[llamamama]

Okay, so I recently started training in a beauty salon w/ estheticians licensed in cosmetology. I'm still a little confused about it but I guess esthetician is the career or w.e and cosmetologist is just what you're called after you get a license? Well either way, they basically work in a salon and (based on the salon I'm training at) they give treatments (supersonic, anti-wrinkle, freckles, acne) and also do makeup (both permanent and non-permanent). In other words, facials.

I'm pretty interested in this field, the boss says I learn fast and my hand is pretty good. Let's say I was to become an esthetician, max I would earn is $60k I believe ._. But normally, you get about 40k, and when you start out it's only 20k (annual wages)

Needless to say I don't feel like it's good enough pay

I can also become a dermatologist, which is around $80-100k I believe, and I have nothing wrong with that. It's still involved with the skin and whatnot. I don't know what's involved with becoming a dermatologist though. I know for an esthetician, you have to go to school and pass a test to get your license. I'm not sure how many years, and I'm wondering the same for being a dermatologist. Plus, I think it gets more involved with technology than an esthetician.

Another idea is a pediatrician. This idea has been with me for a while now, but I'm seriously not so good in Science Pay is $100k+ and it'll make my very Asian parents proud. Even though they don't ask much from me, and my mom encourages me training in the salon, because she knows I'm interested. Another thing is that I'd have to spend another 4 years on Medschool ..

so yeah, give me your opinions and your thoughts. what would you do? and if you guys want to teach me anything more about either of these fields

I'm still in HS, so yeah I have a long way to go but I want to get an idea. My thoughts might or might not change when I reach college, but still

[prechuz_azn]

work at a spa?
Do you honestly want to do that for a living
I imagine it to be very laborous.

You like children? How about pediatric nurse?
It's good pay (you seem to like good wages), can be 2-year associate
degree eduation or 4-year Bachelor's degree or dplioma.

Let's see children...teacher isn't bad? They get good
retirement plans, the teachers in NJ do. Teaching is
very rewarding too I mean you make a difference in people's
negatively or positively lol.

I can't think of some in the top of my head anymore T-T

[llamamama]

work at a spa?
Do you honestly want to do that for a living
I imagine it to be very laborous.

You like children? How about pediatric nurse?
It's good pay (you seem to like good wages), can be 2-year associate
degree eduation or 4-year Bachelor's degree or dplioma.

Let's see children...teacher isn't bad? They get good
retirement plans, the teachers in NJ do. Teaching is
very rewarding too I mean you make a difference in people's
negatively or positively lol.

I can't think of some in the top of my head anymore T-T

Really? T_T
Cause I only thought it to be giving people facials, & doing people's nails and whatnot
& yeah I want to know more about how it would be like before having my mom dig out 5k just to have me figuring out that it's too much hardwork ._.

& hmmm... pediatric nurse.
If it's good pay, I can give it a thought [:
But honestly, I'm not good with Science / blood / stuff like that? Haha ><"

& yeah but I always hear my teacher's say how bad their incomes are.
If I was to become a teacher, I def. won't be teaching HS kids -.-
An intermediate middle school math teacher wouldn't be bad

Anyway, thanks for your comment [:

[ohemgeewinniee]

lol it's like i'm reading about myself.
i like art, kids and wanna be a pediatrician too, even though i suck at science, hahahah.

you can still try pediatrics.
you don't have to major in sciences to become a pedatrician, but you do gotta take a couple of science courses to fulfill med school requirements. and i don't think anyone likes the idea of 4 more years of school, but it's all worth it in the end.

there's a lot of jobs that involve kids, .. like dentists, pediatric nurses, child psychologists? lol those are the only ones i can think of at the top of my head.

[llamamama]

lol it's like i'm reading about myself.
i like art, kids and wanna be a pediatrician too, even though i suck at science, hahahah.

you can still try pediatrics.
you don't have to major in sciences to become a pedatrician, but you do gotta take a couple of science courses to fulfill med school requirements. and i don't think anyone likes the idea of 4 more years of school, but it's all worth it in the end.

there's a lot of jobs that involve kids, .. like dentists, pediatric nurses, child psychologists? lol those are the only ones i can think of at the top of my head.

Hm.. I guess ._.
Because I really don't want to go to be something that I don't want to be,
it'll just be worse in the end

But I am def. not becoming a dentist haha, nasty mouths.. ><"
Psychologist? lmao yeah ok [:

So I guess I can take being a nurse into consideration?
What is it like though?
Do you still take 4 years of med school? o.o"

Thanks for your post though! [:

[damyoungji]

Go out and gain some experience. Try a bit of everything you like (even if it's volunteering) and see how it's like. Or talk to people with experience.

Remember that in your first year, you have more electives (don't worry - lots of upper years take lower year courses since they want to try what interests them the most). If you narrow down your interests to 2-3, you should be able to determine what you want to become by your first year. It's best not to change, but changing majors and programs is not uncommon in University. The worst that can happen is when you finish your undergraduate students.. only to realize that you want to study something else. That does happen to some people, so it's best to avoid it.

[mayu07]

What year are you? If you need to decide your major by next fall for college applications, you can always put undeclared major, or apply to any major you have a slight interest in to colleges where there is a strong liberal arts education. Basically, you'll be able to take a wide variety of classes and maybe you'll hit upon something you're really passionate about. I've talked to many undergrads and many have changed their major after stumbling upon a particularly engaging class. I'm going to college next fall, and this year I was a bit like you. I was confused, didn't know what I wanted to do. I wanted a high paying job, and I knew I'd do well in sciences, but it's not my passion. I love art, and I like math and sciences, so I decided to be an Architecture major! If you're interested, I think it's a perfect way to combine art and math and science

Teachers get low paying jobs at first, but I think the longer you stay at a school, the higher your salary is. Good luck!

[lovebaby]

It's nothing to worry about. I know a lot of college students who don't even know what they want to be until their junior/senior year of college. Still, you would have an advantage of finishing your classes earlier if you are sure of your career path. Since you're still in high school, you should get involved with more activities and find out more about your passion. See which classes you enjoy more and look up some careers that you think will suit you and your interest.
Plus, maybe it's just me, but I think doing something you love is far more enjoyable, regardless of incomes :'). If we all pay attention to the incomes, no one would be doing jobs like being an artist, a graphic designer, etc.

[Yuenie]

Do you WANT to work at a spa as your future career? Kneading people's flab and doing their facials on their greasy face for them? LOL. Sorry, didn't mean to make it seem like a bad job. But if you like touching people or relieving peoples' stress then I guess it isn't so bad...

Being a teacher isn't bad. It's a pretty decent income (around the 50k 60k range?) and it's even higher if you become a college professor. And you get the personal enjoyment that you have taught so many people to help them along their future path! haha. You don't need to be an artist 100% either. You can just have it as a side career. I mean, you can be both an artist and a teacher, like how many teachers are also writers.

If you're concerned about making money and getting big pay checks, then go into business or entrepreneurship. Solid way to make cash. :]

Also know that many other high schoolers are also confused and don't know what they want to do in the future. Many students often attend college their freshman year as undeclared.

[llamamama]

Thanks for your replies! [:
I'm a freshman in HS haha
But like everyone's pressuring me about it, so I needed some advice ._.

@ damyoungji
Yeah, I want to do volunteer work, but my freshman schedule is so retarded, I get out at like 5 and all the community service programs end at 6, so really no point. But I will try to next year ^^ & I'm sort of comprehending what you're saying, not entirely, but I still get the jist of it. Thanks for your advice

@ mayu07
Yeah, many people say going into the architecture field is good and whatnot. Is it all about just designing buildings and whatnot? o.o" & yeah, but you have to stay a teacher for many many many years T_T I honestly don't want to teach the same things for so long ._. Thanks for your advice though ^^

@ lovebaby
Yeah, I totally agree. That doing what you love is best, but I've always come from a lower middle class family and my family always wanted me to be the typical doctor, lawyer -.- Even though I don't really want to be any of those things, I still want to come home with enough money to make them proud, just to make up for the fact that I'm not a lawyer, yknow? But yeah, I'll definitely look more into volunteer work as well as enrichment classes. Thanks for your advice

@ Yuenie
Haha, I never really thought of it that way. I mean, honestly I don't want to work with like, old men and stuff? I thought it'd be like just giving women from 20-30's their facials ._. I guess not haha. -- Oh man, I don't know if I can be a college professor >< I was thinking more of being like a math teacher in an intermediate middle school? Since the math is more easier to teach, plus I feel more comfortable around intermediate schools ._. "Entrepreneurship".. woah gotta look that up sounds risky o.o .. Anyway, thanks! [:

Also, about the entering college with "un-declared", then how would you know what college to attend? Because many people want to enter those Ivy League schools, but aren't they mostly for majoring in being doctors & whatnot. If I don't know what I want to be, then how do I know which schools to pick? o.o" I don't want to end up in a crappy college

[adiavoy]

Lol, I don't know what I want to be either... the idea of a doctor is pretty overrated, but you do want to do something you definitely enjoy, because you'll probably be doing it for the rest of your life. I think working in a spa is 'okay', because my mom owns one and she makes good pay. You do a lot of labor though, and it's pretty tough. But $5,000 for training? That's kind of a lot. Yeah, I agree teachers don't make that much, my teacher who started working here makes about $24,000 a year, I'm surprised she told us, but the longer you work there the more your salary is. At our school the counselor makes us go to this site... http://www.careercruising.com/ and it lets us looks at a bunch of careers, what education you'll need to make it, and the average salary a career gets. It's a really useful site, if you want to check it out, just PM and I'll give you our school's login and password (is that safe? haha)

[love*beat]

Hey, you're in the same position as I am. x)
I'm an "aspiring graphic designer", but I'm worried about my future and if I even have any talent? haha
Right now I am in the midst of deciding my future also @__@

But I'll give you some ideas to help you figure things out~!
(Since I am better helping others than myself lol)

1. Consider what is most important to you: Money or Satisfaction
Occasionally, they are one and the same.
However, as you know, both sides will take much effort to work through them.

2. Take classes, volunteer, or just experience a field of work you're interested in.
If there is a center or college that offers free classes, take advantage of it!
You might even just earn credits + you can experience things that you wouldn't normally do in your regular school.
It's better to do it now, see what it's like, and decide what to do, rather than go to college, major in something that you "think" you like and end up dropping it later.
(Remember: College tuition is high so take advantage of your time now so you won't be wasting money/time later)

3. Research and see from different perspectives.
The thing is, most of the time, people only see what they want to see when it comes to careers.
You have to honestly see from BOTH sides and see if you can work with it: Pro's AND Con's.

4. Do what YOU desire, not what anyone else expects of you.
Even if they are looking out for you, only YOU can make the decision.

[llamamama]

@ adiavoy
Thanks! PM'ed [:

@ love*beat
What classes do you mean? o.o
Thanks for the advices, & GL on your part too ^^

[love*beat]

@ adiavoy

@ love*beat
What classes do you mean? o.o
Thanks for the advices, & GL on your part too ^^

It could be anything you're interested in XD lol.
The most easiest class to find would probably be an art class.
But if you want to go for something else like say a nurse, you can volunteer at a hospital. x)
And you can probably search up places in your area that offer a variety of classes or a college that offers them.

No problem! I'm glad to help~ and goodluck also!

[ronmexico]

Also, about the entering college with "un-declared", then how would you know what college to attend? Because many people want to enter those Ivy League schools, but aren't they mostly for majoring in being doctors & whatnot. If I don't know what I want to be, then how do I know which schools to pick?

Plenty of people go to college without knowing what they're going to major in. At a lot of schools, you don't declare a major until your sophomore year, and many people change their minds after declaring. Unless there's something that you know want to do that would require applying to a specific program, you don't have to decide anything for years.

[llamamama]

Plenty of people go to college without knowing what they're going to major in. At a lot of schools, you don't declare a major until your sophomore year, and many people change their minds after declaring. Unless there's something that you know want to do that would require applying to a specific program, you don't have to decide anything for years.

Oh, so I can still get into a good college "un-declared"?

[ronmexico]

Oh, so I can still get into a good college "un-declared"?

Of course. This is what most people do unless, again, they're applying to a special program. The schools will probably ask you what you're thinking of majoring in on the application, but it's not binding at all. A lot of people change their minds before they declare a major, or even after they've declared one. And what you major in doesn't dictate what you'll do for the rest of your life, either.

[llamamama]

Of course. This is what most people do unless, again, they're applying to a special program. The schools will probably ask you what you're thinking of majoring in on the application, but it's not binding at all. A lot of people change their minds before they declare a major, or even after they've declared one. And what you major in doesn't dictate what you'll do for the rest of your life, either.

Oh, I kinda get it now.
Thanks! [:

[llamamama]

lalalalalala opinionssssssssss?

[joonage]

You're still young and have a lot to think over. You have to ask yourself this tho: Will whatever I choose make me happy?

You can go into peds and make over a 100k but haviserable life. If you really want to work as a esthetician, the 40k pay shouldn't bother you.

Also, dermatology is also a medical field, meaning you have to go to med school and do 3 years (I believe) of residency. It's also one of the hardest residency programs to get into. And it's not all helping people get glamorous skin (although cosmetic derm focuses on that). In residency, you'll help burn victims, people with acne, skin cancer, etc. Not all that pretty during your training years.

So just do lots and lots of research. You have fours years of high school to do it.