3 answers
Lillian
Student
Bentonville, Arkansas
5
Questions
Asked
380 views
How can a student who is deeply involved in leadership, athletics, music, service, and academics determine whether they are better suited for a career that is science-based and analytical, like biomedical engineering or pediatric nursing, versus one that is people-centered and creative, like pediatric psychology or public relations/marketing What experiences, skills, or personality traits should I pay the most attention to now so I can make the wisest long-term decision?
I’m a driven and creative 8th grader at Founders Classical Academy of Rogers who loves leadership, music, sports, and faith. I serve as Secretary of NJHS, participate in student council and choir, and play volleyball. I aspire to become valedictorian, attend a top university, and build a future where I can lead, inspire others, and honor Jesus through my talents and achievements. In the future, I hope to study Biomedical Engineering, pediatric nursing, pediatric psychology, or marketing. I also enjoy singing, songwriting, and reading.
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3 answers
Cliff Schreier
69
Answers
Rochester, Minnesota
Updated
Cliff’s Answer
Lillian,
Wow - you are a BUSY young woman! That's great to see. It's also great that you are asking questions and being thoughtful about your future.
Deciding exactly what you want to for a career is a difficult but very important decision. How do you know for sure what you want to do? The answer is you need to do a lot of research, and the following things could help you:
1. Make a tentative plan of what you want to do with your life. To do this, talk with guidance counselors, family, friends, and people you know who have jobs you are interested in. The careers you listed vary greatly with the amount of schooling you will have to complete and what standard of living you will have with some of them. The amount of education needs to be gauged against the resultant standard of living it will afford.
2. Try to get an internship or a shadowing opportunity can really help you decide if you like a job and could do it as a career. Unpaid shadowing can give you great insight on your future job plans - My son shadowed a doctor for a number of days when he was in 5th grade - he's now 34 years old and a pediatrician and loves it.
3. Work hard in school and get good grades. It's great that you are working to be a valedictorian - that's a lot of work and a huge honor. Go for it!
4. You obviously are an outgoing person based on all your activities - that's outstanding. Work on your communication skills and build your network. The saying: "It's not what you know, it's who you know" has a lot of truth to it. I used to be an introvert (many technically skilled people are) but I'm now quite extroverted. It really helps to be able to talk to anyone and build rapport.
5. This is maybe a little early for you, but when you get older you need to come up with an 'elevator pitch of Lillian'. This is something like: "Hi, my name is Lillian and I'm a hard-working, dedicated student and I would be an asset to your company doing any role...." You would obviously have to fill in blanks, but I think you get the idea. It may sound stupid, but it's a good idea to practice this in front of a mirror to watch your facial expressions and make sure you come across the way you want. Once you do this a few times, you can tailor it to each person you talk with about any shadowing or internship opportunities.
6. Research companies you are interested in before you meet with any recruiters. Don't try to bluff your way through meetings with companies - put in some work to understand what they do and how you could fit in with them.
7. Be persistent. Don't give up easily. Always ask for feedback from the people you talk to so you can learn how you did what you could do differently and better.
One last thing I want to say: I REALLY wanted to be a teacher and work with kids... but I didn't like the pay and didn't want to be part of the teacher's union. So, I got a BS in Electrical Engineering which afforded me standard of living I wanted and then I volunteered as a soccer coach for multiple years. That allowed me to work with kids, and it was great and I bonded more with my son and daughter.
So, you have TONS of options. Keep thinking about, asking about, and exploring career options and YOU WILL DO GREAT!
I'm excited for you and your future.
Good luck Lillian!
Wow - you are a BUSY young woman! That's great to see. It's also great that you are asking questions and being thoughtful about your future.
Deciding exactly what you want to for a career is a difficult but very important decision. How do you know for sure what you want to do? The answer is you need to do a lot of research, and the following things could help you:
1. Make a tentative plan of what you want to do with your life. To do this, talk with guidance counselors, family, friends, and people you know who have jobs you are interested in. The careers you listed vary greatly with the amount of schooling you will have to complete and what standard of living you will have with some of them. The amount of education needs to be gauged against the resultant standard of living it will afford.
2. Try to get an internship or a shadowing opportunity can really help you decide if you like a job and could do it as a career. Unpaid shadowing can give you great insight on your future job plans - My son shadowed a doctor for a number of days when he was in 5th grade - he's now 34 years old and a pediatrician and loves it.
3. Work hard in school and get good grades. It's great that you are working to be a valedictorian - that's a lot of work and a huge honor. Go for it!
4. You obviously are an outgoing person based on all your activities - that's outstanding. Work on your communication skills and build your network. The saying: "It's not what you know, it's who you know" has a lot of truth to it. I used to be an introvert (many technically skilled people are) but I'm now quite extroverted. It really helps to be able to talk to anyone and build rapport.
5. This is maybe a little early for you, but when you get older you need to come up with an 'elevator pitch of Lillian'. This is something like: "Hi, my name is Lillian and I'm a hard-working, dedicated student and I would be an asset to your company doing any role...." You would obviously have to fill in blanks, but I think you get the idea. It may sound stupid, but it's a good idea to practice this in front of a mirror to watch your facial expressions and make sure you come across the way you want. Once you do this a few times, you can tailor it to each person you talk with about any shadowing or internship opportunities.
6. Research companies you are interested in before you meet with any recruiters. Don't try to bluff your way through meetings with companies - put in some work to understand what they do and how you could fit in with them.
7. Be persistent. Don't give up easily. Always ask for feedback from the people you talk to so you can learn how you did what you could do differently and better.
One last thing I want to say: I REALLY wanted to be a teacher and work with kids... but I didn't like the pay and didn't want to be part of the teacher's union. So, I got a BS in Electrical Engineering which afforded me standard of living I wanted and then I volunteered as a soccer coach for multiple years. That allowed me to work with kids, and it was great and I bonded more with my son and daughter.
So, you have TONS of options. Keep thinking about, asking about, and exploring career options and YOU WILL DO GREAT!
I'm excited for you and your future.
Good luck Lillian!
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Lieutenant / EMT
120
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hello Lillian. It sounds as if you are very motivated, intelligent, and forward thinking. I am confident you will find success and happiness in any route you choose. It's difficult to give specific advice just based on your brief introduction, but I'll take a stab at it.
The very fact that you're asking this question, and the way you're asking it, suggests to me that you're organized and analytical. I'd probably suggest leaning into this. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers are great choices for analytical thinkers. It is also worth noting that women are underrepresented in these fields. So, as a young woman pursuing a career in one of those areas, you may have an easier time finding scholarships. These fields also tend to have higher salaries. There are plenty of opportunities to engage your passion for music, and other creative people-centered interests, as a hobby, side job, or volunteer work.
In contrast, I think you will find creative people-centered fields like psychology, marketing, education, etc. to be more saturated, lower paying, and in some cases less rewarding. Finding something technical and analytical as a hobby is not impossible, but it is harder. Obviously I'm making a lot of assumptions and generalizations here, and there is more to life than making money, but that is the broad advice I would give based on the limited information available.
Of note, if you're passionate about leadership and people, that is the most important thing, and you can apply those attributes no matter what field you go into. Whether you're a Project Manager working for NASA or the local Director of a Boys and Girls Club, being a good leader and caring about your peers, subordinates, customers, and family is the most important thing.
The very fact that you're asking this question, and the way you're asking it, suggests to me that you're organized and analytical. I'd probably suggest leaning into this. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers are great choices for analytical thinkers. It is also worth noting that women are underrepresented in these fields. So, as a young woman pursuing a career in one of those areas, you may have an easier time finding scholarships. These fields also tend to have higher salaries. There are plenty of opportunities to engage your passion for music, and other creative people-centered interests, as a hobby, side job, or volunteer work.
In contrast, I think you will find creative people-centered fields like psychology, marketing, education, etc. to be more saturated, lower paying, and in some cases less rewarding. Finding something technical and analytical as a hobby is not impossible, but it is harder. Obviously I'm making a lot of assumptions and generalizations here, and there is more to life than making money, but that is the broad advice I would give based on the limited information available.
Of note, if you're passionate about leadership and people, that is the most important thing, and you can apply those attributes no matter what field you go into. Whether you're a Project Manager working for NASA or the local Director of a Boys and Girls Club, being a good leader and caring about your peers, subordinates, customers, and family is the most important thing.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1376
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Lillian,
The interesting thing is that your interests are not random; they actually connect through a common theme. You seem drawn to leadership, helping people, communication, and growth. The question is less about “science versus creativity” and more about how you want to help people every day.
A good way to figure this out over time is to pay attention to what gives you energy, not just what you are good at. For example:
- If you enjoy solving technical problems and working carefully with systems, science, and detailed processes, you may naturally lean toward areas like biomedical engineering or nursing.
- If you feel most alive when communicating, encouraging, understanding emotions, leading teams, or creating ideas, you may feel more fulfilled in psychology, public relations, or marketing.
You should also notice what kind of challenges you enjoy. Some people enjoy analytical pressure, labs, calculations, procedures, and precision. Others enjoy relational pressure, conversation, teamwork, creativity, leadership, and helping people emotionally. Neither is “better.” They simply fit different strengths.
Right now, the best thing you can do is explore through experience. Take advanced science and math classes, but also continue leadership, music, writing, and service activities. Volunteer in healthcare settings if possible. Join projects where you can lead, create, organize, or mentor others. Real experiences often reveal more than personality tests.
One important thing to remember is this: careers are rarely only one thing. Pediatric psychology still uses science. Marketing still uses analytics. Nursing requires communication. Engineering requires teamwork and leadership. Your future may combine both analytical and creative strengths more than you expect.
You also do not need to solve your entire future in 8th grade. The students who make wise long-term decisions are usually the ones who stay curious, reflective, and open to growth instead of rushing into one fixed identity too early. You already sound thoughtful, disciplined, and purpose-driven, Lillian. Keep building your skills, trying different experiences, and paying attention to what kind of work feels meaningful to you, not just impressive to others. That clarity grows over time.
Best wishes!
The interesting thing is that your interests are not random; they actually connect through a common theme. You seem drawn to leadership, helping people, communication, and growth. The question is less about “science versus creativity” and more about how you want to help people every day.
A good way to figure this out over time is to pay attention to what gives you energy, not just what you are good at. For example:
- If you enjoy solving technical problems and working carefully with systems, science, and detailed processes, you may naturally lean toward areas like biomedical engineering or nursing.
- If you feel most alive when communicating, encouraging, understanding emotions, leading teams, or creating ideas, you may feel more fulfilled in psychology, public relations, or marketing.
You should also notice what kind of challenges you enjoy. Some people enjoy analytical pressure, labs, calculations, procedures, and precision. Others enjoy relational pressure, conversation, teamwork, creativity, leadership, and helping people emotionally. Neither is “better.” They simply fit different strengths.
Right now, the best thing you can do is explore through experience. Take advanced science and math classes, but also continue leadership, music, writing, and service activities. Volunteer in healthcare settings if possible. Join projects where you can lead, create, organize, or mentor others. Real experiences often reveal more than personality tests.
One important thing to remember is this: careers are rarely only one thing. Pediatric psychology still uses science. Marketing still uses analytics. Nursing requires communication. Engineering requires teamwork and leadership. Your future may combine both analytical and creative strengths more than you expect.
You also do not need to solve your entire future in 8th grade. The students who make wise long-term decisions are usually the ones who stay curious, reflective, and open to growth instead of rushing into one fixed identity too early. You already sound thoughtful, disciplined, and purpose-driven, Lillian. Keep building your skills, trying different experiences, and paying attention to what kind of work feels meaningful to you, not just impressive to others. That clarity grows over time.
Best wishes!
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Lillian
Glad I could help.
Chinyere Okafor