I have been trying to figure out what to do with my life for a long time. There are many methods I've employed towards this aim. One method I have employed is taking personality tests to determine letter codes that describe me. Then, I analyze the majors and jobs that these letter codes correspond to and try to narrow my focus down to a handful of options. Another method I have employed is the all-popular trial and error method. Basically, I've just chosen a potential idea for a major and tried a couple classes to see how I fare and if I would remotely like or succeed at it. Another method I have tried is talking my options out with family members. Another method I've tried is making lists of the course requirements a handful of options would require, counting the number of credits and semesters, and trying to determine the shortest time frame-holding goal.
Ultimately, these methods are not eliminating my confusion entirely. I just keep thinking about it and thinking about it. Even though I've analyzed my options to death, it doesn't automatically illuminate the wisest path for my future. I can say, however, that I have learned some things so far. I feel disconnected with the 2nd major I have been attempting, civil engineering. I feel like civil engineering doesn't suit my personality. I also determined that construction management, although fascinating, didn't interest me enough to pursue it beyond the first introductory course. I also learned that accounting is not for me and would take too long to pursue as a 2nd major by this point in my academic career. Lastly, I learned that teaching middle school and high school, while altruistic in nature, will likely make me go mad due to the behavioral conduct of the pupils towards substitutes.
Thus, I acknowledge that I am still confused about what exactly I should do. I earned an average grade in C++ programming. Although I thought I was going to fail my fundamentals of logic design class the entire semester, I ended up getting an A. As such, I feel wary of continuing the computer science route. I feel like my odds of succeeding are shaky. Yet, considering RIASEC testing, the computer science major would combine my two primary personality letters (I and C). The two other major options that combine these two letter codes (I and C) in the book I was reading for Xmas are Pharmacy and Actuarial Science.
Considering the Myers-Briggs test, I am an INTJ personality type. Based on this type, there is a list of popular occupations. On this list, there are different types of engineers listed. These types include: nuclear engineer, petroleum engineer, materials engineer, and computer hardware engineer. Also, to my surprise, actuary is listed on this popular job list. The terms researcher and scientist are also common words found on this list of jobs. Thus, perhaps computer science is still worth pursuing. Also, perhaps actuarial and statistics classes should be taken. There is also the option of pursuing a different type of engineering on the table. It is also noted that civil engineering technician is found on the least popular job list for INTJ personalities.
As such, I again say that I am an analytical thinker. The above analysis reflects this tendency of mine by explaining what I, in fact, think about the results of the tests I take. Given that I already have a general mathematics degree, actuarial science might be a viable road to pursue. Given that I have been working on general engineering requirements, it might be possible to pursue a different engineering field without dying. I have looked up pharmacy school requirements before. These requirements looked rather intense and time-consuming. Yet, the drug industry is a fairly stable industry to pursue if I end up taking that route.
Thus, short-term goals include:
- Look up UNLV course requirements for Chemical Engineering program
(if there is one - it's possible that I looked it up some time ago and forewent it because it didn't exist)
- Consider lists I've already made for civil engineering, engineering science minor, computer science, and chemistry
- Look up UNLV course requirements for Biochemistry program (again, if it exists)
- Find list of actuarial science minor requirements I wrote up some time ago
- Look up actuary job requirements on USAjobs.gov
- Possibly call and ask insurance company about requirements to become actuary
- Set up appointments with advisor and career center if I am still not sure what I want to do
- Register for spring semester classes
The moral is: Everybody is trying to figure out what the wisest choices are in life. Thus, there is no need to fret if we don't know what our purposes are yet. Although Joan of Arc was a martyr who suffered like most human beings throughout her life, she was lucky to know what her purpose was as God's messenger. Not everyone is illuminated right away with the knowledge of their greater purpose in life. Yet, even the small roles we play can matter greatly to someone else. Thus, not knowing the answer regarding individual purpose and the journey made to find it are all part of the human experience.
If this fact stinks to us humans, then we can always wish to be reincarnated as noble plants who change carbon dioxide and water to oxygen and glucose (propagating both individual plant survival and the survival of species requiring oxygen in respiration), noble plants who serve as a food source (for animals both large like humans and small like insects), and noble plants that can now act as the first line of defense against explosives (plant bomb squads).
