Careers and Duty to the World

[Watcheroftrends]

Do you think a person should factor in what benefit to society their career has when choosing what to pursue? I'm currently at college and am having a difficult time choosing what to devote my life to. I feel like it's stereotypical to want to become a doctor, but at the same time I'm worried that becoming something like a software engineer would be less beneficial to those around me.

As far as specifics to my situation, I'd be able to attend a much cheaper college for computer science, get a degree in 4 years (maybe even 2), and start working in a fast growing field with more than enough pay to live comfortably. In the future, I can simply teach myself new languages and programming techniques to stay competetive and relevant to companies. My job wouldn't be totally consuming, and I'd get to have a more well-rounded lifestyle.

If I stay where I'm at, I'll likely end up pursuing medicine, which will require graduate school, tons of debt, as well as life-consuming time investment. With medicine, I can see myself relieving others of what's holding them back so they can live better lives, though. I also know I am capable of reaching the level required to be a medical doctor.

As a curveball, I'm actually most interested in physics. I'd like to find out more about nuclear physics and energy. While this path will require about the same schooling and debt as medicine, I think I'd actually be the most happy learning about something on the "cutting edge" of technology. Who knows - I could come up with a method that revolutionizes the world's dependance on natural resources, albeit a longshot.

So what do you all think? Do we owe the world our potential, or is life simply about being comfortable and enjoying the small stuff? Or is it about being headlong passionate about something regardless of its benefit to others? Maybe both? Any thoughts on a profession like being a musician vs working for the peace corp?

 

[NorthernStar]

Do whatever makes you happy.

Don't pursue a career in something that will not make you happy. Even if you think it'll benefit others.

Our value to the world and to others lies not in big gestures or the profession we perform. It can be as easy as a smile for someone who'se feeling down, a good listen to one of your colleagues who needs to vent or something else that might seem relatively insignificant.
In addition, if you're not happy doing what you do, I doubt you'll get all the satisfaction you need from just 'performing your duty to the world'. And this satisfaction is absolutely vital if you'd like to continue working for a long time with at least some kind of smile on your face.

Take my job, for instance. I translate video games. I absolutely love doing this, it's my dream job.
Am I making a big difference to the world? Nope.
Am I performing some kind of amazing karmic duty that will help change the world? Probably not.
Will I change the world? Well, some kids might like their games better in their native language, but I'm afraid the answer'll have to be 'nope'.
Should I have joined the army/peace corp or have become a doctor instead? NO.

I guess that what I'm trying to say is that your 'duty' to the world, if there is such a thing, does not necessarily lie in your profession. It could be in your compassion towards others. Heck, it could even be as easy as walking through a forest and picking up the trash as you go.

 

[Zantos]

You shouldn't worry about a service to the world. No matter what job you get, you'll directly or indirectly be helping people.

Besides, you'd be surprised, but if you are wanting to make a direct difference, you can do that with the right software engineer job. One I'm applying for will be helping to save lives across Britain.

Just do what you think you'll be good at and what makes you happy. Don't get too set in ideas of what you want to be now, just see what you enjoy and where it takes you. And at the end of the day, if you're happy you'll be making others happy.