question was very mature for someone your age so I’m pretty sure you will be fine. Best wishes.
Let’s talk about a different area, college. How much time to you want to spend deciding what you want to do? The safe approach would be to decide on civil engineering and four years later, bing, you are a graduate engineering student. Go look for a job, or go to graduate school. Another choice. But what if along the way you find yourself interested in medicine. Do you abandon two or three years of study, and switch to medicine? I did that. I don’t recommend it, but I did it, and it turned out to be a huge amount of work. I went from political science to aeronautical engineering to civil engineering to becoming a sanitary engineer. Was it worth it, absolutely. Would I do it again, mmmmm maybe. By the time I received my degree, I had a wife and two children. I took a chance and tried something else that I thought I liked better. I was right. I love my career in sanitary engineering. I make dirty water clean. I’m proud of that. You see as Liam said, there are risks and rewards along the way, but in the end you are the only one who will make the final decision. You’ll figure it out. In engineering risk is a big part of our daily lives. I’m sure it is in other professions too. You get to decide how much and to what degree. Your question was very mature for someone your age so I’m pretty sure you will be fine. Best wishes.
Thank you so much, Ray!
Sriman