u/Vivid_Intention_8900

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I'm 18, from Nepal. I finished high school with a 3.12 GPA, and I've got a dream that feels both exciting and terrifying: I want to move to Sydney and study Industrial Engineering.

My sister lives there, so I'll have a place to stay and won't be drowning in rent while I study. That's a huge weight off my shoulders, and I know how lucky I am. My family is using nearly everything they have to send me, and I'll be working as much as I'm legally allowed to help keep things afloat.

My dad thinks I'm making a mistake. He says Industrial Engineering isn't a real career, that it'll be replaced by AI within a decade, and that anyone could do what I'd be trained to do. He wants me to study nursing instead—safer, more stable, a clearer path to staying in Australia.

But I believe IE is what I was made for. It's not just about machines. It's about systems, problem-solving, working with people, and making things better. It feels like a perfect match for how my brain works.

Still, I'm scared. I'm not just picking a degree. I'm betting my family's future on this. I need to know if this is real or if I'm just seeing what I want to see.

I'm not asking for career advice from a textbook. I want to hear from real people. Australian people

1. What do you actually think of Industrial Engineering? Is it respected? Is it real? Is there work?

2. Will AI actually take over this kind of work, or is the field changing in ways I can adapt to?

3. As an international student, am I going to spend years studying only to find out no one will hire me?

4. If it all goes wrong, what's my backup plan? Is there a way to stay and make it work?

I know I'm not entitled to anything. I just want to know if this is a path worth walking.

Thanks for reading. If you've been where I am or if you've seen someone like me try and fail or succeed. I'd love to hear from anyone who has the slightest idea about this.

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I'm 18, from Nepal. I finished high school with a 3.12 GPA, and I've got a dream that feels both exciting and terrifying: I want to move to Sydney and study Industrial Engineering.

My sister lives there, so I'll have a place to stay and won't be drowning in rent while I study. That's a huge weight off my shoulders, and I know how lucky I am. My family is using nearly everything they have to send me, and I'll be working as much as I'm legally allowed to help keep things afloat.

My dad thinks I'm making a mistake. He says Industrial Engineering isn't a real career, that it'll be replaced by AI within a decade, and that anyone could do what I'd be trained to do. He wants me to study nursing instead—safer, more stable, a clearer path to staying in Australia.

But I believe IE is what I was made for. It's not just about machines. It's about systems, problem-solving, working with people, and making things better. It feels like a perfect match for how my brain works.

Still, I'm scared. I'm not just picking a degree. I'm betting my family's future on this. I need to know if this is real or if I'm just seeing what I want to see.

I'm not asking for career advice from a textbook. I want to hear from real people. Australian people

1. What do you actually think of Industrial Engineering? Is it respected? Is it real? Is there work?

2. Will AI actually take over this kind of work, or is the field changing in ways I can adapt to?

3. As an international student, am I going to spend years studying only to find out no one will hire me?

4. If it all goes wrong, what's my backup plan? Is there a way to stay and make it work?

I know I'm not entitled to anything. I just want to know if this is a path worth walking.

Thanks for reading. If you've been where I am or if you've seen someone like me try and fail or succeed. I'd love to hear from anyone who has the slightest idea about this.