I need some "adult" advice.

[oldwirehands]

I have been really throwing around possible careers I want to venture into. I have an opportunity to get into a good paying career but the job is totally meaningless to me but I wouldn't mind doing it. I mean, its not hard work but its just something that I wouldn't be happy with doing for the rest of my life. Then there is another field I'd like to go into which would require me going out and getting a degree (which is what I would like) but its not a secure career. I would really be making any real money until I'm 28 or so but I'd be very happy with what I do.

So am I supposed to be happy with my career?

[ben pequeno]

tough decision...but money can buy happiness.

[GRIFFARD]

I have been really throwing around possible careers I want to venture into. I have an opportunity to get into a good paying career but the job is totally meaningless to me but I wouldn't mind doing it. I mean, its not hard work but its just something that I wouldn't be happy with doing for the rest of my life. Then there is another field I'd like to go into which would require me going out and getting a degree (which is what I would like) but its not a secure career. I would really be making any real money until I'm 28 or so but I'd be very happy with what I do.

So am I supposed to be happy with my career?
yes you are. happiness should be placed above all else or you will feel very shitty at work

[oldwirehands]

yes you are. happiness should be placed above all else or you will feel very shitty at work

See thats the thing. I mean, I could do a job that really isn't hard and semi-ejoy it, make great money, but feel kind of empty doing it. Its like "Yeah, I'm here and its not bad, the pay is good, but I'd rather do something else". I'm feeling pressure from my family to go for it but they have always pressured me to go into careers that I had no real interest in.

I really don't know what is right to do. I know that work is work but shouldn't you be happy/proud of what you do? Shouldn't you enjoy it and find meaning in it? That is what I thought but people are making it sound like its a bad move to pass up this opportunity.

[Dirty Ernie]

i personally am about to enter a career that i will love though money will be tight for a few years...i do have a college degree, and i always thought growing up that i would go into whichever career offered the most money, but now i'm not so sure, and i will love my job and i think thats important...i could probably answer this question better in about 6 months

and as far as your family and friends advice, remember you gotta get yours, put yourself above all of them because you are the one who has to live with your decisions

[splitsecond]

Get the degree. It is worth it. I just spend 7 years in college but now I can pretty much do whatever I want and demand a pretty good salary.

[JosianeMalfoy]

the money would be useful so you could settle down to a nice life

[bigmike]

I have been really throwing around possible careers I want to venture into. I have an opportunity to get into a good paying career but the job is totally meaningless to me but I wouldn't mind doing it. I mean, its not hard work but its just something that I wouldn't be happy with doing for the rest of my life. Then there is another field I'd like to go into which would require me going out and getting a degree (which is what I would like) but its not a secure career. I would really be making any real money until I'm 28 or so but I'd be very happy with what I do.

So am I supposed to be happy with my career?
can you take the one well paying job while going to school, or no?

[catscradle]

Get the degree. It is worth it. I just spend 7 years in college but now I can pretty much do whatever I want and demand a pretty good salary.
That's a good option to have.

[Shoes]

I say fuck the money and do the job that makes you happy. It's all about waking up in the morning and being pleased to be going to where you work.

[FeynmanWannabe]

I have been really throwing around possible careers I want to venture into. I have an opportunity to get into a good paying career but the job is totally meaningless to me but I wouldn't mind doing it. I mean, its not hard work but its just something that I wouldn't be happy with doing for the rest of my life. Then there is another field I'd like to go into which would require me going out and getting a degree (which is what I would like) but its not a secure career. I would really be making any real money until I'm 28 or so but I'd be very happy with what I do.

So am I supposed to be happy with my career?
You think 28/29 is bad? I'll be graduating from grad school then (hopefully) and if I continue down particle physics I'd be a postdoc for ~3 years at least, most likely.

Still, it's interesting stuff. I've always been a "go with what makes you happy" kind of guy, but now I am thinking about the other things - my girlfriend, future family, etc and I don't know how it'll turn out. Don't know what to tell you dude.

[A picasso blue]

yes you should like youur job. or else youll be miserable later on and regret not doing what you had wanted

[oldwirehands]

can you take the one well paying job while going to school, or no?

Not really. The hours I would work are fucking retarded and it would be five days a week. So its kind of like, I take the shit hours, shit pay, and shit job now, then work my way up for six or seven years until I make real cash OR go invest my time and money into school for four years and struggle for awhile with something I enjoy.

[oldwirehands]

You think 28/29 is bad? I'll be graduating from grad school then (hopefully) and if I continue down particle physics I'd be a postdoc for ~3 years at least, most likely.

Still, it's interesting stuff. I've always been a "go with what makes you happy" kind of guy, but now I am thinking about the other things - my girlfriend, future family, etc and I don't know how it'll turn out. Don't know what to tell you dude.

Yeah, that last part is what is really making this decision hard. The whole starting a family.

[kewlerAbsoluteP]

I have been really throwing around possible careers I want to venture into. I have an opportunity to get into a good paying career but the job is totally meaningless to me but I wouldn't mind doing it. I mean, its not hard work but its just something that I wouldn't be happy with doing for the rest of my life. Then there is another field I'd like to go into which would require me going out and getting a degree (which is what I would like) but its not a secure career. I would really be making any real money until I'm 28 or so but I'd be very happy with what I do.

So am I supposed to be happy with my career?
I think you can have a reasonable income or more AND something you like doing. I think you need some income though to be happy with any career and it is a hassle worrying about the next bill and that does effect your happiness. So if your at that point then take the job. After that though it starts to be a grey area as far as more income esp if you don't like to do it. Follow your dreams realizing it's tough to get what you want and you'll have to work your butt off to get the career that will be ideal for U. not the easiest hurdle to defeat.

[roxy]

If you have the opportunity to get a degree or at least some education, then take it. You will have access to a lot more careers with a degree

[Of Machines]

hey i've faced teh same exact problem. I started out at school as an engineer and absolutely hated it. But I realized that a decent degree will always take you farther than none at all no matter what the job is. plus if you want to do what you love you can always fall back on it...but the security of having a good education (therefore a bright future) will always be there for you if you stay in school.

[DeadCityScars]

did you try...in the butt?

[MotionIsntMeaning]

I have been really throwing around possible careers I want to venture into. I have an opportunity to get into a good paying career but the job is totally meaningless to me but I wouldn't mind doing it. I mean, its not hard work but its just something that I wouldn't be happy with doing for the rest of my life. Then there is another field I'd like to go into which would require me going out and getting a degree (which is what I would like) but its not a secure career. I would really be making any real money until I'm 28 or so but I'd be very happy with what I do.

So am I supposed to be happy with my career?

Get the degree. Even if you don't go into the field you studied it gives you a lot more choices and opportunities. My dad didn't get a degree and chose a high-paying job instead. He has been very successful and has provided my family with a lot, but he is far from happy. My parents ended up divorced and he has a lot of regrets about things he wished he had done. He pushed me to get my degree even though it wasn't what I wanted, but now I can see why. Now I feel I can try out different jobs I want to do and take risks because I have a degree to fall back on. Money is important as far as being able to pay bills and provide for a family, but being wealthy is useless if you are unhappy. Money provides stability, not happiness.