Changing my future within 24 hours
13 July 2008, 6:40 pm. View comments. Filed under Personal, School.
I know what everyone says... That it's important to do what you love etc. How about if two things you love are in conflict with each other? Prioritize, right? 
I love Law and I love International Economics/Business. So that combination was what I was planning to do all along. However having done my first International Business paper this past semester, I now realise the amount of workload involved together with Law far exceeds what I had in mind. My International Economics/Business papers next year all require highly time-consuming research essays and case studies. I can write essays, but I take a considerable amount of time. My overarching strength lies in mathematics and numbers. The Law component has enough research essays for me to do, and I want to put more time into Law instead of Commerce. So I don't want my Commerce load crushing my Law grades. Aside from that, Finance seems to have a richer and broader future than Economics and International Business because large firms tend to be more interested in Accounting/Law, Finance/Law or Taxation/Law people. But Finance just sounds so much more boring than what I had planned before and I'm really scared of what I'm going to face in it.
I don't know what's with all these "big" sudden decisions I make right after a downfall in something. For example, "suddenly" deciding to skip my last year of high school right after breaking up in 2006 because there are supposed to be more and bigger fish in the sea. (Which turned out to be oh-so-wrong but it was a great decision anyway.)
And I think I sort of freaked my friend out by declaring to change my commerce major in the last minute. I start my next semester in a week and I'm having to change all my future papers. My originally-organised future plan is now a complete mess and I feel like I'm facing a new and uncertain three years ahead.
I really do believe Finance would give me a better future with more choices in the future. I just hope that I'll grow to enjoy it so I won't be stuck with something I find boring and fail all the way. I wouldn't call this giving up something I love but perhaps a trade-off in the process of practically considering future workload and career prospects.
27 Comments »
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I think it all depends in what you want to work with in the future. Don't go for something that you'll have fun doing in university, go for something that you'll have fun doing your entire life! That said, I can't advise you with anything since I'm totally unfamiliar with anything regarding "life after university" with either Commerce or Law, so I'll just uh...stand here rooting for you! ;)
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Yeah only three weeks Nellie.
And I don't know about high-pay. Lots of students graduate with Law school unable to find a good job. -
We only got two weeks! I go back tomorrow.
And yeah, there's always the problem of FINDING a job, but when you do, chances are it'll be high-paid. -
*hugs*
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Good luck in whatever path you choose to take.
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Go for what you think you'll be happiest in.
Perhaps consult counselors at your school if you haven't already and if they are available. I know that helped me! Good luck! -
I guess it's good to pursue something more practical than something you love if you might be living in a cardboard box if you pursue what you love. That's the reason why I'll be going for a business school. Best of luck with everything
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I don't think you have made a bad decision, Rilla. I think you put too mush pressure on yourself. But then I have told you this before. I think Finance is a good choice. You will always be needed no matter what happens. Just like tax preparers, lol. Plus if you work it right, maybe you can get a job with the government (I don't know if that is a good thing over there like it is over here for the benefits or not).
Remember if you constantly think you are going to fail you are leaving yourself no room to succeed. Where is if you constantly think that you are going to do your best and give it your all you never fail, no matter what. -
*hugs all*
Hev, I actually did think of working for the government. Even as a politician or something myself. XD I know the government uses a lot of financial analysts! -
Practicality over everything. Passion will only bring you so far in this world. Do something that you know will make you a living - ie. move out from parents, have children, support yourself, etc. Yes, you like number crunching. Business is very practical. Just don't end up in any of these majors:
http://www.bspcn.com/2008/06/05/the-10-most-worthless-college-majors/
To me, anyone who MAJORS in religion is an idiot. Ph D. in religion. OK. Now what? Exactly.
If law is too difficult, drop it. Don't do something that is beyond your ability. You like numbers? Business seems good. Makes good money too! Try hard and you WILL succeed.
If you want an example: me.
I love physics/chemistry. Hate biology. Love mathematics.
I'm working towards becoming a doctor. In a doctor program - heavy courseload.
Doctor = biology/physiology/all that other stuff
Me =/= biology
Me =/= doctor?
I DONT THINK SO. And just as proof, I try hard and I DO HAVE a nearly straight A GPA. So hard work pays off. So does practicality. Where does passion play into any of this? Really, I think nothing.
Or I'm just a bitter old lady (WAH TURNING 20 in NOV T_T) -
That list that Tina posted is hilarious, but oh so true. Though a friend of mine is intent on spending all this money to study Philosophy in uni - "just because it interests me". He doesn't intend to do anything with that degree, and then to work in crappy part time jobs because he doesn't want a real career.
I think you've chosen a good path, even though you're sacrificing one thing, you're giving yourself a better chance to do extremely well in the other subjects that you love. It's always better to play to your strengths, but if you have the determination put in the sheer effort you can always come out the winner.
And even if later on, years down the track you feel that the career you chose doesn't suit you best, you can go back and do a few more years of study. Well, some people don't like the aspect of studying again... but if you're willing to do it, you could come out potentially doing really well. -
Law isn't "too difficult", but Law + International Business is. Real life friends still stick to the "you should do what you love" etc. but yeah Tina, I saw that article before that it was plain crack up.
I really do hate the idea of studying again. :/ It feels like I'm wasting years of time doing what I should have already done. I want to start working young... But if it's something I must do later it's definitely an option. I'm doing everything now to avoid going down that track though.
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Oh man... your two choices (law and IB) are EXACTLY what I plan to pursue in Grad School. I guess I have four years of undergrad in commerce (unlike you Aussies) to decide what I want.
Watch me agonize over the same decision in a few years! -
Wow... I think you and I must be twins. We think EXACTLY alike.
It's a battle between two things that are important in our lives but we don't know how to quantify which one should have more weight. I'd like to share a speech with you that sort of articulated this problem for me: http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/faust/080603_bacc.html
My advice? Go with your gut instinct. Even if you don't end up where you thought you would, or even where you wanted to be, at least you'd be following your instincts as opposed to trying to reason it out with a set of logic that society or someone else gave you.
I have the same dilemma in choosing a stream in my business program. While I want to do consulting and maybe even marketing, the better-paying jobs with more job stability and security are in i-banking and accounting. And while I have no qualms about the competitive-ness, the dreadfully long hours, and the number crunching, I am worried about whether I'd be whoring myself to go in that direction, seeing as its draw is 1) money and 2) competition. I've always been competitive, and if that's the stream that everyone's want to get into, I want to prove that I can too. But obviously that is NOT a good determinant of whether I should actually go into it, nor is money a lasting motivation. So really, I have no idea, but hopefully I'll figure it out soon. -
That's a great speech SG! Thanks.
Lol my dream is to be able to fly lots between different countries for conferences and negotiations I'm invited to (with a Macbook). -
Hi Rilla. Firstly, please don't mistake me as a stalker! I just came by this site and was reading your blog. I find that I am having the same problem as you. I want to go into computer arts and forensic science. I know that forensic science might give me a better future but computer arts is my life. I really love designing. What I came to in the end is to stick with forensic science and computer arts as a back up. I think what you did in the end was rational. We all want a stable future : )
I also read the entry about "bigger fishes in the sea". It's so true, I told myself it's the personality and not the looks. Yet it's natural that we fall for the looks before the personality. Lately, in summer school for my full credit physics course, I'm experiencing relationship problems with my classmates. You see, there is a very smart guy in our class (and very attractive out of the whole class). I feel very bad for myself that my newly met friends left me to be friends with that guy. Maybe I'm just jealous that they didn't invite me into the group.
I"M SO SORRY FOR HAVING YOU TO HEAR ABOUT MY LIFE STORY : ( ! -
>_> damn i sound so bitter after re-reading that haha
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Sandy: I started off wanting to do computer science too. But I made my choices to do Laws/Commerce, and now the commerce I'm doing is giving me more dilemmatic options. Grr. Don't feel sorry. You're adorable.
Tina:
I feel sorry for those friends of mine who are 20! -
It's okay, Rilla. I've STILL no clue what I want to do for my future. I'm completely lost. But I have this cousin who just came back from Arizona from college, he was talking to me about college and giving me information about what to do and how to do it. He said to just go for it. To just consider something and go for it instead of wasting time. He said that he changed THREE times when he was in college. But I guess it's better to just go for it because you'll never know if you like it or not unless you try and experience it.
Good luck! -
OMG, you got great site here
I love your layout!!!!! -
I don't know what my second commerce major should be either, however, are there subjects that are in common with both the economics and finance majors at your uni? I know some are at my uni, and you could take those because there's bound to be some economics to enjoy along the way.
...I'd like to say Finance is interesting but I found it exceedingly horrifying =P However, it does involve a lot of mathematics and as long as you keep up, the content could be considered quite interesting. It's all fairly interlinked anyway. =)
Finally, government - well if you're looking in that direction, economics is still valued although I suppose the pay is better with firms which favour finance. [Also, investment banks seem to like the Finance/Law combo haha]
But nonetheless, just switching to a finance major won't mean you'll give up something you love because I think commerce is fairly flexible [at least, it is at unsw]. -
Cheer up Rilla! Be proud of yourself because you've actually put a lot of thought when it comes to making that hard decision, and you actually know what you are pursuing in university. There are a whole load of people (like me!) out there who have completely no idea where the degrees will take them to ;) I am equally undecided between many different choices. Who knows I might switch major after the first semester? I should start to worry now, lol!
Anyway, good luck! -
Hm, I remember when I was going to switch my history minor to a business minor (my major is political science- i'm planning on doing law after)......bad idea. My first day of business class, I didn't even show up. I walked into the business building, about to go to my class and then something clicked in my head "WTF am I doing, trying to take business? NO WAY, this shit is too boring" so I logged onto my computer and dropped the business course. Hehe, impulse decisions = bad.
Hope things work out -
Gah, it's really hard to decide on a major, at least for me it is. I'm currently thinking about going through Sociology and Criminology, but I dunno if I'll even enjoy it or not. Since I'm hoping to go for a wealthy future, but at the same time I'd like something that I'll enjoy.
Ah, I also had the opportunity to skip my last year in high school, but I didn't so now I kind of regret it. ;_; I guess it just felt like I wasted time, when I could've done more college work. :/ -
Hey hun, im still toiling away doing Law and my BA here at Victoria, Wellington and its not too bad. The coursework is fine and its a lot more fun once you get further into the program and into more electives. In fact I only know one person doing Law and a BCA and she is dying so I wouldn't recommend it, you made the right choice
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Oh my gosh, it's so weird how I stumbled on your site and post describing what I'm planning on doing in life and the same challenges I think I will face.
I'm doing a Commerce major in operations management for business consulting and then I plan on entering law because I want to advise people based on legitimacy...for which I'll need to have a legal background. I don't think it's the least bit boring because at my uni you are given internship opportunities overseas or closer to home like working for firms in NYC.
Sounds to me like you're finding the workload hard - but your interest seems to be there. So I would say - keep at it. It will be tough as hell and probably quite mentally draining but I am sure that the pay off will be worth it in more ways than one!
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Considering you're young enough to do so, you could always go back for another round if you do decide that you made the wrong choice.
And you'll be entering a freakishly high-paid area once you graduate, so it's not like money will be too much of an issue.
(Also, did you get three weeks of holiday?!)