I have just recently graduated from university with a Civil Engineering degree and entered the work force. My degree was a co-op program, so I managed to get about 2 years work experience throughout school, so this isn't a case of work-force-shock. Now that I am out, though, I feel such a weight on me when I consider what I have done.
My degree wasn't cheap. Not as expensive as an American Ivy League school, but I managed to acrue a decent amount of student debt. When choosing what degree to obtain back 5 years ago, I decided on engineering for two reasons:
1. it almost guaranteed a career with decent pay. I wouldn't get rich, but I would be comfortable
2. there was nothing else that really appealed to me. I wasn't crazy about engineering but I was less than crazy about most other things.
If I could go back in time I likely would have changed tack completely, and gone to College (Canadian version, that is) or done something else entirely. But now I have a degree and the debt to match. I oten contemplated switching as I was going through my degree, but always told myself that I would finish, so at least I would have something to show for it. And finish I did.
I see the people around me now in the workplace. I see the work I am doing and the work I can expect to do in the future. I see the lifestyle of stress. The thought of living in this world for any extended period of time fills me with a sense of panic.
Am I just getting cold feet now as the real commitment approaches? Going through school you could always fool yourself that you can do whatever you want, but now that I am in the "real world" it's not that simple. Or maybe it is?
I suppose I might also be scared at the prospect of a major life change after so much work put towards a degree. Would I be foolish to abandon a nice career in favour of more exploration? What if I don't find anything else more fulfilling/enjoyable than this?
Sorry for the lengthy post, I just need to work through this.
