Dylan Harris

English 1 Pre-AP

November 4, 2014

My Future Career

Although I am too young to have a professional job, it is still important that I consider my possible jobs in the future. I only have four years to figure out what I want to do with my life, so it’s crucial to be one-hundred percent positive of my career choice. After careful research, I found that the jobs that suit me best would be a long distance U.S. Olympian, a computer programmer, or an astrophysicist.

After gathering resources based on the careers salary, level of education required, abilities or talents needed, opportunities for advancement, and the workday schedule possibilities, I’ve made the decision of because of the special talents I have, such as my problem solving skills, math skills, and my curiosity, which are all key components of being a successful astrophysicist.

Below is the comparison chart I used in considering my career choice.

 

Job:	Salary:	Level of Education Required:	Abilities/ Talents Needed:	Opportunities for Advancement	Workday Schedule Possibilities
U.S. Olympian	$40,060	High School Diploma	Speed and Endurance, Athleticism,	Advance in level of Superior Performance	40 hours per week, including some weekends, and most holidays
Computer Programmer	$112,000+	Bachelor’s Degree, Occasionally Associate’s Degree	Analytical Skills, Concentration, Detail Oriented, Troubleshooting Skills	May become a Computer Systems Analyst, or a Software Developer	Full time 35-40+ hours per week
Astrophysicist	$106,360	Doctoral or Professional Degree Ph. D in Astronomy	Analytical Skills, Critical Thinking Skills, Math Skills	Begin Career at post doctoral research position, and advance into higher levels of research	Full time 35-40+ hours per week

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/

By examining the chart and its illustration of income, being an Olympian may not be the best decision. Although making $40,060 per year is a decent income it does not have the same advantages as other careers. One benefit of being an Olympian is the level of education required is very simple to achieve. All education that is needed to be available for the spot is a high school diploma and extensive knowledge of the sport to be competing in. Even though there are some benefits to this job, such as the level of education required and the victory conditions, long term benefits, such as salary, are not reliable to help make a living. I have many of the talents required for this job, such as speed and endurance, but to get the job I have to be one of the best in the world. Also, because of the great difficulties such as the large amount of training it takes to achieve the Olympic title, I would most likely have to work another job aside from running, which would be very difficult since most runners already work full time. Overall, this job would be the most difficult to achieve and the least beneficial.

On the other hand, many benefits can come from being a computer programmer. Unlike the U.S. Olympian, computer programmers receive an extraordinarily high pay which starts at $112,000 per year and higher depending on what job they are on. Most computer programmers do not work for one company at a time, but instead are hired by multiple companies to help them with their technology needs. These computer programmers receive up to $400 dollars per hour working for multiple companies such as Wearable Computing Company, the Future of the Mind Company, and the Crowd Economics on the Rise Company. Computer programmers who do work for one large company at a time receive a minimum of $112,000 per year. To earn the maximum an associates degree is required, but all computer programmers must have a bachelors degree. Similar to the U.S. Olympian, working hours leave a decent amount of time for extracurricular activities, for hours may just exceed 35 hours. Most people who go into the computer programming business end up as a computer systems analyst, but those who are more advanced in this field might become a software developer. Although I would be thrilled to go into this field, I feel like some of the skills needed don’t fit me. I have most of the skills needed, which include: analytical skills, concentration, and detail oriented skills, but I feel like i need to be much better at troubleshooting computers, which is the main ingredient in the computer programming field.

Even though I would rather be a U.S. Olympian, I choose to be an astrophysicist because of the effect it would have in the long-run.

To explain why I wish to pursue this career I must go back into my childhood years. I have always been fascinated with space and its great mysteries. While most people look at the Moon like it’s no big deal, I used to find myself staring at the Moon for minutes before I realized how much time had gone by. Even though the salary of a computer programmer might be much higher, I feel that my desire to learn about space overpowers any of the benefits of earning more money.

If I were to become an astrophysicist, which takes a doctoral or a professional degree and a Ph. D in Astronomy, I could make much more than the average salary of $106,360 per year because of my desire to learn more about the subject. I believe that I could make it past a natural sciences manager because of my curiosity, math skills, problem solving skills, and self-discipline. Although working hours may exceed 40 hours per week, I will do my best during every one of those hours.

All the careers I researched can describe me in some way. Whether it be that I’m a talented runner, my computer skills, or my interest in space, they are all a piece of who I might be in the future. All careers also require dedication because of the rough road of either knowledge or running. However, the career that best fits me is an astrophysicist — looking out into the wonders of space, discovering new stars, and finding new solar systems. Back when i first saw the Moon through a telescope and seeing craters clearly on its rough, silver surface left a lasting mental picture of my possible future.