Why Are We Expected to Choose a Career So Young?

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 You’re 18, trying to apply to colleges, figure out life, and somehow also supposed to decide what job you’ll do forever? Yeah, no pressure. It is expected of students nowadays to have their job set in mind, and that's crazy to me. How are we supposed to know our dream career before we've even learned how to file taxes? It’s truly mind-boggling.

Data Point stated about three years of initial enrollment, 30% of students changed their majors. Young adults shouldn’t be pressured into choosing their lifelong job so early because they are still exploring their interests, figuring out lifestyle changes, and living in a world where opportunities are endless. According to the U.S. Department of Education, about one in three college students change their major at least once. That shows how normal it is to not know right away what you want to do.

The leading cause of students dropping out of college is that they are most likely unprepared. The Quad states that they are so unprepared for a university level education. Teens are still figuring out what makes them happy, what they're good at, and what their best qualities are. What if I picked something I liked when I was 15 and ended up hating it by the time I’m 25? You’re not guaranteed to love the career you chose at 15, it’s nearly impossible. Our brains haven't fully developed, and we were expected to figure out our future so young. People discover their passions later in life, and that’s completely normal. Not everyone moves at the same pace.

The world is changing by the minute. Social media is now a job for some. That wasn’t a job years ago; social media didn’t even exist. Imagine all the jobs that will exist 10 years from now. The number of job opportunities and new jobs arising is constantly increasing. There are likely millions of jobs that haven’t even been created yet, so how are we supposed to decide on one now? The new jobs to come are endless. Forbes talks about 7 AI created jobs that are in demand for 2030. This shows how inevitable jobs are and how many new jobs will be needed and invented. 

One of my friends wanted to be a social media influencer until she realized how hard it is to build a following. My other friend thought she wanted to be a nurse until she realized she fainted at the sight of blood. We truly don’t know what we want to do at a young age until we see and shadow all the opportunities.

 

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 And then there are some people who’ll say, “You need to set a goal for your future if you want to be successful.” Like, yeah, goals are cool and all, but I totally disagree. Not everyone knows what they want at 18, and forcing a choice too soon can lead to burnout or regret. Looking around and shadowing first can actually save time in the long run because you’ll make a more confident choice. Often, students who rush into their major later realize it’s not what makes them happy. Imagine spending years studying and dropping a ton of money on a degree you’ll never use; that’s way more of a waste than taking a little time to figure things out. I mean, back then, it was way different from our time. I can’t be pressured into picking a major when I have no clue what I will like.   

 If it wasn’t for my high school allowing me to do Co-op as a senior, I would’ve regretted pursuing what I originally planned to become—an X-ray tech. Well, I shadowed radiology for three months and realized it just wasn’t for me; it was way too boring, and I wanted more patient interaction. I want to make an impact on people and help them in ways no one can. So I switched my Co-op to nursing, and I fell in love with it. Shadowing the nurses and aids, I learned so much, and it really made me so excited to choose nursing as my major. Without having the opportunity to be with nurses and patients and shadow, I truly would not have been able to make the best decision for myself and the future. I couldn’t imagine choosing a major without experiencing the job firsthand or gaining experience from other jobs.

I think real-life experiences teach more than a classroom ever could. By shadowing the job, I saw the long hours, the teamwork, and the emotional side of caring for patients. Those experiences taught me so much and confirmed that this is truly what I want to do. Textbooks can only teach so much; real hands-on learning provides much more knowledge and builds important on-the-job qualities. It’s crazy how we’re expected to choose a whole career before we’ve even had a chance to see what that job is like.

Aspen University

It’s okay to not know what you want to do with your future... don’t stress. You don’t have to have your whole life figured out at 18. Try stuff, shadow, and maybe even fail, but start over again and again till you find what brings you happiness.

Instead of locking yourself into one path, try exploring. Take classes in different fields. Get a part-time job or internship. You have to start somewhere, even if there are a few bumps in the road.

Most people end up switching their majors later in life because they were too young to fully realize what they want to pursue, and that’s completely normal.

A lot of pressure to choose a career path early comes from adults, mainly parents, because they want you to be “successful". Parents mean well, but it’s a different generation now. Back then, people picked a career and stuck with it, which is crazy to me because now people switch majors, jobs, and even the industry. Some teens take a gap year to explore and discover what truly excites them when it comes to choosing a career.

Many students feel anxious that one wrong choice can ruin their future, when in reality, taking that big step toward doing something you love could lead you exactly where you’re meant to be. Teenagers are too young to have everything figured out, especially their career path. 

So, take it slow, adventure, explore, shadow everything and anything, and make a good, educated decision on what you want to do for the rest of your life. Most importantly, take the time to do this. Don’t rush into things because of what your parents or society says. You’d rather make an educated decision than regret spending time, effort, and energy studying for a degree you will never use or want. We are kids, btw, we are so young, you have time to decide. I switched my major halfway through my senior year of high school because I was so set on nursing being my path instead of medical imaging.