In today's world: is having a good paying job more important than following your dreams?

Question

I am starting college and everyone is encouraging me to be a nurse or a pharmacist,or even doctor,etc, basically any job that has good pay.

but my dream is to be a photographer or a novelist.

I do know how hard it is to find a job, even if you're good. And I know i would probably be poor, and being poor is going to make your life harder even if you are happy.

Can you please help me decide. I don't want to waste years of studying for nothing.

Answer 1

If you have no children ,or other obligations,follow your dream....we only regret the things we do not do...

Answer 2

nope do what you like because if you do something 4 d money ur not going 2 like it much if u do something 4 d love ur gonna do it wif ur heart and do it always n thats the money

Answer 3

I say study to be a pharmacist or a doctor. You can write a novel or be photographer in your free time for fun!  

Answer 4

Having a good paying job isn't "more important" than following your dreams, but in order to follow your dreams there has to be some sort of foundation set down.  You need to be able to pay rent, eat, have clothes and heat buy film, cameras, paper, ink, a computer etc. and "waiting for your first novel or photographs to sell" is not going to provide you with the basics of life nor the basics to fulfill your dreams.  You have to have something "solid" to support yourself until you can make your dream come true.  Fortunately for you, writing and photography are things you can incorporate into your "foundation."  Study hard, dream big and you will succeed.  Best of Luck to You...

Answer 5

I've had this problem too.

My mom wants me to be a doctor so I'll be rich and all, but its not my dream. I want to be a playwriter/director and I've decided to do it.Its better to be happy doing what your doing and get payed little than go to work every day HATING life and getting payed alot. Seriously just do what you want..It'll pay off in the end.

Answer 6

The skills you learn can never be taken from you. Even if you have to work in another job until you are established.

If you are a novelist or a photographer and a successful one, you should not be poor. Start writing now. On a novel. Start submitting photographs for publication and sale.

I think I hear you wanting to earn a lot of money. Some fields are more likely to guarantee that. But you can learn the skills for both writing and photography.

In the end...your choice.

Answer 7

Life is short.

What good is money if you spend a majority of your time doing a job you hate.  Worse, if you are a doctor, nurse, or even a phamacist soley for the money, you are less likely to do a good job.  

It would seem to me, that you will want to look for a job that is less demanding of your time than a medical career so you can spend time developing your photographic and writing skills enough that they can support you.

I think you already have the answers. Do you not think that it is better to be happy but poor, even if you have to struggle along; than to be wealthy but miserable.  You may be familiar with the novel "A Christmas Carol".  Ebeneezer Scrooge had the change to be happy, but struggling financially with Belle, but chose to put money first in his life.  We don't all get the second chance that he got.  

Answer 8

People who make good money usually are very good at what they do, they get that good because they probably enjoy what they do.  With that said, find something you know you will enjoy, its really pointless to go to school for something you're unsure you'll like.  

Answer 9

In today's world why can't you have both.  Do the study and get qualifications, even get the good job and stick it out for a few years then have a break and pursue a dream if you still want to.  I think things will only get harder over time so I would take the stable/money job first......that is, if I had my time again!  Too late for me now.  And...what's to say you can't be happy in a good job and write a novel and/or take photos in your spare time?

Answer 10

Its all up to you .I know a person who owns a junk yead and he makes more money than a doctror.Un less your looking for a name like Dr.

Answer 11

Times are tough nowadays and a secure job that pays the bills every month is important. In my opinion, if you can't get a good salary to support yourself from your dream job, why not take a course first that you have also an interest in but will provide you an income and from there, you can start working on your dream?. I think you will be more equipped in following your dream if you have the means to see it through, with a secured home, health  and food on the table.

Answer 12

My dear, doing job u hate won't bring u good pay. If u become a good photographer/novelist u'll earn for good life. And forget all u know 'bout ur future poority! Just this way of thinking will bury all ur efforts. Do it now! Find and watch "The Secret", this'll help u greatly.

Answer 13

STOP!!! ... before you make a decision ... you NEED TO KNOW ONE IMPORTANT THING!!!

there are TWO things in the one question, TWO alternatives to TWO different concepts here ... so be careful!!

you are talking about college, education, work, future, employment, career etc etc etc ...

and then you talk about dreams!!

BIG mistake if you try to mix DREAMS and what you enjoy and love and connect it to the harsh realities of the world ...

be careful ...

pharmacist, doctor etc etc help in life chances, for yourself, family, children etc etc ... gives your kids a fair go at education themselves and their lives would be slightly better off ... so really, these jobs are to tackle life itself ...

photograpy and novelist are dreams, you shouldd live them ... but dont mix up the arguements together.

you have to ask: "do i seriously see myself feeding my family off a dream? off a hobby? off an interest??"

photography and novelist is aesthetic ... an art, expression of ones self ... it is what you are, and who you are, how you excpress yourself, ... it is a nice artist angle to you ... seriously though, is that what you are going to live off? ... turn your dreams into a financial gain?? into a career?? ... you sreiously want a dream, your getaway, expression of self to become a job?? ... a job you gotta feed others and pay things off???

it depends on you more than anything at the end of the day, many do it ... but you'll find most of them do it because they CAN and MUST and DO IT GOOD ... more than it being a dream if you know what I mean ...

coz they dont know anything else maybe even ...

I would suggest go with the education, secure, financially advantageous career for yourself and your family ... leave your dreams to be dreams ... to do them because you love them, they are not a chore, they are not dependent on anything except because you love to do them ... at your own time, at your own pace ... dont kill such dreams ...

so you must seperate both notions ...

i think.

Answer 14

He is quite smarter who could ask such question! Thank you so much. Well, philosophically the answer to your question: Follow your dream! Sure, by mentioning 'DREAM' you meant 'AIM', right? So, as a smart person you should move that way. You better know how hard it is to fulfill one's dream---& at the same time, you know how hard it is to get a job! So, it would be better to get a job ( if you're lucky) & gradually advance to your AIM/DREAM. Novel writing wouldn't be a problem at all for a Nurse or Pharmacist or Doctor or even for a police officer, believe me. But to be a prfessional photographer you would need huge time to spare. Yet that wouldn't be a problem in future. Whatever you go on with, you would need MONEY.    

Answer 15

you need to do what you want to do. as long as you get a good degree of some sort (not neccesarily medicine, maybe english or art) to fall back on if your dream doesn't work. If all the worlds greatest novelists or artists hadn't followed their dreams, where would we be? just make sure you get a part time job while writing your books etc so that you can pay the bills.

Answer 16

trial and error....that's life!

my advice get a degree that is financially reliable and provides job security. you can always switch careers , it will help if you explore your career interests while in college.

be realistic!!!!