7 answers
Dj
Student
1
Question
Updated
850 views
What should I do...?
Hey everyone, I’m 17 and trying to plan out my next 4-5 years, but I’m feeling a bit confused and overwhelmed by my options. I come from a traditional background as an only child, and I really want to make my parents proud while building a career that is long-lasting and high-earning. The plan I have made is to major in Software Engineering (ideally targeting the aviation sector), and I want to minor in Religious Studies to honor my mom’s wishes. On top of that, I have a deep interest in law and politics, which I feel could really strengthen my long-term stability and career leverage. However, I also have a massive love for creative fields like fashion design (which is a great practical backup skill to sew for a living if needed) and filmmaking. I’m naturally great at multitasking, so my idea is to focus heavily on my main degree during the semesters, and then use my summer and winter breaks to take short courses or self-study law, politics, fashion, and filmmaking rather than trying to get full degrees in them.Does this sound realistic, or am I trying to take on too much? I'd love to hear from anyone who has successfully balanced multiple heavy academic interests and creative passions during university! Options and opinions all are welcomed I really want to hear your thoughts and changes that could be made to save my future
Login to comment
7 answers
Wong Loke Yuen
Dean; Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
765
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
You have many interests, which is a strength, but you do not need to pursue all of them at the same time. Your plan is ambitious, but trying to master software engineering, law, politics, fashion, and filmmaking all during university may become overwhelming.
If Software Engineering is your main career goal, make it your top priority. You need to focus on getting good grades, building technical skills, completing internships, and working on personal projects. These experiences will have the biggest impact on your future career.
Choosing Religious Studies as a minor is a personal decision, and if it is meaningful to you and your family, it can be a good complement to your degree.
For your other interests, you do not need another degree. You may use your semester breaks to take online courses, read books, attend workshops, or work on personal projects in law, politics, fashion, or filmmaking. This allows you to explore your passions without sacrificing your main career goals.
If Software Engineering is your main career goal, make it your top priority. You need to focus on getting good grades, building technical skills, completing internships, and working on personal projects. These experiences will have the biggest impact on your future career.
Choosing Religious Studies as a minor is a personal decision, and if it is meaningful to you and your family, it can be a good complement to your degree.
For your other interests, you do not need another degree. You may use your semester breaks to take online courses, read books, attend workshops, or work on personal projects in law, politics, fashion, or filmmaking. This allows you to explore your passions without sacrificing your main career goals.
Thank you for the reality check, I really appreciate it! You’re totally right trying to do everything at once is a recipe for burnout. I love the idea of using my breaks to just explore those other interests casually without the pressure of mastering them all right away. Your advice makes me feel a lot less confused about how to prioritize.
Dj
You're very welcome
Wong Loke Yuen
ANTHONY SYLVESTER
School counselor
33
Answers
Onitsha, Anambra, Nigeria
Updated
ANTHONY’s Answer
Your ambition is a strength, but your greatest challenge won't be a lack of opportunities ,it will be deciding what deserves your time first.
At 17, you do not need to build your entire career in the next five years. Instead, focus on building a strong foundation. A degree in Software Engineering is a solid choice if you genuinely enjoy programming and problem-solving, as it offers excellent career prospects in many industries, including aviation.
Minoring in Religious Studies is a thoughtful way to honor your mother's wishes, provided it doesn't negatively affect your academic performance or delay your graduation.
As for law, politics, fashion design, and filmmaking, I would advise against trying to pursue them all at degree level simultaneously. Instead, use your breaks, weekends, or free time to explore them through online courses, books, internships, volunteer work, personal projects, or clubs. This allows you to develop valuable skills without becoming academically overwhelmed.
Remember that interests evolve. What excites you today may change after gaining real-world experience. Give yourself permission to explore without feeling pressured to master everything immediately.
A practical roadmap could look like this:
Make Software Engineering your primary focus and aim to excel academically.
Build internships, coding projects, and networking opportunities during university.
Learn fashion design and filmmaking as creative side skills through short courses and personal projects.
Stay informed about law and politics by reading, attending public lectures, joining debates, or taking introductory courses.
Reassess your interests every year and decide which areas deserve deeper commitment.
Success rarely comes from doing everything at once. It usually comes from doing one thing exceptionally well while steadily developing other interests over time.
Your plan is realistic if you prioritize wisely. Think of your career as a marathon rather than a sprint. Build one strong pillar first, then add the others as your time, experience, and resources grow. That approach gives you the best chance of making your parents proud while creating a fulfilling, financially stable, and flexible future.
At 17, you do not need to build your entire career in the next five years. Instead, focus on building a strong foundation. A degree in Software Engineering is a solid choice if you genuinely enjoy programming and problem-solving, as it offers excellent career prospects in many industries, including aviation.
Minoring in Religious Studies is a thoughtful way to honor your mother's wishes, provided it doesn't negatively affect your academic performance or delay your graduation.
As for law, politics, fashion design, and filmmaking, I would advise against trying to pursue them all at degree level simultaneously. Instead, use your breaks, weekends, or free time to explore them through online courses, books, internships, volunteer work, personal projects, or clubs. This allows you to develop valuable skills without becoming academically overwhelmed.
Remember that interests evolve. What excites you today may change after gaining real-world experience. Give yourself permission to explore without feeling pressured to master everything immediately.
A practical roadmap could look like this:
Make Software Engineering your primary focus and aim to excel academically.
Build internships, coding projects, and networking opportunities during university.
Learn fashion design and filmmaking as creative side skills through short courses and personal projects.
Stay informed about law and politics by reading, attending public lectures, joining debates, or taking introductory courses.
Reassess your interests every year and decide which areas deserve deeper commitment.
Success rarely comes from doing everything at once. It usually comes from doing one thing exceptionally well while steadily developing other interests over time.
Your plan is realistic if you prioritize wisely. Think of your career as a marathon rather than a sprint. Build one strong pillar first, then add the others as your time, experience, and resources grow. That approach gives you the best chance of making your parents proud while creating a fulfilling, financially stable, and flexible future.
Thank you so much for this! The reminder that my career is a marathon rather than a sprint really took the pressure off. I was feeling so overwhelmed trying to fit everything into the next few years, but your advice helped me realize I can just focus on Software Engineering first and let the rest grow naturally during my breaks or
in my daily routine. You gave me the exact clarity I needed
Dj
Rebecca Tang
Banking
2696
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to know you have a wide range of interest. However, you cannot do so many careers at the same. You better pick 1-2 careers you have most of interest and focus on it.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Would you like to be a web developer, apps developer, lawyer, judge, para legal, Politian, journalist, Fashion designer, merchandiser, media content creator, etc. You can do more research on the careers related to your interest
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Would you like to be a web developer, apps developer, lawyer, judge, para legal, Politian, journalist, Fashion designer, merchandiser, media content creator, etc. You can do more research on the careers related to your interest
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Thank you for taking the time to share these steps with me! Looking into specific roles like a developer or a fashion merchandiser is a smart way for me to figure out what is actually sustainable. I appreciate your encouragement and the lovely blessing!
Dj
TRAVIS UPCHURCH
Federal Contract Admin
321
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
TRAVIS’s Answer
You will have opportunities to pursue those non-career interests in college in the clubs or other extracurricular activities offered. It is a good trait to be curious and a hard worker. There is crossover for some of your interests in the job market. You could be a Software Engineer at a law firm or the legal department of a technology company. Keep learning and find good peers that share the same goals and interests as you do. Consider dual credit courses, and CLEP testing to earn college credits at an affordable price. Good luck, you will do well.
Thank you so much! I love the idea of using clubs and checking out CLEP tests to save time. Finding out I could combine software engineering with a legal department is also awesome to know. I really appreciate the great advice!
Dj
John Woollard
General Manager
58
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
John’s Answer
You asked whether you are taking on too much, and I think you already know the answer. Yes, but that is not a bad thing. It just means you have more interests than any four years can hold, which is a good problem to have.
Here is what I would push back on. Software engineering alone, especially targeting aviation, is a demanding major. Adding a minor plus self-study in law, politics, fashion, and filmmaking across every break is a plan for burnout, not multitasking. Breaks are also when you recover, and you will need that more than you expect.
My honest suggestion is to protect the main degree, keep the minor only if it is really important to you, and then pick one or two of the creative interests to keep alive as a genuine hobby. Not a backup career, just something you do because you love it. The others will still be there later, and interests you drop at 19 often come back at 30 with more resources behind them.
Also, you mentioned wanting to make your parents proud and honoring your mom's wishes, and that is clearly important to you. Just make sure this plan is also what you want, because a career you chose only for someone else gets very heavy over 40 years.
You have time. You do not have to decide everything now.
Here is what I would push back on. Software engineering alone, especially targeting aviation, is a demanding major. Adding a minor plus self-study in law, politics, fashion, and filmmaking across every break is a plan for burnout, not multitasking. Breaks are also when you recover, and you will need that more than you expect.
My honest suggestion is to protect the main degree, keep the minor only if it is really important to you, and then pick one or two of the creative interests to keep alive as a genuine hobby. Not a backup career, just something you do because you love it. The others will still be there later, and interests you drop at 19 often come back at 30 with more resources behind them.
Also, you mentioned wanting to make your parents proud and honoring your mom's wishes, and that is clearly important to you. Just make sure this plan is also what you want, because a career you chose only for someone else gets very heavy over 40 years.
You have time. You do not have to decide everything now.
The idea that dropping an interest right now doesn't mean giving it up forever, and that breaks are actually meant for rest, really shifted my perspective. I appreciate you looking out for me and reminding me to pace myself
Dj
Shannon Wei
16
Answers
Updated
Shannon’s Answer
Hi Dj! I really relate to your question. When I was around your age and applying to college, I also felt a lot of pressure to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I was an only child and a first-generation college student, so it was not always easy to know what the “right” path was or how to balance my own goals with wanting to make my family proud.
One thing I have learned is that your career is not something you have to fully solve at 17. I’m 25 now and about two years into my professional career, and even after earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, I still feel like I am figuring out what I ultimately want to dedicate my long-term career to. That may sound far away when you are 17, but from my perspective, it still feels like early days. Some people stay in one field for a long time, some pivot into different roles, and some discover their best fit later through experience. Everyone’s path looks different.
I think it is great that you have so many interests. Software engineering, aviation, law, politics, religious studies, fashion, and filmmaking are all valuable in different ways. However, trying to give all of them the same level of time and energy at once may not be realistic. Even if you are good at multitasking, college can be demanding, and burnout is real. My advice would be to choose one main academic and career “anchor,” which sounds like Software Engineering for you. Protect that first: your grades, projects, internships, and technical skills. Then treat your other interests as supporting areas or creative outlets. For example, law and politics could connect to technology policy, aviation regulation, cybersecurity, or AI ethics. Fashion and filmmaking could be hobbies, side projects, clubs, or short courses during breaks.
You do not need a full degree in every interest for that interest to matter. Sometimes a class, club, project, internship, or self-study plan is enough to help you explore. You may also need to try things for yourself before knowing what is too much. If you take on too much one semester, that does not mean you failed; it just means you learned your limits and can adjust. The biggest thing I would say is: do not put pressure on yourself to “save” your whole future right now. Build a strong foundation, stay curious, and allow your path to evolve. Your future does not have to be perfectly planned to be successful. Good luck!!
One thing I have learned is that your career is not something you have to fully solve at 17. I’m 25 now and about two years into my professional career, and even after earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, I still feel like I am figuring out what I ultimately want to dedicate my long-term career to. That may sound far away when you are 17, but from my perspective, it still feels like early days. Some people stay in one field for a long time, some pivot into different roles, and some discover their best fit later through experience. Everyone’s path looks different.
I think it is great that you have so many interests. Software engineering, aviation, law, politics, religious studies, fashion, and filmmaking are all valuable in different ways. However, trying to give all of them the same level of time and energy at once may not be realistic. Even if you are good at multitasking, college can be demanding, and burnout is real. My advice would be to choose one main academic and career “anchor,” which sounds like Software Engineering for you. Protect that first: your grades, projects, internships, and technical skills. Then treat your other interests as supporting areas or creative outlets. For example, law and politics could connect to technology policy, aviation regulation, cybersecurity, or AI ethics. Fashion and filmmaking could be hobbies, side projects, clubs, or short courses during breaks.
You do not need a full degree in every interest for that interest to matter. Sometimes a class, club, project, internship, or self-study plan is enough to help you explore. You may also need to try things for yourself before knowing what is too much. If you take on too much one semester, that does not mean you failed; it just means you learned your limits and can adjust. The biggest thing I would say is: do not put pressure on yourself to “save” your whole future right now. Build a strong foundation, stay curious, and allow your path to evolve. Your future does not have to be perfectly planned to be successful. Good luck!!
Honestly, thank you so much for this reading it was a huge relief! Hearing your story as a first-gen student really hit home, and using Software Engineering as an anchor while keeping my other passions as side projects makes so much sense. I’ve been stressing about having everything figured out, so knowing I don't have to solve my whole life at 17 is a massive weight off my shoulders. I really appreciate your advice!
Dj
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1425
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi DJ,
First, I think it's great that you're thinking ahead. At the same time, I'd encourage you to be careful not to confuse having many interests with **needing to pursue all of them at once**.
Software Engineering is a demanding major on its own. If that's your primary career goal, I'd focus on doing well academically, building projects, and gaining internships. Those experiences will have a much bigger impact on your future than trying to master several unrelated fields during university.
A minor in Religious Studies sounds like a reasonable way to honor your interests and your family's wishes, provided it doesn't interfere with your major requirements.
As for law, politics, fashion, and filmmaking, I don't think you need to decide now whether they will become careers. University is a great time to explore them through electives, student organizations, online courses, personal projects, or internships. You may discover that one becomes a lifelong hobby, while another develops into a future career opportunity.
One thing I'd challenge is the idea of keeping fashion design as a "backup." If Software Engineering is your main plan, invest in becoming excellent at it rather than relying on a backup career you haven't fully explored. Strong skills in one field are usually more valuable than shallow skills in many.
My advice is to prioritize your degree, protect time for internships and practical experience, and treat your other interests as opportunities to learn and grow rather than obligations. Careers rarely follow a straight line, and there's plenty of time to combine technology with law, politics, or even creative industries later on.
You don't have to choose between being a well-rounded person and having a successful career. Just be intentional about what deserves your attention now and what can wait until you've built a solid foundation.
Best wishes!
First, I think it's great that you're thinking ahead. At the same time, I'd encourage you to be careful not to confuse having many interests with **needing to pursue all of them at once**.
Software Engineering is a demanding major on its own. If that's your primary career goal, I'd focus on doing well academically, building projects, and gaining internships. Those experiences will have a much bigger impact on your future than trying to master several unrelated fields during university.
A minor in Religious Studies sounds like a reasonable way to honor your interests and your family's wishes, provided it doesn't interfere with your major requirements.
As for law, politics, fashion, and filmmaking, I don't think you need to decide now whether they will become careers. University is a great time to explore them through electives, student organizations, online courses, personal projects, or internships. You may discover that one becomes a lifelong hobby, while another develops into a future career opportunity.
One thing I'd challenge is the idea of keeping fashion design as a "backup." If Software Engineering is your main plan, invest in becoming excellent at it rather than relying on a backup career you haven't fully explored. Strong skills in one field are usually more valuable than shallow skills in many.
My advice is to prioritize your degree, protect time for internships and practical experience, and treat your other interests as opportunities to learn and grow rather than obligations. Careers rarely follow a straight line, and there's plenty of time to combine technology with law, politics, or even creative industries later on.
You don't have to choose between being a well-rounded person and having a successful career. Just be intentional about what deserves your attention now and what can wait until you've built a solid foundation.
Best wishes!
Your point about not needing to pursue every single interest right now really resonated with me, especially about treating fashion design as an outlet rather than a 'backup.'
It’s super helpful to hear that I should just focus on building a solid foundation in Software Engineering first and let everything else develop naturally. I really appreciate you taking the time to share such practical, grounded advice!
Dj
You're welcome!
Chinyere Okafor