Hello. 22M here. Majoring in Physics, 1st year. Looking for decent earning options, almost as a whole career, but I have no idea which way to go.
Let me tell you a bit about myself. I have a strong fictional imagination, basically a writer’s mind. English is not my native language. But I’ve practiced one or two short stories in my own language.
I have created multiple plots for multiple stories. I’ve intentions to start writing soon on them.
Anyway, I have close to zero bit of knowledge about coding. I only know html.
I had the time to pursue further into other languages like python, C, C++, but I’m very weak in mathematics. So I didn’t learn further coding. I also didn’t learn much mathematics, which has put me in an almost degraded institution for honours.
My current mental state cannot focus on one thing to pursue, I don’t know why. Sometimes it gets all motivated to write the story, and other times, it gets depressed thinking about how AI is taking all the jobs and I have to learn to code to battle against AI with my own AI.
So this is the overall depiction of my shattered mind and life. I also come from a lower-middle class family. So money is scarce.
I don’t want to argue about my moral ethics that if I want to earn money quickly, I can do this or that over my innate talent etc.
What I want to know is, which way will first build a strong foundation of knowledge within me and will keep me going for the long run along with the money.
Because, if I have to learn to code, I also have to study mathematics, if I want to write, I also need to research for a long time before I can even layer the elements inside the story.
My laptop broke 2 years ago and I’ve been on my android since then. I’m going to buy either a laptop or a tablet soon.
And a tablet adds another way which is digital arts. I don’t know how to draw at all. But, as I said, whichever way I choose, I’ll have to spend a bit long amount of time to actually train myself to be sufficient on that path. So I have no problem getting introduced to such new ideas and paths and spending time to get along with them.
I also got stuck between the device choice. If I buy a laptop, I’ll be able to learn to code and to write my stories. And if I buy a tablet, I’ll be able to learn to be a digital artist and can also write my stories but no coding.
So, the way the world’s economy is going, which way and which device should I go after?
Writing takes a HELL of a long time to start getting good, usually a million words or so, and that’s not guaranteed success. Physics, as others have mentioned takes mathematics to a high level, have you looked at other aspects of sciences and math if you at least enjoy it?
If you’d like to get some career guidance, I do alot of training and mentorship pro-bono, drop me a message might be able to help a little.
A friend and I graduated the same year, and both had potential as a coder or graphic designer.
I chose to focus on coding, he chose to focus on graphic design.
I have had higher income and stronger job stability across my career, so far.
AI has affected both professions, but AI is still shit at doing either job correctly. It seems immediately obvious when companies shovel out AI slop images. It is less obvious when back end web server code is a vulnerable pile of shit. There’s a lot of “fuck around and find out” happening in AI over-adoption, right now.
The market for programming is at an all time low, with like 93% employment, last time I checked. - Which is still pretty nice.
The US gov predicts further recision of programming jobs next year. Recruiters reaching out make it seem - to me - like the demand is heating back up, again. But I’m some random person, and they’re scientists. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ If I were you I would trust them more than me.
References:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/graphic-designers.htm
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm
Edit: Auto mechanics, plumbers and HVAC technicians I have known have enjoyed at least as much job stability as I have. The pay ceiling is lower, as an employee, but a few of the ones that start their own businesses are pulling more income than I am.
I recently completed my Masters in theoretical physics. It’s a LOT of high-level math, and quite a bit of programming (mostly Python). Additionally, PhD’s in physics are super competitive and only the top students get the positions.
If you are dead set on physics, even at the bachelors level, you should get started on your math skills now. Otherwise, I recommend you steer towards writing or something else. It’s not a subject people do unless they really love it. Just my 2 cents.
You don’t need to be good at math to learn to code. In fact, someone telling me there wasn’t much math involved is what made me seriously consider it.
And well over a decade in, I’ve actually found I enjoy math when it’s about how things fit together rather than the numbers themselves… But generally you can totally avoid it, the computer is really good at math so make the computer do it
Get away from the C++, start with python then move to another high level language like typescript or C# or something. You can learn to code on your phone if you hook up a keyboard, it will be limited but you will be able to do code challenges and even build apps
As far as the future? AI is really killing junior dev jobs. Which is going to lead to a lack of mid and senior devs pretty soon.
The Internet is also dying, a lot of people make money as content creators, but it’s not a quick path to money and it’s a very uncertain one. The people who love it are living their dream, if that’s not your dream, don’t do it to yourself
My honest advice? Get a job as a handyman and major in computer science if you find you have the aptitude.
No one knows what is going to happen in the near future, but people will always need things patched up. And if you can break through the gap in junior devs, there’s going to be a huge need for people to maintain all the old code that underpins modern life
In uncertain times, it’s good to go all in or hedge your bets. If you’re not the all in type, learn every skill you can
I’m one of the few people here working in the trades and I’m not the tiniest bit worried about being replaced by AI or automation. I also like that at the end of the day I’ve actually manipulated the physical world and objectively made it better. Yeah, I might not be coming up with cure for cancer or influencing world politics but granny over here has a working faucet now and she’s immensely thankful for it and I also get cookies (not the digital kind)
I went to trade school in the late eighties/ early nineties to become a plumber. When I finished school in 91 there were no jobs for plumbers, so I did extra schooling to be an electrician. Still could’t find a non temp job, so in 96 it was working in a chemical plant as an operator, and studying to eventually get a degree in chemical engineering.
All this just to say that the job market can’t be predicted. Working in the trades is great, if the jobs are available. Unfortunately, they usually are among the first jobs to disappear when the job market goes a bit slower.
I’ll work manufacturing until the doors fall off, but trades would be next. Something not at the mercy of mad kings in the USA.
At 35 years old, what should I do? My brain isn’t as elastic now. I failed at welding prior to this. Electricians is oversaturated here. I was thinking HVAC or Plumbing. Those seem like they’ll always be in demand.
I’m plumber by training but started my own bussiness a few years back and now work as a so-called “handyman” Now plumbing is only around 5% of what I do. Painting seems to be in high demand.
Noted. I’ve seen another 2 commenters’ steer towards business and economy. I do have a knack for economy myself. But I didn’t pursue that line of study. In my country, students have to choose 3 branches of study line, after completing a specific class. Science( this includes all the possible subjects related to Science; Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry etc), Commerce( Everything about Economy and finance) and Humanity( Everything about History, facts, philosophy etc).
I’m in such stage of my life where I’m kinda regretting choosing Science. Not that I cannot continue the subject I’m in now, but, I get the gut feeling that, I could do so much more being in finance than being in Science.
Also there is an added hard-built societal perception onto my psychology by my parents and Society. I was determined to study in Science branch by my parents and Society.
I remember having interests over so many different things and subject as a child, but, as I was forcefully being molded into a scientific genius, I forgot which things I had interests on.
I kept blaming myself for not being able to concentrate on my study, I even forgot that I could just explore different interest myself.
And now that I’ve gained a bit clarity over my mind, I’m still psychologically bounded by the societal perception and capitalistic vision.
Blaming myself, I tucked myself inwards so tightly that I can’t make up the courage to consult to someone in real life who is an expert in these career choices.
But I will approach someone soon. The main purpose of this post of mine is to receive all kinds of different opinions and perspectives to let my constrainted mind see the bigger picture and eventually hopping out of my own negative perception and be direct, clear and knowledgeable about my will and vision.
The world is everchanging. If I decide something to be my one and only career now, there will still be way more choices for me to persue. Life is everchanging, choices are too.
No matter what I choose, I’ll have to first accept it myself and work on it. As I will get better at it, I’ll eventually get introduced to other choices that will meet the educational criteria and I’ll be enough intellectual by that point to either shift my work or stay in the same work. This is what I understood from all the comments so far. And thank you personally for enabling me to think this way.
My mom always said "don’t try to decide what you are doing for your life, just decide what you are doing for the next 5 years and commit to doing it for 5 years, you can always change. "
I do accounting, and some sysadmin stuff, I like accounting because you can do it at any company in any industry, or government, or whatever - nearly everyone deals with money. I do not try to go up a career ladder but it’s there if you want it and are good with people, as you move up that gets more important than the numbers!
The kids, a mix of medical, science, military, and one who I think will become an electrician. The oldest who stayed in military and quickly rose through the ranks is rolling in cash, so if you literally have no ethical concerns, that is one way to really rake it in. Second highest earner (and balanced life) is a genetic counselor, so a medical specialist but not doctor.
I think you are taking the right approach, mostly here to say that it’s really ok to just have a job that pays the bills, especially if you like writing, finding something that gives you enough money but also enough time to work on that might be a better life, and really what you are trying to do is build a good life, yes?
Yes. I’m trying to build such a life that when I turn 50, I can still be cognitively active, I can feel proud with all the knowledge, achievement and skills I’ll have built over the years and that I can thank God for being with me in my journey.
My advice is to Target either healthcare or the trades. What you need is a medium-skilled career that will earn well, so you can write as a hobby. You can do very well as a carpenter, plumber, sonograph operator, or other medical technician. These are trades that have professional skill training courses you can take. It’s not necessarily a college program.
But forget writing. If you write well that will always help you a little bit but the fact you have written two short stories doesn’t even belong in a conversation about what job to get.
And forget coding. It doesn’t sound like it’s for you and it’s a very unstable field right now because of AI. We don’t know what it will be in 5 years.
Get into the trades. You’ll always have good work. You won’t be tied to any one area.
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Is it that difficult to change your major? You are in in your first year. You may have wasted a year of school but you know physics does not make you happy.
I noticed the second thing you mentioned was writing. Writing may or may not pay a lot but I suggest you continue. Most writers don’t write for money. They write because it makes them happy.
If you aren’t comfortable with mathematics then physics isn’t for you…
Yes. That is the logical conclusion. I am in fact, not comfortable with math. But I already have come past the limit to opt out of Physics.
Before even thinking to write this post, I myself thought that, since I can’t opt out of Physics anymore, I might as well try my best concentrating to learn math to that specific level which is required to complete the Physics degree along with a PhD additionally. PhD being an extra achievement to enable myself to apply for larger science fields.
Then I thought, how much “extra” math is needed to know to actually make a name in coding world? How much would I have to train my mind, how much would I have to compete with myself, can I really rival a born-genius…
Eventually I’ll have to learn math to do well in Physics. I’m just interested to know about the broader need and application where math will exist as my knowledge foundation.
Computer science requires less math than physics but is only a couple classes away from a minor in mathematics. So pretty dense but less than physics depending on your program.
There is ALOT of high paying work for programmers who know physics.
Why are you studying physics?
Have you talked with your professors, instructors and or people with physics degrees about what the career options are?
Moreover, if you’re curious about design or writing, have you considered taking some course work in those areas? Do you live somewhere that required elective courses outside of your major?
I forgot to mention this part. Thank you for reminding.
Physics degree does have multiple career options. But only after completing the degree along with Masters’. Monthly wage increases if my certificate has more milestones reached by me. Meaning, If I do PhD after Masters, I’ll have a better overall condition than just earning just-above-average wage.
What I’m seeking now is totally different from that. To support my financial expenses myself and building a strong foundation alongside.
If I choose coding, eventually I’ll have to learn mathematics, and this will make me somewhat better at physics than I am now.
If I choose writing, I’ll need to study history, mathematics, chemistry and a bit of everything to be like a polymath of some sort. If my book hits the market, then I won’t have to worry about my financial expenses until my physics degree get me in a stable career.
And if I choose Digital arts, let’s just say, I didn’t practice drawing ever in my life. And I cannot foresee where I’ll be if I choose Digital arts. To me, it feels like a money-on-demand service. Like, I can set a commission and do paid arts and that’s it. Nothing more, nothing less.
And the thing about courses. Where I live, there’s a system where in every major district( states as USA terms ) has a government funded institution where they offer to intake any kinds of course for those who completed a specific academic limit. So, someone completing high-school can get admitted into a course to get a certificate after it ends. That certificate is sufficient enough to apply for a less-than-average waged non-government job. Also it can get an individual to be favoured more when applying for a respective government job after completing education in that respective degree( in my case, Physics ).
What I’m seeking is building a strong foundation alongside just doing my major. Mathematics, digital arts or writing. I can invest the entire year of 2027 if I can fix my focus on one single goal.
I enjoy writing; Don’t actually know why I hate math( I assumed it has to do something about my childhood trauma ); And I don’t know the world of digital arts, maybe because I haven’t been exposed to someone or some platform that entirely based on it, or I just know close to nothing about it.
If you don’t like math then we can pretty much eliminate pursuing a masters or phd in Physics from the list of options.
Or a bachelor’s for that matter. The only way he could be doing more math is if he was an actual math major
My 2 cents is get a laptop (or desktop) soon. For educational and technical purposes, I believe it’s way more valuable than is perceived. Around 24, my laptop was so slow I never used it. I relied on my android phone as well, believing it to be the same. It wasn’t. The simplified UI, inaccuracy of small touch screens, and small screen drastically reduced the depth of my device usage. I became a Facebook/reddit blob. I can understand the argument that someone 22 today is likely less adapted to the pc UI, equalizing their depth of usage, but I do not accept the inverse, suggesting my older age makes me significantly worse at using a phone. Even just having a full page worth of information at once, providing context for the entire form, is something lost due to readability on phones by zooming in. Spatial relationship is better retained with a large view than sliding around on a phone. Spatial relations improve memory retention as well.
I’m scatter brained on this explanation because I’ve never written it down before. I just feel for you because your situation isn’t far off from where I was at that time.
I’m finally back into creating art. Even though I’m in a highly technical field, I can’t turn off the creativity. I got back into doodling, back into imagining creations, back into viewing art. There’s no way I could make a career out of it though and I probably wouldn’t want to. I’d hate it soon. But, while I do believe I have a good job now, I’m only here to get paid. But at least now I’m at a point where I can find the emotional energy to be freeform in my own time. Money has leveled out, housing has stabilized, and probably most importantly, I got “more” of a social circle simply by removing all the asterisks I was tacking onto each relationship. Work buddy? Friend. Childhood friend? Friend. Hobby friend? Friend. Friend of a friend? Friend. Limited shared activity friend? Friend. Online-only hobby friend? Well, turns out, I traveled that way and they welcomed me into their home. What do you know, friend.
Fuck. Where am I even going? Other people are giving you technical advice but I read your post as someone stuck in their feelings rather than in their logic. I don’t know.
It’s alright. Any kind of suggestions are welcomed. A sailor and a passenger each have a different experience and story to tell about the same journey.
I myself cannot deny the fact that almost 70% of my cognitive ability has been embedded around this rectangular devil’s box. Unironically I can say, the day I got separated from my laptop and got introduced to this phone, I fell into almost all kinds of downhill there exist.
Even though I started using it thinking that it’ll be a good use, but no. Screentime, activities, and overall device addiction say otherwise.
I’ve started analog journaling from June, I don’t know how it helped but it didn’t help me to get rid of the excessive use of phone. It has become a penicillin for my depressed mind.
I don’t even have the drive to seek and execute my creativity. Resulting in me not knowing what my hobbies are. I don’t particularly enjoy anything, nor that I hate anything either. I just exist. No drive, no thrill, no excitement.
And, I can’t address someone as a “friend” in real life. I call them as “classmate” or “senior brother/peer” etc.
Mostly I am to blame. I can’t( or never learnt to ) socialize/communicate with people. None of my classmate brothered to actually look into the kind of person I am. They just assume that I’m like that. And I don’t feel like correcting them or letting them know how I am.
Also, they don’t respect other’s choices and niche in entertainment. They just joke it around. So even this one single path to start a conversation with them had been closed way before.
I’m kind of an outdated person when it comes to enjoy entertainment. I like books, audiobooks, historical plays, etc. The only digital era type of entertainment I like is nerdcore, Tame Impala and slipknot music.
Anyway, enough reminiscing ! I felt good reading your comment that you explained from your personal situational perspective rather than a technical one. I’ve already decided what to do from reading all the comments. You sharing your situational similarities gave me courage and motivation. Getting comforted and acknowledged by the people who used to be in the same tier as me feels like home.
Check out the lyrics to “Home” by Corey Taylor, singer of Slipknot (I’m not a fan of the song itself). It’s a romantic-love song, but I think you could find a friend-love meaning in there because it’s about being partners.
Slipknot makes music for us. They reach out to the loners, the outcasts, those abandoned, those forgotten. I have friends double your age into Slipknot. The lyricism has some extreme imagery and obviously their concert presence is scary, but, at the heart of it, it’s painting a picture of sad feelings, screaming out into the void as if it’s anger. He’s hurt and doesn’t want to hurt others the same way. Yes, the music attracts some aggressive people (not getting into THEIR psych right now), but by and large, the fans are people who felt lonely in their teenage years. Look at the lyrics to Slipknot’s “Danger keep away”. He says “we, too, feel alone”. We! There’s something beautiful to be discovered when 10,000 “loners” step into their concert. Maybe you’re not so alone. Maybe you could reach out better to others. Maybe other people have a totally different inside personality but they’re afraid to show it. They’re struggling inside the same way you are. They want to be accepted. Unfortunately, it’s easier to find common disinterest than interests, so it’s so damn easy to earn social points by joking about the weird interests.
I made my judgements in school of other people. They judged me. I drifted away because of that, even from the ones I wanted to call “friend”. Over a decade later, I somewhat reconnected with some. Even my ex. Nothing deep, just casual, but comfortable. You don’t know it yet, but you’re not done growing up. You’ll hopefully realize that for all the times you acted immature, your acquaintances did too. They were also young. I’m not saying their personalities will flip or they’ll become your best friend, but most will hopefully look back and laugh a little. I had a roommate fight about sponge etiquette.
Or maybe you’ll never see them again. That’s fine, shit happens. People move. People get all different jobs. People make new families. If you find yourself dwelling on something you feel you messed up by being awkward or if you’re still angry someone else judged you as uninteresting, try to learn from it. How would you have presented yourself today to improve yourself? Or how would you have presented your interests in a way that’s more amicable to someone entirely unfamiliar? I don’t dive right into talking about nebula composition and orbital mechanics, I pull up some astro pictures I’ve made. I gauge it from there. Would they rather hear more about the camera, the travel, the stars, or are they not interested at all? Switch to cars? Motorcycles? The sci-fi book I’m in? Slipknot? The weather? Nothing? Just because there was no common ground found today doesn’t mean there won’t be in the future.
There’s a cool side effect with never seeing a former social group again: starting entirely fresh in the next one. They don’t know you were weird last time, so there’s no reason to assume they think you’re weird. You don’t have to be interesting all the time, but work on giving a comfortable vibe. Don’t gatekeeper your taste but don’t dive into a whole thesis either.
I won’t agree with the other comment about ditching the degree, but absolutely work on social skills while you’re there. This is a good time to shape them. Join clubs or events. You have a good amount of time and you’ll be in a group of people with an amazingly similar demographics. You’ll come across jerks, you’ll be overly weird. Work on it. You might never see them again or they might never think about that interaction again. So don’t worry about it and don’t beat yourself up.
And then watch Corey Taylor sing the SpongeBob theme song because why the hell not?
But anyway, really, this will work out. It’ll take time. If you’re comfortable with yourself, people will get comfortable with you. You don’t have to be the center of attention, but you’re saying you wish you had some attention. Use that logical communication brain of yours to figure out where you are, where you want to be, and what to do to merge those two identities.
Honestly, dude, fuck what degree you get. Spend all your time in school learning how to talk to people. That’s the most valuable skill in your life that you are missing.
A mediocre engineer makes more than a mediocre artist.
If you are good at any STEM and any creative profession you should pick STEM.
Experience design jobs pay pretty well. That said, for every scrum 4 or 5 engineer roles, you’re only going to need one experience design role.
So you have to take it seriously and major in user experience / product design to land a job. The days of boot camping your way into the field are nearly done.
You really don’t need much maths for coding unless you’re doing things like games or engine coding.
Decent Earning Options? In this economy?
I thought it was still possible… 🙆♂️
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