What should I do about this Career Dilemma? Please help!

Question

So, I'm 19, and I'm so worried that I'm not choosing the right career path for the rest of my life. A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to be a Chess Grand Master (GM), and I was working towards it, and I was happy I guess. And then I moved to a different place, and I kind of got busy with college, and I decided to change what I wanted to do (GM), and start studying Bioengineering (maybe later becoming a Geneticist). I was always okay with the idea of getting into Bio, but for some reason, Chess is something that I can't get out of my mind, and I don't know if I'm doing the right thing by ignoring it. I started playing when I was about 8, and I did stop playing for a few years, but when I started playing again, I really enjoyed it. I'm not beyond amazing at it or anything, but I was never bad at it. I mean, you hear about these stories everyday about child prodigies (like Michael Phelps), who fulfill their dreams. So I'm no Phelps when it comes to Chess, but I have beaten some good players at times... Is it too late for me to change my career path yet again? Am I too old for this? Do you think I can become a GM? IS this even a good idea?

Please don't tell me to do what my heart says, or what I feel like at the moment, because my heart is extremely confused, as is my mind! Thank you so much for your time in answering, I really do appreciate it!

Answer 1

The most important thing is that you're happy doing what you do. Don't do it for anybody else - make sure it's what YOU want. It's certainly not too late to make a career change. I don't even know what a GM is but you have to ask yourself a few questions to decide if it's right for you - Where do you see yourself in 20 years? Is the salary of GM enough to suport the lifestyle you want to live? Is it always right to make a career out of a passion or a hobbie? Are there any other career options that you might want to look into before you get too far into school?

I just went through a similar situation - I thought I wanted to be a nurse for a very long time. After asking myself the above questions I also changed my career and i'm 21. That means I'm further along in school than you are and I know it's the right decision. Would you rather spend the rest of your life doing something you don't really want to do? OR would you rather realize NOW that youre taking the wrong path and correct it NOW??

It's tough - good luck!

Answer 2

If I were you, I would finish my degree first. You can practice and do whatever it is you need to do in the chess world while still being in school. When you graduate you can go out in the chess world and see what happens. If things don't work out, you will always have your degree to fall back on.

Answer 3

A geneticist is a career you would most likely be successful in. Competitive chess, like any other competitive "sport" can burn you out, and then, if you haven't saved enough in prizes to live on, what do you do? A geneticist will always be needed, and I imagine there's less chance of burnout, unless you're competing to be the first one to clone a human being or something. Even so, you're only 19, and you may come up with a whole new idea for a career path for yourself sometime. People can change careers multiple times in life and it's not a failure if you do. Good luck.