How do you choose between a career path that you love, and a career path that you feel is important.

Hi Ella,

Gary has given you some excellent advice. My only additional thought to consider is to do some research on your greatest (true) strengths. This may help you decide what path you want to begin first. Having diverse interests and skill sets make you a more interesting and well-rounded person. That being said you may want to consider taking the StrengthsFinder assessment to better understand your true strengths and how that helps shape your career path. Here is a link to StrengthsFinder in case you are interested.

www.gallupstrengthscenter.com

You have had a few good answers so far. Very good questions get good answers! 

Hi Ella

The good news is that you have time. It's good that you are thinking about your career path in high school, but you've got a few years ahead of you. I would say keep your mind open to both art and environmental science. Look for classes and experiences in both areas, and see which one really pulls at you.

However, based on the wording of your question, it seems you have already made up your mind. You seem to see environmental science as "important", but art as something you just "love to do". Just to give you a different perspective, I'll say that to me, speaking as an artist, art is every bit as important as environmental science to our world, but in a different way.

You can always major in environmental science and minor in art, or just keep art as a hobby . That is the good thing about art, you can always pursue it at one level or another.

I hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hey Ella,

First, know you're not alone in feeling torn between majors. When I went to college, I went to one that had three majors I was interested in: Writing, Computer and Digital Forensics, and Game Design. I started as a Writing major, but changed to Computer and Digital Forensics before the year started.

To build on what Kim and Ellen said, I think one of the biggest things that stood out to me when I was making this decision was which of these did I want to keep as hobbies. When you turn something into a career and you have to work with it every day, it changes your relationship with it. Writing and Video Games were outlets for me, so I didn't want to turn it into something I had to do to make a living.

Hope this helps!

Hey Ella, I was in a similar position many years ago. I decided to major in Studio Art while most of my friends majored in Business. When I graduated from college with my art degree, I ended up in Sales at a technology company which turned into a great career helping companies transform their business in the new digital age. I continue to make and sell art "on the side" and may eventually focus on it full time. My advice is to focus on what you love and what you are good at. Work hard, learn new things, be a good person, and things will work out one way or another. You may be the next famous Artist. Or you may end up working in a completely different field. Best of luck finishing up high school and then in college!