My Future/Pressure

[Aoi Magi]

Wouldn't I be able to benefit my children and support my family though if I was rich? Atleast with more ease? If there's one thing I love it's children, they are our future after all

You are not that old yourself so ask yourself this, do you want loving parents or the latest iphone?

If you do what you really love then you'll always be happy, and you can make others happy only if you yourself are happy first.

[drfuzzy]

When I was your age, the message was "do what you love, and the money will follow".  The secondary message was "get a good education and you're certain to get a good job".
Well, I did what I loved, and got three college degrees in that discipline, and then there were no jobs.  

So this is what I just told a young cousin who is asking the same questions:  Make a list of the things that you like to do/study.  Keep a list of the homework that was interesting, and not just something you have to get done.  And keep doing research about what types of jobs are hiring, and what types of jobs are predicted to grow in the near future.  Know which careers are thriving, and which ones are dying.  If you like to write, for one example, there will always be a need for journalists, for editing media, websites, tv and movie writers, etc.  Writing for the news could keep a roof over your head while you write your hit screenplay.

But really research the job market before you choose.  I didn't, and that's the worst mistake I have ever made.  Good luck.

[Longhorn]

I like how many varied perspectives this thread has to offer. It's good to look at this issue from different standpoints.

[KevinM1]

So, I really have no idea wanna do when I'm older, yeah im not supposed to stress about this stuff yet, other people told me. It's not just that though.

Half family pressures me into being rich, but of course being rich isnt a problem it's the fact that they want me to get a job that is just generally high paying. I really just wanna write (or maybe something else if I change my mind). I dont know if I wanna be a journalist or creative writer but I fear my family will be disappointed in me, I love them but they have issues too. 

Let's say I do marry my girlfriend (a white irreligious European) my family straight up wouldn't show up to my wedding. They get disappointed so easily.
If I told my aunt and uncle I was a non believer of Islam they'd never let me see their daughter, my cousin. It's the closest thing I have to a sister and I always wanted a sister.

My mother and father really don't care what I do, but, I just wanna do what makes me happy and I can make a living off of. 
I'm privileged, I used to be really poor (and recently my family had financial issues), but overall I havent lived in a household with under an 80k income.

Now I don't wanna sound ignorant but I really wanna write and writers dont make much money till later on their live, how would I have a nice life with a wife and kids and the job I want? I don't need a big mansion or a porche, I just want a happy life with a family. 

Incase you guys wanted to know, I live in America incase that helps you guys out.

Aren’t you only 15-17 years old?

No one really knows what they want to do at that age. That’s why so many college kids switch majors. A lot of the time, the thing they thought they wanted to do doesn’t click with them, and something else catches their attention.

Regarding writing, it’s definitely not a lucrative profession. Journalists tend to have stable pay, but work long hours and have to deal with editors controlling their work. Novelists have to deal with a flooded marketplace. One of my friends, a woman I went to high school with, is a young adult novelist (two published novels, with I believe a 3rd on the way... her name is Adi Rule, if you want to look her up). She still has a day job.

I don’t say that to dissuade you, but to ensure you understand that you’re likely not going to jump into a writing gig that will pay you $80k/year.

Have you done anything to pursue your goal? Do you write for your school newspaper? Have you tried to have anything published in a local anthology, or entered any writing contests? If not, you should. Not only will that reveal your skill level and give you practice, but it’s something you can refer to in your college application.

[The Valkyrie]

Be YOU.

If that "you" is a writer and you can make a career of it, do it. You'll probably need to get a job to support you while your writing career gets going, depending on the type of writing you want to do, of course.

Follow your dreams if you can, not those of other people.

[SteelCurtain]

Computers are the only sure thing. Take it to the bank.

[KevinM1]

Computers are the only sure thing. Take it to the bank.

Very meta, since computers are also the bank.

[Clueless Morgan]

I would say to find a job you like and enjoy regardless of what your family thinks of it by way of whether it makes you a ton of money. You're going to be the one putting the hours in at this job, you don't want to hate what you're doing 8-10 hours a day.

And talk to a career counselor about jobs that could make use of a writing degree of if there's a degree that is more marketable or broadly applicable to the job market but still incorporates a lot of writing courses like maybe communication?

Keep in mind too that you may find a job that you enjoy and writing could become your hobby. That's my situation : got a steady paying job that I like and do my arts and crafts stuff on the side because I enjoy it.

Doing my hobbies in a professional capacity can change your enjoyment of them in that you're doing them for someone else and relinquishing some creative control to your client that might make you not like your hobby as much. Just something to keep in mind.

Money isn't everything in life but it sure makes some things easier so in that regard I'd just advise you, whatever job you end up getting, to make a habit of saving money every month. You'll thank yourself later on when you need the money and you have it.

[Godscreated]

The amounts of money I've seen mentioned in this post will never make you rich, if you think they are indications of being rich then you have a low understanding of what rich is. My brother's rich so I do understand what rich is. Definition of rich, when you do not need to know how much money you have to buy anything you desire. To become rich you can't do it with a job working for others, it's just a job that someone pays you what they think you're worth and it will never be as much as you think it should be. You have to be the boss the one who pays people so they can make you rich. If rich is what you want there is a price to pay and usually it's yourself, just ask my brother. With all his money he has found out he can't buy his health and now all that money is sitting around making more money and he can't do what he wants, sad thing. Now with the rich part out of the way, if you're looking to make a good living and being smart with your money so it will last then find a job that appeals to you, get the education you need for that job and make sure it's a job that you can use your writing skills at and write away. There are many jobs out there that include writing, I'm not going to suggest any they are for you to find. I will say this do not limit you search there are a world full of jobs you haven't even considered or even know exist yet. I do wood working and I read what professional woodworkers write, these guys actually went to college to learn to write and either learned woodworking in college or at the best woodworking schools in the country, they do what they love wood working and writing and make a very good living doing so. I'm not suggesting you learn wood working it is something you have to love to do and it is hard work if you do not love it you would never be good enough to write about it, so like I said find what you will love to do and write about it.

GC

[ScienceAf]

So, I really have no idea wanna do when I'm older, yeah im not supposed to stress about this stuff yet, other people told me. It's not just that though.

Half family pressures me into being rich, but of course being rich isnt a problem it's the fact that they want me to get a job that is just generally high paying. I really just wanna write (or maybe something else if I change my mind). I dont know if I wanna be a journalist or creative writer but I fear my family will be disappointed in me, I love them but they have issues too. 

Let's say I do marry my girlfriend (a white irreligious European) my family straight up wouldn't show up to my wedding. They get disappointed so easily.
If I told my aunt and uncle I was a non believer of Islam they'd never let me see their daughter, my cousin. It's the closest thing I have to a sister and I always wanted a sister.

My mother and father really don't care what I do, but, I just wanna do what makes me happy and I can make a living off of. 
I'm privileged, I used to be really poor (and recently my family had financial issues), but overall I havent lived in a household with under an 80k income.

Now I don't wanna sound ignorant but I really wanna write and writers dont make much money till later on their live, how would I have a nice life with a wife and kids and the job I want? I don't need a big mansion or a porche, I just want a happy life with a family. 

Incase you guys wanted to know, I live in America incase that helps you guys out.

Aren’t you only 15-17 years old?

No one really knows what they want to do at that age.  That’s why so many college kids switch majors.  A lot of the time, the thing they thought they wanted to do doesn’t click with them, and something else catches their attention.

Regarding writing, it’s definitely not a lucrative profession.  Journalists tend to have stable pay, but work long hours and have to deal with editors controlling their work.  Novelists have to deal with a flooded marketplace.  One of my friends, a woman I went to high school with, is a young adult novelist (two published novels, with I believe a 3rd on the way... her name is Adi Rule, if you want to look her up).  She still has a day job.

I don’t say that to dissuade you, but to ensure you understand that you’re likely not going to jump into a writing gig that will pay you $80k/year.

Have you done anything to pursue your goal?  Do you write for your school newspaper?  Have you tried to have anything published in a local anthology, or entered any writing contests?  If not, you should.  Not only will that reveal your skill level and give you practice, but it’s something you can refer to in your college application.

(Adi rule seems like she has some cool books, I'd read them)

I enter writing contests all the time (I beat out everyone in my school each time, once I beat them with a poem I wrote in 20 minutes), I plan on entering a local anthology eventually, perhaps next year or the following months. I work with books in a library and stuff so I get to read and look over them. I plan on taking a journalism and creative writing elective next year.

I also write alot of essays in school, as much as I can,

---

I would say to find a job you like and enjoy regardless of what your family thinks of it by way of whether it makes you a ton of money. You're going to be the one putting the hours in at this job, you don't want to hate what you're doing 8-10 hours a day.

And talk to a career counselor about jobs that could make use of a writing degree of if there's a degree that is more marketable or broadly applicable to the job market but still incorporates a lot of writing courses like maybe communication?

Keep in mind too that you may find a job that you enjoy and writing could become your hobby.  That's my situation : got a steady paying job that I like and do my arts and crafts stuff on the side because I enjoy it.

Doing my hobbies in a professional capacity can change your enjoyment of them in that you're doing them for someone else and relinquishing some creative control to your client that might make you not like your hobby as much. Just something to keep in mind.

Money isn't everything in life but it sure makes some things easier so in that regard I'd just advise you, whatever job you end up getting, to make a habit of saving money every month. You'll thank yourself later on when you need the money and you have it.

if I can make writing my hobby or something I do on my side if the job I get allows me too, then I'd be content I guess, things would work out.