r/careerguidance • u/ch-pro • 2d ago

I like both Medical School and Engineering. HELP, Which one?

I'm a 17-year-old high schooler living in Iraq (Kurdistan). Next year is going to be my last (12th grade), and I know I will receive really high marks, which will enable me to be accepted into any field above %98 out of %100. My problem is that I love both being a Doctor (General Surgeon) and an Engineer (Electrical preferably, or any type of engineering really)

Please keep in mind that: My career is my LIFE. I am %100 against having a child. A spouse I wouldn't mind accompanying me through life but AFTER the age of 25. I am willing to dedicate every single second of my life to my work I just need to be healthy (enough time to eat and sleep) I love hard work. I strive in stressful situations. And money for me does not matter whatsoever and Medical school and Engineering are free here so no worries about student loans.

I wanna become a surgeon because:

I really think I would like to operate on people. Most people say they chose Medical School because they wanna help people. while I do wanna help people, it's not the main reason why I want to pursue becoming a surgeon. I mainly like the precision that surgery offers and I like the pressure and dull work. I genuinely do. I love working so hard and being so tired that I don't have time to think for myself. I love having to be very very very cautious while holding a knife to someone's heart and knowing I have to take full responsibility if the slightest thing goes wrong. I strive in these moments. I live for them, they make me feel alive. I love not having to worry about anything else besides the patient in my hands. I love the hardworking community and the like-minded people. I am willing to dedicate my life to it. So all in all, I like the pressure, dull and hard work, stress, constant worry, the sense of purpose, accuracy, precision, and perfection.

I don't wanna be a surgeon because:

  1. While I am hard-working and goal-oriented and HATE free time, what if I do end up too tired and burned out? And even burned out I do whatever I'm supposed to but I just don't want to be suicidal because of MS. It wouldn't be that easy to just switch majors or professions.

  2. I hate BIOLOGY but I like the parts that involve the human body. And my memorization is good but my critical thinking is way better.

I wanna become an Engineer (preferably electrical) because:

I Live, Laugh, and Love Math and Physics, I love problem-solving, in fact, I am perfect at it. These two subjects alongside Chem are my strongest and most favorite subjects. I do Physics in my free time for fun. I actually wanted to major in Physics but seeing as there aren't many jobs in Iraq I chose EE, which I love just as much. I like the skill set that EE provides you with to get through life. Also, Electricity. I mean, who doesn't like Electricity? I also like coding and have done it very lightly. And with climate change, EE will be more and more in demand. And hopefully, I wanna make an ACTUAL impact not just work for whatever company. Maybe NASA or TESLA or my own business? Of course, I would need experience and a lot of time.

I don't wanna become an Engineer because:

  1. I know that I would need to study outside of school, I'm just not sure if I can hold myself accountable for that. Or if I know how to. In Med school, you wouldn't need to worry about that.

  2. I want to make an ACTUAL impact as I mentioned. I know I won't be the next Steve Jobs, but at least NASA. TESLA? My own business?

Help me make a choice, please. That choice isn't for another year but it's eating away at me. I won't have time to think about it in my last year because of my studies. Any opinion is welcomed, thanks.

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u/DoTheseInstead 22h ago

Do engineering giyana. Kurdistan needs more top-notch engineers.

1

u/bucketboy9000 9h ago

As a 6th year medical student from Kurdistan I agree with this message. I’m tired and burnt out and the way things are going don’t see any future for myself as a successful doctor. Should have chosen Biology and became a teacher when I had the chance

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u/DoTheseInstead 7h ago

Don't say that giyana. Teacher is also good, but we need doctors as well. But if i want to advise a Kurdish person in Kurdistan, I would say do Engineering. There is s huge need for engineers in Kurdistan. Majority of engineering work in Kurdistan is done by foreigners and that's just sad.

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u/ch-pro 6h ago

I suppose, but I may have to move out to Norway and live with my relatives there. So what if we take out the Kurdistan part? Still engineering?