Who I want to be in the future...

I'm a junior in highschool now, and I've always told myself that I wanted to be one of the best people's doctor who will take care of their needs and be caring to provide the upmost support. But the thing is, something else is nagging me

I love the ocean ever since I was young, I want to swim in it, dive, be a mermaid. I love travelling, sea animals, and always fear for the safety of sea animals because there's so many threats of overfishing and pollution! Suddenly, I don't know if I'm on the right path, anymore. I'm going to admit, I do want money, despite how selfish that sounds, but I want to do what I love!

Up to this point, I've been concentrating on classes to become a doctor "on the surface". Is it too late to switch to this goal? I've notified on my College search that I was interested in Pre-Med. Or is there a way to become a doctor for humans and marine animals? Maybe I can incorporate my knowledge on natural medicine on both?

P.S. Different topic, but who here earned different minors in their own interests? My IB English teacher did, and I've been inspired by her to earn some minors for fun, and so did she

I thought that in the US you do a fairly broad undergraduate curriculum in a first degree before you get to apply to medicine. Pretty sure that people do a bunch of different things for their undergraduate degree. Some 'play it safe' by doing very strictly only courses that seem relevant / that seem easy in order to maintain a GPA. Others follow up on other interests like music. Or... Animal biology... Marine biology... Perhaps veterinary science.

You can take some time to explore different things and see what you enjoy.

The branch of environmental science is probably something you'd want to look into. It includes what Kim mentioned above, but isn't limited strictly to biology. Wikipedia has some detailed information about it and everything it entails. Maybe something combining biology, zoology, and ecology would be fitting?

So I've thought about it for some time, and I've decided to get that second degree, the Marine Biology (or any other oceanic science)! The thing is, I'm now deciding which one should be a minor and a major.

I have another question: Up to this point, I've done things that was going to be related to Pre-Medicine and medical in general. Is it normal to decide something else at this point? I'm a Junior in HS now, FYI

How much choice do you have at High School?

You will want to do biology whether you do medicine or marine science or vet science or ecology or anything related. Chemistry, too. Physics can only help. Maths, too. English is good for communication.

How many options do you have?

You have heaps of time to decide. And no real way to **** things up, except by not working hard and doing well on what you do.

Yeah I'm taking those classes, although Chemistry (not sophomore) might be going not too well, but the others are fine

The problem is, my parents and even my grandparents have told me, "Become a doctor, Become a doctor..." for money and a set life. I feel cheated, even with myself, because now the urge to become a doctor feels wavering. I know this is bad, but I honestly don't picture myself in a little clinic or hospital as much as exploring the ocean. One of my best friends is becoming a surgeon or something emergency-wise. She continues to throw up medical documentaries in my face from time to time, haha, but I find myself more into science-type interests like outer space and Earth's natures, even the ocean. I don't want to blindly walk into the medical field because my parents told me too, and I feel like I smiled and said I wanted to be a doctor, feeling as though it was the only career Then again, I do make lots of mistakes my parents and friends correct me, it's like I'm incapable of living.

I dunno, maybe I can double major or just think about other ideas than following a line where some of my passion is missing. And also, I hate to admit, but most of my sciences are in the B- - C- range (just semester grade averages). I'm going to feel like a failure.

If you do go on to marine science or something like that then you will find that most people over there aren't particularly good at maths / physical / analytical chemistry. You will need some bio-chemistry / organic chemistry but doing well at that will surely distinguish yourself from the 'I just wanna swim with dolphins all day' hippy-kids.

If you are talking about school in the US then you have to do a whole degree before you can apply to study medicine. So I don't understand why you keep talking about what degree to do or what major to do or whether you should double major... The point is that you HAVE TO do a degree in something NOT MEDICINE before applying to medicine. And you surely don't need to decide whether you are going to apply to medicine or not, now. Just nod and smile for the grandparents, nod and smile.

You would also have to sit a test for entry to medicine. This gives you some idea: https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat Universities don't specifically prepare you for that exam, but some people do select their undergraduate degree with that exam in mind. They have recently changed it (broadened it) so it has some psychology / sociology stuff in it. To encourage people to take social science degrees as undergraduates if they want. So... You could take a social science degree if you wanted... In something like psychology... Because you are interested in animal behavior, or whatever. You could totally do that.

The whole point of making you do a different degree first is that a lot of people start out thinking that they want to do medicine and they end up not wanting to do it. Or, conversely, a lot of people start out thinking that they don't want to do it, but it starts to seem appealing to them as they get a bit older. You simply don't have to decide now.

Some people do really well in High School and they fall apart at University. Don't cope with the freedom. Decide they would rather party, or can't work without parents / teachers standing over them cracking the whip. Other people don' do so well at High School but they really flourish at University. Because you have more choice to do what you are interested in and are so much more likely to fall in with other students who are similarly interested (so to form good social / study groups). I did really badly at school and was shocked to find myself turning into an A student at University. So... You never know what will happen for you

The system where I am largely takes students as undergraduates - and I think it is not a good idea. I know a lot of people who start out being happy to get offer of place and they end up dropping it when the clinical stuff starts because they simply don't have the emotional maturity to be dealing with such things at their age. They drop it... Then after completing PhD's in different fields... They have a longing to return. I think the US system is much better for making people wait....

> I dunno, maybe I can double major or just think about other ideas than following a line where some of my passion is missing. And also, I hate to admit, but most of my sciences are in the B- - C- range (just semester grade averages). I'm going to feel like a failure.

Finish up high school as best you can and try and get into studying something that sounds interesting to you. A lot of people change their minds over the first year or two of their degree as they get exposure to different things. You won't get into medicine with grades like that, but it is next to impossible to try and force your mind to do something that you aren't interested in solely in order to make others happy.

I would hope that your parents / grandparents would be happy to see you enjoying what you are doing and doing well in it. Even if it isn't medicine.

I'm in a new dilemma now. I'm not an A-student in the sciences as I've said, more like C's and B-'s, and I'm starting to doubt whether I should even consider the science field of any type If I do not that well (which I'm striving to be) in high school, is there a chance that I can exceptionally improve myself somewhat to an extent in university/college (That doesn't mean I'll quit working hard in high school!)? BTW, I'm aiming for the AP/IB Chem. grade this semester be a B- because last semester was an exact 70

I really love the subject of science, but ironically I'm not a professional at it (maybe I'm not seeing things more clearly?).

When it comes to career, the best thing is to do what you feel like doing. Do what you love.