How do I figure out what career I want to pursue as a high schooler if I'm really into the arts, but find a career in the medical field more realistic?
Hi, thank you for clicking on this post! This is my first Reddit post! If this is in the wrong group, please let me know.
For some context, I am a sophomore in high school living in South Carolina. My whole life I've gotten great grades and have been very involved in school and extracurricular activities. However, I haven't gotten any crazy leadership roles or anything to make me stand out. I am currently around 18/500 in my class rank. Growing up, I had young parents and we weren't very well-off, going from apartment to apartment. But for the majority of my childhood thus far, we've been pretty well off. I live with my mom, who has a great paying job in a large hospital as a neurosurgical ICU registered nurse.
Now for my dilemma. My entire life, I have claimed to be interested in pursuing something medical/health related. However, I'm starting to question this interest. I'm starting to think it stemmed from being a "gifted kid" and being told I could become a doctor or something with my intelligence. Plus my mom, being a nurse, influenced my perspective on the field. Now something I am certain of is my love for music and the arts. I am not amazing at them in particular, but I enjoy them. I love learning guitar and piano. I love singing in choir and actively hold leadership positions in my choir class. I love musical theater and performing. However, I know how unrealistic those are to pursue for a career. Plus, I don't have any gift or real, extraordinary talent for them.
Knowing myself, I could commit to becoming a doctor and going to college for years and years, but is that the best decision? Should I commit and spend so much money as a one income family (with an older brother who is just starting college) to go to school for that long in the hopes that being a doctor pays it off? Is there a career path that would work better for me? I mean, I am great at school and don't mind the process of studying, classes, and overall learning. I also already have a regular volunteering spot at the same large hospital my mom works at which is a great experience to know what it is like. However, that hasn't cleared up my concerns and has shown me that the job is really hard.
I guess I just want some advice. Some different jobs that could spark my interest? Colleges with great programs considering my financial restraints? What should I do? If you need more information, please comment. Just be aware that because of my age, I might not respond to certain questions for safety reasons.
Thank you for reading this!