Question: Hi :) I'm really passionate about science and musical theatre. School is going to be over soon and I really have to start thinking about what I want to do when I leave. What's the best part about being a scientist? And if you weren't a scientist what would you like to be? Please help me! I'm really stuck... Thanks, Nicole :)
Keywords: advice, altcareer, motivation
A philosopher! Really! I know one. He is paid to spend time thinking about questions that the Dean doesn’t have time to answer and providing really well considered answers.
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For me the best part is being around nature and wildlife all the time. If I was not a scientist I have often thought of beeing a Vet.
The best advice i can give you is to do the subjects that you love and are passonate about. If you want to go to University next year and do science then pick a braod science degree like a Batcholar of Science or a Bacholar of Biology. This way you can pick the subjects you like and eventually get a job you like. Also remember that the jobs availble now are not going to be availble when you leave uni, so keep your degree broad so you can fit into any job when you leave uni. You can specilise later in your PhD once you know what field you like. I wanted to work in Pathology at Unversity and did all the microbiology courses and when I finished there where no jobs, the only job I could get was as a marine biologist. Now there are very few marine biology jobs.
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You sound like you have the same favorite subjects as me!
I chose to do biology and performance arts when I went to college (6th form) because they were my two favorite subjects. I also chose English literature because I found it easy and knew I could get a good grade in it! (Think strategically!) When 6th form ended I decided to go with the science because I preferred it and I applied to do Genetics in university… but then I went traveling and that changed my perspective completely so I switched from genetics to marine biology.
I think the best thing to do when deciding ‘What to do next?’ is to choose what you love most! Just go with it. As long as your passionate about your subject and believe in yourself you will be fine!
One of the best things about science is the variation in the job. Some of my friends go to work and do the same thing everyday, in the same office, with the same people, and I think that must get so boring! At least with science you have your office where your colleagues are but from day to day you might be going to a conference somewhere or you might be doing lab work or you might be doing field work. It can change and your kind of your own boss. No one telling you what you can and cant do (within reason!).
But I also love science because I feel like I’m making a difference to the world. I’m making the world a better place by helping gather knowledge about the world and trying to improve it and stop people from destroying it. There aren’t many jobs where you can say that!
Further still, you don’t really get bored of it either! because there is always a question that needs answering.
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Hi Nicole, you sound like the perfect person to work at Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre. People that work there (called the ‘excited particles’) do ‘science shows’ for the public that are quite theatrical, but also very sciencey and informative. I worked there last year and had a great time, but it is in Canberra.
This is the course I did if you are interested in this sort of thing. You do have to do a science degree before you do this course though – https://sciencecircus.questacon.edu.au/
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