Navigating Life Direction After Years in School: Should You Reconsider Your Career Path?

Are you at a crossroads in your academic and professional life, questioning whether you should change your course? You're halfway through your engineering degree, or perhaps even beyond, with years of dedication and hard work under your belt. Yet, the uncertainty lingers: do you continue down the path you've chosen, or take a detour towards something else?

The Value of Persistence

While it might seem daunting, especially when you're just getting started, staying the course can be incredibly rewarding. You mention enjoying engineering, and with a master's degree in civil engineering, you have already made significant strides in your career. A degree in this field means you are well-prepared to make valuable contributions to society. The deep knowledge and skills you've gained over seven years of study cannot be understated.

Exploring Other Interests

Psychology, another subject that captures your interest, presents a different avenue to explore. It's certainly worth maintaining as a hobby, even if pursuing it professionally requires more thought. Similar to civil engineering, your passion for psychology might not translate identically in a career. Enjoyment in a subject can be subjective; you might find it fascinating in a university setting, but different in the professional realm. This is nothing to be concerned about; many individuals discover that their passions evolve and change over time.

Reassessing Your Path

Grad school can be a time for deep reflection. Remember, it's okay to feel anxious about your trajectory. This anxiety is a normal part of thinking about your future. My advice is to take a few breaks and let life flow naturally. Whether you decide to stick with engineering or explore psychology, reassessing your path every few years is not uncommon. Life is a dynamic journey, and your interests and priorities may shift as you gain more life experience.

Professional Growth and Valued Experience

Another point to consider is that your experience in any field is valuable. Even if you decide to switch fields later in life, the experiences you've accumulated in civil engineering will contribute to your overall professional growth. A forty-year-old who has recently switched fields often brings a wealth of experience and maturity that a younger, freshly minted graduate may not. In the grand scheme of things, experience is a valuable asset, whether you stay in your current path or pivot in your career.

Conclusion and Next Steps

As you navigate this phase of your life, remember that each decision you make is a step forward. While continuing in your engineering career might be the most financially and practically sound choice right now, taking the time to explore psychology as a side job or hobby is also a positive move. You never know where your interests might lead you.

Good luck!