How can I decide which of two completely different professions is the best for me when I love them both?

Question

I've been having a hard time deciding what is it that I want to do with my life in terms of what I want to study. I think it is particulary because my interests seem complete opposites from what I think. I love art and fashion and was thinking of becoming a fashion designer, something I'm really good at, or an illustrator or graphic artist of some kind because I'm great at drawing. Aside from having artistic talent you could say I'm a very smart person and I love the fields of biology and anything that has to do with nature and ancient history and archeology. I have an immense knowledge of history, have read many important books, know countless things about ancient civilizations and the natural world and have an interest in doing something for it since its being practically destroyed. I'm having a really hard time choosing and would like some help. My school doesn't have a counselor that can help me and I want help from someone that is used to helping people with this kind of dilemma.

Answer 1

I am a graphic designer. Honestly, the typical graphic designer doesn't make much money. Going far in school and by some miracle, landing a job with a company like Disney is one of the only ways to make money. It isn't a high paying field. A friend of mine got her degree in fashion design and found that unless you have great connections, you won't do anything big expect maybe a low end job for a crappy company like JC Penney or something. Go as far as you can in school, get your masters or PhD if possible and stick to medical stuff if you would like a career in that. Doing what you love doesn't always pay the bills. Make that kind of stuff a hobby.

Answer 2

you didn't say your age, if you're a senior, when you're graduting, etc. Generally the first two years of any college or university is a repeat (and increase of knowledge) in the courses you had in high school, so that means if you're a senior now and apply for college that you don't have to decide for at least 1 1/2 years during which time you will get more exposure to different career choices and make your decision. You can claim one field and then later change it or get a major and a minor or two minors even if you want.

There are a lot of fashion designers out there and most of them have started with money then opened their own shop. It wasn't the other way around. So you will need income first, then savings, build your fashion empire with ideas, trademark your name and copyright your ideas, etc. And then start your fashion designing business. After you get your degree then you can go into fashion designing school for specialization. If you're good at it you won't need that much schooling in it.

You mentioned graphics illustrations and that appears to be a program that you just learn. So if you want to take those courses as an elective (then you can expand on it yourself) that would be great. Or, get a two year degree in something in computers and then expand from there. Get loans for this right now and start (if you are a high school or GED grad). Some schools start college in the high schools or maybe you could start college on the weekends.

But first get your loans and grants together and either start at a community college (to save money) and at least get your AA degree which you can transfer later to a 4-year college or university. You said you "like" archaeology but you've never tried it. Maybe on some summer vacation (if you have the money) you can go on a "dig".

Answer 3

I disagree with the answer who panned graphic design. It is a very competitive field but there are many interesting and challenging jobs in it if you are well-prepared for the profession. Disney would not be my idea of a top graphic design job.

I think if you studied graphic design in a good program at a good university, you would be able to satisfy many of your interests. A top graphic designer has multiple skills beyond visual communications including writing, verbal, problem-solving. Making connections and analyzing seemingly unrelated ideas to bring them together is a huge part of what we do in a good professional position. The diverse interests you have would feed your ability to be a top designer by giving ideas for your work and knowledge so you have common ground for communicating with clients who may be scientists or business people or whatever.

In terms of design programs, look for schools offering courses specifically in typography and history of graphic design because the good design programs will have these courses and others will not. Then while you are a student, continue to be a seeker and take as many classes as possible outside your major to feed your other interests.

Whether if you get a second major, or simply take a heavy course load or stay an extra semester to fit more in, you won't regret this. And you will have the best of both worlds in your education: a substantive preparation in a professional area, and a broad experience in other interesting and important topics.

Answer 4

CG,
The first 2 years of college involve taking basics like english and math, so you don't need to make a decision today.
Okay, let's look at what you've got:
1. fashion designer
2. graphic artist
3. biology
4. ancient history

Make a list of all of the careers in these fields and start to write down things like:
1. how much does it pay?
2. what are the pros and cons of each career?

There are job listings on the web that answer these questions.
Also, I suggest you find people in your area who do these jobs and ask to visit with them to get their view about the job. Ask them if you can spend a few hours or the entire day just being with them as they do their jobs. This will give you a lot of data to see if you want to pursue it as a career.
Believe me, most people would be thrilled to talk about themselves and what they do for a living.
Good luck

Answer 5

Think about a career that would perhaps combine all of your interests together. You may be interested in becoming a designer of animal environments at zoos. Or perhaps helping out your local forestry department. I would volunteer at a few things before making a final decision. See if your interests are just hobbies or you really want to do it the rest of your life.

Answer 6

Usually in Higher education when you work for your Bachelors Degree you have Major and a Minor. Can you arrange for your Major to be Biology and your Minor to be Fashion Design? Does the University require your Major and Minor to be related fields?

Answer 7

I think there are a lot of things you could do. Science (very broad) is a creative endeavor. You have to be creative in order to design experiments. Anthropology is an interesting major that I'm sure requires creativity. You could work in a museum restoring paintings or works of art. You could get into furniture design or architecture. You could design accessories. You could go into advertising.

Answer 8

I understand your worries, but today not many people have the same careers their whole life. Your passsions are very different and one thing that is for sure is that you will have to decide. When it comes to the crunch, I think you will know which way to go. You have a life time to change your mind. Don't worry too much please.

Answer 9

Have you thought about doing illustrations for biology, or archeology books?