Ivit you shouldn't find a career in something you like, but rather something you're good at.

 

Aptitude > Inclinations

 

I want to be a professional hockey player, but I'm nowhere near good enough, so I'm not going to try to become one. Do I find business interesting and fun? Hell no. But that's what I would be best at, and therefore I'm pursuing a career in business.

 

It's not about what you like, it's what you're good at.

Thanks, and of course I'm not oblivious to impact women have on architeture, well a little! :P

I'm not suggesting you were. But like I said, I ended up in a completely male-dominated trade. The chances of me ever working with another woman are pretty slim. So I have a pretty good idea of how daunting and worrying it can be when you're trying to figure out how you'll fit in.

 

Ivit you shouldn't find a career in something you like, but rather something you're good at.

 

Aptitude > Inclinations

 

I want to be a professional hockey player, but I'm nowhere near good enough, so I'm not going to try to become one. Do I find business interesting and fun? Hell no. But that's what I would be best at, and therefore I'm pursuing a career in business.

 

It's not about what you like, it's what you're good at.

I disagree, actually. You need a balance between interests and aptitude. You can be good at something, but if you don't like it your life will eventually become kind of meaningless and frustrating. And like you point out if you're terrible at something you love, life will be pretty frustrating too.

 

BUT if you find something you're passionate about AND competent at, you've found the magic formula.

I'm not suggesting you were. But like I said, I ended up in a completely male-dominated trade. The chances of me ever working with another woman are pretty slim. So I have a pretty good idea of how daunting and worrying it can be when you're trying to figure out how you'll fit in.

 

I disagree, actually. You need a balance between interests and aptitude. You can be good at something, but if you don't like it your life will eventually become kind of meaningless and frustrating. And like you point out if you're terrible at something you love, life will be pretty frustrating too.

 

BUT if you find something you're passionate about AND competent at, you've found the magic formula.

 

I think when you're good at something, it can lead to you liking it. Making a lot of money and having a successful career is good right?

 

Being good at something can lead to happiness, while liking something is seldom going to make you good at it.

You have a higher chance of being successful by owning your own business or being an entrepreneur than by having a profession.

If I were to do something I'm good at instead something I feel passionate about, I'm going to end up sitting in an office the rest of my life, working 9 to 5, following orders from some ****, yes, maybe the pay will be good, and sure I might be successful, but it's not about that.

 

I agree with Space Cadet, there's a balance there, you can be passionate about something and be good at it at the same time.

You have a higher chance of being successful by owning your own business or being an entrepreneur than by having a profession.

 

Really depends on the person, but if you mean successful as in filthy rich then yea, it's the best way.

 

If I were to do something I'm good at instead something I feel passionate about, I'm going to end up sitting in an office the rest of my life, working 9 to 5, following orders from some ****, yes, maybe the pay will be good, and sure I might be successful, but it's not about that.

 

I agree with Space Cadet, there's a balance there, you can be passionate about something and be good at it at the same time.

 

That sentence is self-defeating. Working a 9-5 in a boring office is not successful...

LOLWAT, success = money, awesome job.

 

To me:

Success = Love what you're doing and being able to do it.

I'm taking a college history class now...it's sooo boring and detailed sometimes. you really gotta have a true passion for it.

 

Ah, I'm the opposite way, I think high school history is insufferably boring because I know most of it and it's just basics, but I think really detailed stuff is fascinating unless it's written in one of those dry-your-eyes-out boring styles old textbooks are in. I especially like reading documents left behind by really foreign cultures, it can be really interesting.

 

LOLWAT, success = money, awesome job.

 

To me:

Success = Love what you're doing and being able to do it.

 

yeah Alexa is right in this case, and Josh is wrong, sorry.

If youre making money yet unfulfilled, you are still being successful.

Well "successful" maybe but I think she is worrying more about happiness... happiness always seemed infinitely more important than success to me, once you get past basic necessities (food mostly)

^But if you're not good enough with what you do, even getting past basic necessities is gonna be hard.

 

For me, someone should choose something that that person's good at, and at the same time not hating it.

If you love something that you're not really good at, maybe you can make it a hobby or something.

You can still do it, but at the same time not relying your life on it so much.

Well, that's true, but most people who have a real passion for something are motivated to work hard enough at it to at least be decent at it.

 

Obviously the things that require boatloads boatloads boatloads of innate talent and/or training from a very young age (professional sports, classical music performer, whatever) should be off the list, but what she's considering isn't like that so my gut feeling is that she should just do whichever interests her the most.

Well "successful" maybe but I think she is worrying more about happiness... happiness always seemed infinitely more important than success to me, once you get past basic necessities (food mostly)

 

I agree, but its not interpretation, 'success' is down to making money. You can make money, be happy and successful, but you cant be happy and successful without making money, just happy.

Did you ever make any decisions? Or still have a while to go?

 

Actually come to think of it, the best thing is probably to apply to schools in both directions so that you can make a final choice based on which options are actually open to you. :thinking:

Oh hai! :nice:

 

I don't know yet, :anxious:

I mean it's not like i'm rushing to know what I am going to be studying and as you guys have pointed out there is a chance of me changing my mind when i'm in college...

Im more inclined towards architecture at the end of it all, though :)

Who knows, who knows....

Hey, I didn't find my thing until I was 26. (And I had never even thought of it before then.) As long as you're clever enough to keep your head above water, there's no rush. The only thing that's really at stake when rushing into college is the scholarships.

Im 22 and I still dont have my thing, its nothing to worry about, a lot of friends my age still havent thought about settling into my career.

 

Best not to rush.

Yeah, I'm gonna need all the financial help I can get :)

I'm gonna keep my eyes wide open and apply apply apply as much as I can :wacky:

 

^:o you're 22!?

I though you were like... younger :uneasy:

well he's been a member for almost 7 years...

:anxious: good point...

Ivet, lots of coldplayers have gave you lots of great tipos about it, but I'll try mines too, if you don't mind :)

 

Well, I do architecture. I started taking last year, so I don't know if I'm experienced enough but, anyways.

 

I don't know your plans (working in the U.S ou another place) but, for example, here, in Brazil, the market is in one of its best moments. It's true that this can suddenly change, but it's hard to predict what it would be like in 4/5 years, when you complete the course. I guess it depends on how your country is developing, it depends on different state's policies and it depends on economy's situation as a whole.

 

Space Cadet said something that's extremely true. It's unbeliveable the totally different ways you can take if you try architecture. Really, is world of possibilities. You can look at arts, historical patrimony, history of arts, environment, geology, geography, new techniques of contruction, project (of course), urban planning, sociology, landscape, illumination, calculus... and many, many, many more stuff. People leaves a course like that with a mind pretty different, much more opened, I assure you. It's hard to find some one that doesn't love it. Erm, the reason I'm not enjoying it thaaat much is that I may have some sort of problems, because I swear, I've never seen someone at uni saying "oh no, I can't stand one more day". In fact, just the opposite.

 

If you like history, be sure you'll definitely find it there. That's even the reason I first thought of architecture. I'm totally in love with the history subjects, they're fantastic. I mean, I've been learning about culture, different kind of thoughts related to that specific kind of contruction, men's inner condition of a determined time that would influence an intire period such as the gothic one, the romaine one... Ivet, it's just brilliance.

 

Actually, I can't say that you see lots of physics or maths at the uni I study and I hate not having them. The idea is that, afterwards, you'll have an engineer to make all the calculus and racional observations for you. That's ridiculous, I just can't see myself graduating with no idea if that certain project of mine could be rised up. I have this goal to take some optional subjects concerning these things. Maths and physics should really be a main thing of the course.

 

And at last but not least, in Brazil, there are pleeeeenty of female architects and a few, very few male architects. I guess it depends on where you live as well. :) But, despite the majority of male architects around you, please, Ivet, promisse me you won't take it as something to spoil your dream. It doesn't matter if you're black or white, what really counts is your perseverance and persistence. Do you know what I mean? Faith in you, that's all I ask.

 

Of course it's not always flowers, but I guess it depends on the university. Like I said, maths and physics sucks where I study, while project is a reference. I guess those things you'll have to find by your own, maybe visiting the places, talking to the students... I hardly recommend you to do that. :) That helped me A LOT.

 

Erm, sorry but I can't help about arts... I don't know about it... :\

Oh wow! I completely forgot the historical and cultural aspect of architecture :wacko: I guess I've just been scratching on the surface and just let all the other details go...

Hmmm.... that's really interesting!! You make me so excited for the learning experience :wacky:

 

That's awesome, what part of Brazil do you study in :cheesy: ??

cultural anthropology??

Oh nice to hear that! :nice:

 

I study in Belo Horizonte. You probably haven't heard of it before, Rio and São Paulo are the most famous cities. :D But, anyway, I like it! :wink:

why not take architecture, finish your undergraduate, then specialize in historical/heritage architecture (which could give you opportunities to study about different cultures, history, etc. and their relationship with architecture)? you can design & build and still study liberal arts at the same time. :P

 

^^that's what im planning to do. :smug: since im more inclined to history and culture than design. :laugh3: