Choosing the right career

[MrMaxPro]

I know this is a long shot and a weird one for my first post , but i will go ahead with it any way. 

 

I am just a random 17 year old dude. I started making videos back in 2009 on a crappy acer computer (It was considered a beast back then lol). I loved technology every since i was a kid ( My cousin brothers were into tech and all that kind of stuff so i got into it too. They use to build their own PC and i use to think it was somekind of magic ) Anyway i was in and out of gaming since i was a kind. Along the way on YouTube i got into filming and video production ( i just loved the fact that a video could make such huge impact on people) I love making videos and its just makes me happy and i want to do it for the rest of my life but there is a problem.... As i am the only "Guy" in the family everyone expect me to be the best, which is very hard. So when they asked me what i want to be i told them i want to become a programmer (Don't get me wrong, i love programming but making videos is more fun). I will finish my 12th grade soon (march) and will hopefully move to Canada where i have bunch of friends. 

 

So i am completely lost... should i go on and learn programming at uni or pursue video production (which is hit or miss) ??

 

Your opinion might or might not help me choose. Would be nice to see what you guys think

[AlwaysFSX]

When in doubt, stripper.

 

Honestly go for something that you like to do if it's not a completely useless field. *cough* liberal arts *cough*

[AlexAlcala]

do what you love!!!

[Guest]

do what you love!!!

 

You mean I can have a career in sleeping? 

[KirbyTech]

I know this is a long shot and a weird one for my first post , but i will go ahead with it any way. 

 

I am just a random 17 year old dude. I started making videos back in 2009 on a crappy acer computer (It was considered a beast back then lol). I loved technology every since i was a kid ( My cousin brothers were into tech and all that kind of stuff so i got into it too. They use to build their own PC and i use to think it was somekind of magic ) Anyway i was in and out of gaming since i was a kind. Along the way on YouTube i got into filming and video production ( i just loved the fact that a video could make such huge impact on people) I love making videos and its just makes me happy and i want to do it for the rest of my life but there is a problem.... As i am the only "Guy" in the family everyone expect me to be the best, which is very hard. So when they asked me what i want to be i told them i want to become a programmer (Don't get me wrong, i love programming but making videos is more fun). I will finish my 12th grade soon (march) and will hopefully move to Canada where i have bunch of friends. 

 

So i am completely lost... should i go on and learn programming at uni or pursue video production (which is hit or miss) ??

 

Your opinion might or might not help me choose. Would be nice to see what you guys think

If you are looking to come to Canada programming would not be my first choice. While we do have a bunch of tech companies here it is very hard to find entry level positions. We have more CS grads that the job market can handle right now. So if you plan is to come to Canada then I would look into video production working a camera maybe. Right now (and for the next year+ Canadian job market will not be doing well due to oil. We are in a mini recession even if Harper won't admit it. 

[Zefues]

I know this is a long shot and a weird one for my first post , but i will go ahead with it any way. 

 

I am just a random 17 year old dude. I started making videos back in 2009 on a crappy acer computer (It was considered a beast back then lol). I loved technology every since i was a kid ( My cousin brothers were into tech and all that kind of stuff so i got into it too. They use to build their own PC and i use to think it was somekind of magic ) Anyway i was in and out of gaming since i was a kind. Along the way on YouTube i got into filming and video production ( i just loved the fact that a video could make such huge impact on people) I love making videos and its just makes me happy and i want to do it for the rest of my life but there is a problem.... As i am the only "Guy" in the family everyone expect me to be the best, which is very hard. So when they asked me what i want to be i told them i want to become a programmer (Don't get me wrong, i love programming but making videos is more fun). I will finish my 12th grade soon (march) and will hopefully move to Canada where i have bunch of friends. 

 

So i am completely lost... should i go on and learn programming at uni or pursue video production (which is hit or miss) ??

 

Your opinion might or might not help me choose. Would be nice to see what you guys think

If I were you I would go and learn programming, and if you have time make Youtube videos, make them. You have a tiny chance of being successful with Youtube it's a huge risk 

[KirbyTech]

You mean I can have a career in sleeping? 

If you mean with others than sure lol

[Langdon]

I'd do video production on the side and pursue programming in school.

[SImoHayha]

My father said to me "Major in something that will make you money and minor in something you love"

[Gala]

From an economical standpoint, if aiming internet based video production you are fucked. If aiming at professional movie production then ok. Go to programming. YouTube is fucked.

[AlexAlcala]

You mean I can have a career in sleeping? 

 

well...yeah, you can be a doctor of sleep

[Shakaza]

*cough* liberal arts *cough*

What even is liberal arts? I've heard many people talk about it, but I've never seen anyway say what it is.

[AlwaysFSX]

Guys don't forget, using YouTube as a way to learn videography doesn't mean that's the intended career path. There's a lot of companies that look for people who can operate a camera and/or edit footage.

[Scruffy90]

Best advice I could give you is if you're after the big money and awesome job right out of college, then focus on one major and get in and out as quickly as possible (I wasted a good 7 years so far because I have no clue what I want to do). Otherwise do what you have the biggest interest in, or use the opportunity to branch out and learn things that you have slight interest in. I ended up finding new interest and hobbies from taking random classes in school and collaborating in random projects with my friends.

[AlwaysFSX]

What even is liberal arts? I've heard many people talk about it, but I've never seen anyway say what it is.

Being angry about things using media as your medium.

[Rohith_Kumar_Sp]

You mean I can have a career in sleeping? 

you can, Oneirology.

[Shakaza]

Being angry about things using media as your medium.

That is NOTHING like it sounds.  :blink:

 

And does seem pretty useless.

[Guest]

you can, Oneirology.

 

Where do i sign up?

[AlwaysFSX]

That is NOTHING like it sounds.  :blink:

 

And does seem pretty useless.

Well, "liberal arts" covers a VERY wide scope of things, but in general that seems to be what people use it for, if they even use their "degree" at all.

[samcool55]

Well the world needs both, and if you can video edit for a company like LMG, it would be great!

I would not go the programming route, sort of. If you decide to pure software programming, like just programs and things like that. I would not go that way.

But if you have more hardware-ish things, like for example programming microchips so they do stuff, then i would consider programming.

The reason is just pure software programming can get boring after a while, i mean it's actually always the same and there is something called "code monkies" and you probably don't want to be one...

[paprikman]

well...yeah, you can be a doctor of sleep

There are actual specialists, that help people dealing with nightmares and insomnia.

And they're getting paid well.

[theereal]

You could start making videos for 12 year old kids like pewdiepie does

[Sauron]

Why not both? Computer engineering is almost certain to get you a job very quickly, once you have a steady source of income you can use your free time to learn about video production and editing (maybe even go to an evening university). If you get good at it, and find a satisfactory position in that field, you can just hop over. If you don't, you still have a job you like. win/win.

 

If you don't like the idea of spending so much time learning, I'd like to tell you you should do what you like the most (in this case video editing), but let's be honest, the chances of a decent career in that field are pretty slim. At the end of the day doing what you love hardly matters if you can't substain yourself (and a hypothetical family), and it's needless to say that if you're unemployed you'll have little chances to do any video production. Your best bet would be doing what Brandon did, fueling your passion while working at a retail store or something and hope an opportunity shows up. If that's something you're prepared to do, knowing it's no guarantee to get that opportunity, then sure, go for it. Otherwise for both your financial and mental health I'd advise to go for computer engineering.

[Nuluvius]

I am just a random 17 year old dude.... loved technology every since i was a kid...

 

I don't mean this to sound demeaning but you are still a 'kid'... More on that in my next paragraph - should lessen the impact a little.

 

So i am completely lost... should i go on and learn programming at uni or pursue video production (which is hit or miss) ??

 

At your age you can afford to try things out because time is on your side. That said you will want to be very careful about putting down money for education options - especially so when the figures that are involved are large. This often means that it's a one time choice that will have far reaching ramifications for your future life. You are somewhat lucky though because you seem to have a sense of direction at least - you have two pathways that interest you (or at least that lie open before you).

 

If it were me then I would choose the programming route. This is however probably because I (unlike you) posses hindsight - I have been through a significant amount of hell in my life and I am fortunate enough to now know that life in the Software Industry is not only secure but it is also very exciting and luxurious as well. For instance I currently enjoy choosing my own hours, working from wherever I want to, whenever I want to, lots of benefits including private medical and bonuses... travelling the world. Furthermore I not only work office hours but I also freelance at other times and I am constantly receiving phone calls from head-hunters and agents. My point is that one could walk from one job to another with significant ease (given reaching the appropriate level of course) while enjoying a good quality of life with relatively low stress levels.

 

The other could be done as a side pursuit... a hobby if you will.

[Rohith_Kumar_Sp]

Where do i sign up?

https://youtu.be/mtfuo7yl3gg?t=2m21s