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Give me any advise or if you could give one piece of advice to a Year 10 student who is still exploring their career options, what would you recommend?
Hi, I am a Year 10 student who is interested in pursuing a career in medicine and am currently exploring careers in biomedical engineering and biochemical engineering. I am also interested in learning more about careers within the Defence industry, particularly careers that involve medicine, science, engineering and technology. I would like to learn from professionals currently working in these fields or students who have experience studying towards these careers.
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12 answers
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to know you have a wide range of interest.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Given you have interest in medicine, science, engineering and technology, would you consider to become biochemistry engineer, pharmacists, Doctor, Medical Robotics Engineer, Vet, Nurse, etc. you can find out more related careers online.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers.
4. Attend information hosts by relevant departments of colleges
5. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
6. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Given you have interest in medicine, science, engineering and technology, would you consider to become biochemistry engineer, pharmacists, Doctor, Medical Robotics Engineer, Vet, Nurse, etc. you can find out more related careers online.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers.
4. Attend information hosts by relevant departments of colleges
5. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
6. 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 help.
Hannah
Updated
Christie’s Answer
I work in public accounting, focusing on research and development tax credits. This means I often talk to engineers about their projects, but I am not an engineer myself. Some of my friends who studied bioengineering went into medicine, and having an engineering degree seemed to help them get into medical school. Bioengineering appears to be a good choice for those interested in research, though I'm not entirely sure. If you're aiming for a career in engineering, I suggest getting a traditional engineering degree like mechanical, electrical, or chemical. These degrees tend to be more valuable in the job market, even in the biomedical engineering field. I enjoyed studying bioengineering, but I would recommend it more for graduate studies rather than as an undergraduate degree.
Thank you for the advice, Christie.
Hannah
Updated
Sahida’s Answer
Hi Hannah,
It's wonderful to hear about your dreams and interests. Keep exploring and nurturing them. You have plenty of time to make decisions, but it's important to understand yourself too. Try out different things to see what you enjoy most:
- Helping sick people, like a doctor
- Building machines or tools, like an engineer
- Working with the army in science and technology
Reach out to people who work in these fields and ask about their daily experiences. Join fun projects, science clubs, or competitions if you can. The best thing you can do now is stay curious, keep learning math and science, and try new activities. This way, you'll gradually discover what you truly enjoy, and when you're older, you'll know what you really love.
It's wonderful to hear about your dreams and interests. Keep exploring and nurturing them. You have plenty of time to make decisions, but it's important to understand yourself too. Try out different things to see what you enjoy most:
- Helping sick people, like a doctor
- Building machines or tools, like an engineer
- Working with the army in science and technology
Reach out to people who work in these fields and ask about their daily experiences. Join fun projects, science clubs, or competitions if you can. The best thing you can do now is stay curious, keep learning math and science, and try new activities. This way, you'll gradually discover what you truly enjoy, and when you're older, you'll know what you really love.
You rock! This advice is very helpful.
Hannah
Updated
Jean Noel’s Answer
Hi - If I could give just one piece of advice to a Year 10 student at your stage, it is this: Focus on building portable skills and testing direct experiences, rather than committing to a specific job title. At 15 or 16, your goal shouldn't be to pick the exact career you'll do for the next 40 years—it should be to build a strong foundation in STEM and collect real-world exposure so you can discover what actually energizes you.
Key Areas to Explore
You’re asking fantastic questions, and the overlap between medicine, engineering, technology, and defence is one of the most exciting intersections in modern science.
• Biomedical Engineering: Focuses on developing medical devices, prosthetics, artificial organs, and diagnostic equipment. It merges human biology with mechanical, electrical, and materials engineering to directly solve clinical problems.
• Biochemical Engineering: Bridges chemistry, biology, and chemical engineering. It centers on process design—such as biomanufacturing vaccines, producing pharmaceuticals at scale, cell and gene therapies, or developing sustainable biomaterials.
• Medicine: Direct patient care, clinical diagnosis, and medical research. While traditionally separate from engineering, modern medicine relies heavily on technological and bio-engineering advancements.
• Defence Science & Technology: Defence organizations rely on multidisciplinary teams. In this space, science and engineering intersect with medicine in high-stakes environments:
o Defence Medicine & Health Services: Military doctors, trauma care specialists, and aeromedical evacuation experts.
o Biodefense & Medical Countermeasures: Developing vaccines, antidotes, and protective gear against chemical, biological, or radiological threats.
o Human Factors & Bio-Engineering: Designing equipment, exoskeletons, or life-support systems optimized for human performance under extreme stress.
Concrete Action Steps for Year 10
To connect with professionals and gain firsthand experience, consider these practical next steps:
1. Academic Foundations: Keep your options wide open by prioritizing Chemistry, Physics, Advanced Mathematics, and Biology for your Year 11 and 12 subjects. Chemistry and Higher Maths are the most common strict prerequisites for engineering and medical degrees.
2. Gain Practical Insight: Look for week-long work experience placements or shadowing opportunities with local university bio-labs, biomedical start-ups, or hospital engineering departments.
3. Engage with Defence Outreach: Defence forces and government research agencies (such as DSTG in Australia, DSTL in the UK, or DoD laboratories in the US) often run high-school STEM workshops, cadet programs, or university sponsorship/scholarship information sessions.
4. Reach Out to Mentors: Use platforms like LinkedIn (with parent/school guidance) or university open days to ask current engineering students or professionals 15-minute questions about their typical day.
Key Areas to Explore
You’re asking fantastic questions, and the overlap between medicine, engineering, technology, and defence is one of the most exciting intersections in modern science.
• Biomedical Engineering: Focuses on developing medical devices, prosthetics, artificial organs, and diagnostic equipment. It merges human biology with mechanical, electrical, and materials engineering to directly solve clinical problems.
• Biochemical Engineering: Bridges chemistry, biology, and chemical engineering. It centers on process design—such as biomanufacturing vaccines, producing pharmaceuticals at scale, cell and gene therapies, or developing sustainable biomaterials.
• Medicine: Direct patient care, clinical diagnosis, and medical research. While traditionally separate from engineering, modern medicine relies heavily on technological and bio-engineering advancements.
• Defence Science & Technology: Defence organizations rely on multidisciplinary teams. In this space, science and engineering intersect with medicine in high-stakes environments:
o Defence Medicine & Health Services: Military doctors, trauma care specialists, and aeromedical evacuation experts.
o Biodefense & Medical Countermeasures: Developing vaccines, antidotes, and protective gear against chemical, biological, or radiological threats.
o Human Factors & Bio-Engineering: Designing equipment, exoskeletons, or life-support systems optimized for human performance under extreme stress.
Concrete Action Steps for Year 10
To connect with professionals and gain firsthand experience, consider these practical next steps:
1. Academic Foundations: Keep your options wide open by prioritizing Chemistry, Physics, Advanced Mathematics, and Biology for your Year 11 and 12 subjects. Chemistry and Higher Maths are the most common strict prerequisites for engineering and medical degrees.
2. Gain Practical Insight: Look for week-long work experience placements or shadowing opportunities with local university bio-labs, biomedical start-ups, or hospital engineering departments.
3. Engage with Defence Outreach: Defence forces and government research agencies (such as DSTG in Australia, DSTL in the UK, or DoD laboratories in the US) often run high-school STEM workshops, cadet programs, or university sponsorship/scholarship information sessions.
4. Reach Out to Mentors: Use platforms like LinkedIn (with parent/school guidance) or university open days to ask current engineering students or professionals 15-minute questions about their typical day.
Cristina Selma Oltra
product support engineer CERTINIA
10
Answers
Updated
Cristina’s Answer
Hi Hannah,
It’s fantastic to see you exploring such a strong intersection of science and engineering at Year 10!
My biggest piece of advice is to focus on "problem-solving" rather than just a specific job title, especially since the Defence industry and Biomedical fields are constantly evolving with new technology. Since you are in South Australia, I’d highly recommend looking into the STEM cadetships or work experience programs offered by the Department of Defence (DSTG) right there in Edinburgh, as they love seeing students who can bridge the gap between engineering and health sciences.
Don't feel pressured to have it all figured out today; choosing a broad degree like Biomedical Engineering often gives you the flexibility to pivot into clinical medicine or high-tech defence projects later on. Keep that curiosity sharp and definitely try to attend a few university open days in Adelaide to chat with students doing the actual lab work, it’s the best way to see if you can picture yourself in their shoes.
Good luck, you've got a very exciting path ahead!
It’s fantastic to see you exploring such a strong intersection of science and engineering at Year 10!
My biggest piece of advice is to focus on "problem-solving" rather than just a specific job title, especially since the Defence industry and Biomedical fields are constantly evolving with new technology. Since you are in South Australia, I’d highly recommend looking into the STEM cadetships or work experience programs offered by the Department of Defence (DSTG) right there in Edinburgh, as they love seeing students who can bridge the gap between engineering and health sciences.
Don't feel pressured to have it all figured out today; choosing a broad degree like Biomedical Engineering often gives you the flexibility to pivot into clinical medicine or high-tech defence projects later on. Keep that curiosity sharp and definitely try to attend a few university open days in Adelaide to chat with students doing the actual lab work, it’s the best way to see if you can picture yourself in their shoes.
Good luck, you've got a very exciting path ahead!
I appreciate you taking the time to answer this.
Hannah
Updated
Mohanapriya’s Answer
It’s excellent that you are exploring these options in Year 10. You don't need to have your entire career figured out yet. The best advice I can give, which applies to students anywhere in the world, is:
Focus on building strong foundations, not choosing the perfect career today.
Medicine, biomedical engineering, biochemical engineering, and defence-related science and technology all share a common foundation:
Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Communication skills
Problem-solving
Teamwork
If you develop these skills now, you will keep many exciting career pathways open.
Focus on building strong foundations, not choosing the perfect career today.
Medicine, biomedical engineering, biochemical engineering, and defence-related science and technology all share a common foundation:
Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Communication skills
Problem-solving
Teamwork
If you develop these skills now, you will keep many exciting career pathways open.
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Hannah
Updated
Behn’s Answer
Think about the subjects or activities where you feel most engaged, the projects you are proud of, and the kinds of problems you naturally enjoy solving. What kinds of global problems you hear in the news, you feel drawn to solve? Do you enjoy understanding biological systems, designing things, working with technology, analyzing data, or thinking about how science can solve real-world problems?
For you, I feel a multidisciplinary pathway could work better. Areas such as computational biology, cognitive science, Precision medicine, or biochemical engineering can give you a strong foundation while keeping several future options open.
That flexibility matters because you may later change your mind.
So I would focus first on building a broad foundation in 2-3 of these: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computing. Then use university projects, internships, research, or graduate study to specialize once you have a clearer sense of what excites you most.
At your age, choosing a pathway that opens doors can be more valuable than trying to identify one exact career too early.
For you, I feel a multidisciplinary pathway could work better. Areas such as computational biology, cognitive science, Precision medicine, or biochemical engineering can give you a strong foundation while keeping several future options open.
That flexibility matters because you may later change your mind.
So I would focus first on building a broad foundation in 2-3 of these: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computing. Then use university projects, internships, research, or graduate study to specialize once you have a clearer sense of what excites you most.
At your age, choosing a pathway that opens doors can be more valuable than trying to identify one exact career too early.
Updated
Cristina’s Answer
Hi Hannah,
It's great to see someone in Year 10 already exploring different career paths within medicine, engineering, science, and technology.
My background is not directly in biomedical or biochemical engineering, but I have worked closely with professionals across healthcare, science, and technology-focused industries. One thing I've learned is that both biomedical engineering and biochemical engineering can provide excellent pathways into improving people's lives through innovation.
Biomedical Engineering typically focuses on developing and improving medical devices, prosthetics, diagnostic equipment, and healthcare technologies. It combines engineering principles with medicine and biology to solve healthcare challenges.
Biochemical Engineering focuses more on applying biology, chemistry, and engineering to areas such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical research, and the development of new treatments and medicines.
Regarding the Defence industry, there are many exciting opportunities that combine medicine, science, engineering, and technology. Defence organizations often work on areas such as:
Medical technologies and trauma care
Biotechnology and human performance research
Robotics and autonomous systems
Cybersecurity and digital health solutions
Advanced materials and protective equipment
Aerospace and human factors engineering
As you continue exploring these options, I would encourage you to:
Strengthen your studies in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and technology subjects.
Participate in STEM competitions, science fairs, or engineering clubs when available.
Look for university outreach programs, work experience opportunities, and career events related to healthcare, engineering, and defence.
Speak with professionals and current university students whenever possible to learn about their experiences firsthand.
My advice at this stage is not to worry about choosing a specific career too early. Focus on building a strong foundation in STEM subjects while staying curious about different fields. Many careers today sit at the intersection of medicine, science, engineering, and technology, so keeping your options open can lead to opportunities you may not have considered yet.
I wish you the very best as you explore these exciting career paths. Your curiosity and initiative will serve you well.
It's great to see someone in Year 10 already exploring different career paths within medicine, engineering, science, and technology.
My background is not directly in biomedical or biochemical engineering, but I have worked closely with professionals across healthcare, science, and technology-focused industries. One thing I've learned is that both biomedical engineering and biochemical engineering can provide excellent pathways into improving people's lives through innovation.
Biomedical Engineering typically focuses on developing and improving medical devices, prosthetics, diagnostic equipment, and healthcare technologies. It combines engineering principles with medicine and biology to solve healthcare challenges.
Biochemical Engineering focuses more on applying biology, chemistry, and engineering to areas such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical research, and the development of new treatments and medicines.
Regarding the Defence industry, there are many exciting opportunities that combine medicine, science, engineering, and technology. Defence organizations often work on areas such as:
Medical technologies and trauma care
Biotechnology and human performance research
Robotics and autonomous systems
Cybersecurity and digital health solutions
Advanced materials and protective equipment
Aerospace and human factors engineering
As you continue exploring these options, I would encourage you to:
Strengthen your studies in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and technology subjects.
Participate in STEM competitions, science fairs, or engineering clubs when available.
Look for university outreach programs, work experience opportunities, and career events related to healthcare, engineering, and defence.
Speak with professionals and current university students whenever possible to learn about their experiences firsthand.
My advice at this stage is not to worry about choosing a specific career too early. Focus on building a strong foundation in STEM subjects while staying curious about different fields. Many careers today sit at the intersection of medicine, science, engineering, and technology, so keeping your options open can lead to opportunities you may not have considered yet.
I wish you the very best as you explore these exciting career paths. Your curiosity and initiative will serve you well.
Updated
Rynan’s Answer
Hi there!
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to stay curious and give yourself permission to explore.
It's great that you're already thinking about careers in medicine, engineering, science, and technology. What stands out is that you're asking questions and actively learning about different paths instead of rushing to choose one. That's a strength.
Many professionals discover their career direction by exploring related interests, talking to people in the field, joining clubs, volunteering, attending events, or taking courses that spark their curiosity. Sometimes the career you eventually love isn't one you even knew existed when you were in school.
As you explore, pay attention to what excites you most. Is it helping patients, solving technical problems, conducting research, designing new technology, or working on real-world challenges? Understanding what you enjoy can be just as important as choosing a specific job title.
You don't need to have everything figured out in Year 10. Focus on building a strong foundation in your studies, staying open-minded, and learning from as many people and experiences as possible. The answers will become clearer over time.
Best of luck with your exploration. Your curiosity and willingness to learn will take you far, no matter which path you eventually choose! 😊
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to stay curious and give yourself permission to explore.
It's great that you're already thinking about careers in medicine, engineering, science, and technology. What stands out is that you're asking questions and actively learning about different paths instead of rushing to choose one. That's a strength.
Many professionals discover their career direction by exploring related interests, talking to people in the field, joining clubs, volunteering, attending events, or taking courses that spark their curiosity. Sometimes the career you eventually love isn't one you even knew existed when you were in school.
As you explore, pay attention to what excites you most. Is it helping patients, solving technical problems, conducting research, designing new technology, or working on real-world challenges? Understanding what you enjoy can be just as important as choosing a specific job title.
You don't need to have everything figured out in Year 10. Focus on building a strong foundation in your studies, staying open-minded, and learning from as many people and experiences as possible. The answers will become clearer over time.
Best of luck with your exploration. Your curiosity and willingness to learn will take you far, no matter which path you eventually choose! 😊
Updated
Hetal’s Answer
Hi Hannah, my biggest advice would be don’t feel pressured to have your whole career figured out in Year 10.
Use this time to explore different subjects, activities, and areas that genuinely interest you. Pay attention to what you enjoy, what you’re naturally good at, and what kind of work you can see yourself doing. Talk to people from different careers and learn about what their day-to-day work is actually like.
Most importantly, keep your options open and focus on building strong skills. Your interests can change as you learn more about yourself, and that’s completely normal.
Use this time to explore different subjects, activities, and areas that genuinely interest you. Pay attention to what you enjoy, what you’re naturally good at, and what kind of work you can see yourself doing. Talk to people from different careers and learn about what their day-to-day work is actually like.
Most importantly, keep your options open and focus on building strong skills. Your interests can change as you learn more about yourself, and that’s completely normal.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Hannah
Updated
Sreedhar’s Answer
Hi Hannah,
Ask your why you are interested in biomedical or biomedical engineering. Ask yourself which subjects are your strong ones. Get the best marks in those subject without ignoring other subjects. Selecting an industry is not relevant. Each location of the world has a flourishing industry at different times. But your interests and your strengths will always stay with you. So, stay focused on your interests and strengths and discuss them with your teachers, your parents, your friends, and any other relatives. You do not have to select any of their advice, but teach yourself to listen patiently to them. The answer to which field to pursue beyond high school will be very clear to you well before the time to apply for college admission.
Good luck!
Sreedhar
Ask your why you are interested in biomedical or biomedical engineering. Ask yourself which subjects are your strong ones. Get the best marks in those subject without ignoring other subjects. Selecting an industry is not relevant. Each location of the world has a flourishing industry at different times. But your interests and your strengths will always stay with you. So, stay focused on your interests and strengths and discuss them with your teachers, your parents, your friends, and any other relatives. You do not have to select any of their advice, but teach yourself to listen patiently to them. The answer to which field to pursue beyond high school will be very clear to you well before the time to apply for college admission.
Good luck!
Sreedhar
Thank you, Sreedhar for the advice.
Hannah
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi Hannah,
It's with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to respond to your question.
Exploring career options for the future is a normal process that students go through in the course of your studies.
Many factors affect the choice of careers. Natural gifts/talents is a good foundation for career choices. What we are exceptional at is an excellent opportunity for building a successful career. Keen interest is important too. We also need to love and enjoy what we do so we can pursue it with passion, diligence, commitment, perseverance and curiosity.
Putting your talents at the service of humanity not only improves your chances of a fulfilling career but can also easily guarantee you financial freedom. Addressing important human needs provides the foundation for this.
In high school, chemistry and biology are foundational subjects for medicine while mathematics and physics provide the foundation for all engineering courses. Often, many students are equally good in these foundational subjects. In such a case, you need to go by what your heart desires.
The defense industry employees all sorts of professionals. Any one who is ready to excel will get a chance to contribute to its legacy.
Success is greatly influenced by our levels of competence. Knowledge only provides the foundation for competence. To put this knowledge to good use, we require skills. Critical skills include our ability to plan, schedule & execute work; identify and solve problems: analyze & critically evaluate information: organize; communicate effectively and work in teams.
There are important personal qualities we need to succeed at the place of work. They include, amongst others, passion, curiosity, commitment, perseverance, diligence, attention to detail, assertiveness, resilience, self-control, self-drive, empathy etc. These qualities improve our Emotional Intelligence (EQ).
Some people are naturally gifted in many of these qualities. The rest of us have to acquire them through practice and experience.
Finally, practical work helps us learn through experience. Practical knowledge will give you an enduring competitive advantage if you are really good at what you do. Excellence should be at heart of all your endeavors.
Best of luck.
It's with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to respond to your question.
Exploring career options for the future is a normal process that students go through in the course of your studies.
Many factors affect the choice of careers. Natural gifts/talents is a good foundation for career choices. What we are exceptional at is an excellent opportunity for building a successful career. Keen interest is important too. We also need to love and enjoy what we do so we can pursue it with passion, diligence, commitment, perseverance and curiosity.
Putting your talents at the service of humanity not only improves your chances of a fulfilling career but can also easily guarantee you financial freedom. Addressing important human needs provides the foundation for this.
In high school, chemistry and biology are foundational subjects for medicine while mathematics and physics provide the foundation for all engineering courses. Often, many students are equally good in these foundational subjects. In such a case, you need to go by what your heart desires.
The defense industry employees all sorts of professionals. Any one who is ready to excel will get a chance to contribute to its legacy.
Success is greatly influenced by our levels of competence. Knowledge only provides the foundation for competence. To put this knowledge to good use, we require skills. Critical skills include our ability to plan, schedule & execute work; identify and solve problems: analyze & critically evaluate information: organize; communicate effectively and work in teams.
There are important personal qualities we need to succeed at the place of work. They include, amongst others, passion, curiosity, commitment, perseverance, diligence, attention to detail, assertiveness, resilience, self-control, self-drive, empathy etc. These qualities improve our Emotional Intelligence (EQ).
Some people are naturally gifted in many of these qualities. The rest of us have to acquire them through practice and experience.
Finally, practical work helps us learn through experience. Practical knowledge will give you an enduring competitive advantage if you are really good at what you do. Excellence should be at heart of all your endeavors.
Best of luck.
William, thank you!
Hannah