career path crossroads

[nodanaonlyzuul]

so considering life circumstances, I'm coming to this crossroad a little later in life than most. But now it's in front of me and I have three choices that I could pursue and probably be very good at, but I need to focus on one.

I can't seem to decide which one I want to pursue most and it's wigging me out.

I can choose from:

Fine Art - I love to draw, paint, everything. If I could do it all day I would. The only issue is that the courses for the arts are always 3 hours, twice a week, for ONE class and it only counts as three credits. I will have to completely live off loans if I wanted to be a full-time student and I would really prefer not to do that. I'll be in debt until I die. I could see myself happy keeping it as a hobby if I had to. It tends to be expensive and time consuming.

Human Sexuality - I LOVE it. I find it so incredibly fascinating and I feel comfortable speaking openly and honestly on the various topics under this major. A lot of friends also approach me when they have questions about sex or sexuality and I'm always happy to discuss it with them. I know a lot about it despite not being in classes yet because I peruse the information on my own. I think I'd be very happy teaching it at the college level and would love to write for magazines or books on the topic, speaking at campuses or giving lectures, whatever.

Video Games - God damn it I cannot get them out of my system. I dropped out of Game Art & Design because most of it was the planning of games whereas I wanted to do the art side. Then I realized even with the art side, I like doing the art I want, so doing it for others was like 'eh'. BUT! I have friends at Game Pro and they wanted me to write a review for a game (didn't work out because I was going to be out of town). But I still have mega-connections there, and at G4, and those people know others that work in the industry as well so if I ever did want to do the art side instead of writing, I could...either way I'd have a very good shot at a job in games. And I'm always talking about games and I love them (not so much on the board here but elsewhere and in person).

God damn it brain make up your mind :(

Does anyone have any insight? Maybe share what you did when you came to such a crossroads and how it worked out?

[MC Moot]

It's an interesting dilemma and not necessarily a negative one...I think it’s fine to be drawn in different directions…confusing but exciting…it’s an indicator that you possess a greater level of interest than most…you just have to find a happy medium between passion and applicability ...I suggest Human Sexuality although my heart would choose Fine Arts...theres a running joke about the practical value of a degree in F.A but it's not coming to me...my partners mother is a sex therapist and is one of the most fascinating people I've ever met on a personal and professional level...she loves her work...you could be the nextDan Savage!… (http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=1670083)

[TAL]

Do the art in sexual video games.

[hpdrifter]

That's a toughie. I guess I'd encourage you to think long and hard about what kind of job you'd eventually like to have and which path would take you in that direction. It sounds to me like the only reason you've got the game thing on there is because you've got good connections at a company. It doesn't sound like it's your heart's desire. I think I remember you posting about it one time and it was about the hours being very long and boring.

Anyway, I guess I don't really have any advice. I just sort of fell into my job. I feel lucky because, though my work isn't glamorous, I get to contribute to something wonderful.

[Bob]

weigh the following factors for each choice:

- will you enjoy doing this for the rest of your life?
- will you be likely to find and keep employment for the rest of your life?
- will you earn enough money to do the things in life you want to do (own a home, have a kid, have three meals a day, etc)?

and if they're all equal, throw a dart or something i dunno

[monkey]

the way i would think about it if i wanted to just simplify it is this:

a) would getting bfa, mfa, etc, make you more of an artist than doing this as a hobby? what's the most likely place your career would go from here?

b) would getting a ba or ma to be a sexual ed. counselor or something to that effect give you the flexibility to have a hobby such as art, both time and money wise?

c) if the connections to the gaming world didn't exist, would you be ok having to spend a lot of time paying dues and doing art you don't like?

(((in my opinion, solely based on nothing, i would say going for the human sexuality aspect of everything just makes more sense as a career option. but that's just because i can't begin to relate to what it must be like to have artistic talent like you do. :o )))

[nodanaonlyzuul]

It sounds to me like the only reason you've got the game thing on there is because you've got good connections at a company. It doesn't sound like it's your heart's desire. I think I remember you posting about it one time and it was about the hours being very long and boring.


The schooling definitely was long and boring since I wasn't in to the creating end of it. I just really, really love playing them. I was thinking more along the lines of being a staff writer for the connections I have, which would be awesome because they give me a game, I write about it, I submit it. I know people doing that full-time. I would love that.

Art I love, and to feed myself I'd probably end up teaching it. But I'm terrible at trying to articulate to people how to hone in on certain skills. Whereas Human Sexuality it can be broken down to facts and I feel comfortable discussing anything under that topic, and most people aren't, so I feel like I would really excel there. And it's interesting as all hell.

I think I have it narrowed down to Human Sexuality or Gaming. If only there were a market for ladies that want to read lady-related stuff AND gaming stuff all in one.

[nodanaonlyzuul]

oh and

(own a home, have a kid, have three meals a day, etc)

I only really care about that last one. Maybe the first one but it's not a huge concern of mine to be honest... I got used to being a nomad and the idea of not having the ability to leave easily anytime I want bothers me.

So no worries there!

And sorry I didn't specify about the gaming. I used to think I'd like to do the game art, but now I'd want to go in to the editorial/reviewing side, which are where the majority of my connections are.

I think a lot of it is internal, struggling between doing something that could potentially help people vs. something really freakin awesome and fun as hell. Not that human sexuality wouldn't be fun, but you know.

[HEIRESS]

You would be looking atleast 4 more years of school before you could get into a career involving human sexuality right?

Do colleges in the states require a minimum of a masters degree before you can teach a specific topic?

If so, that means you are looking at about 4-6 years of schooling. Unless you can get a non thesis masters diploma in the field which would only require a year on top of undergrad studies. ..

If the gaming thing can provide an immediate position sans any extra schooling I'd swing that way right now.

I'm all for trying to find a career you enjoy. but sometimes you just have to settle for the job that pays you the most for your time even if it's not your dream career and then you can focus on enjoying the portion of your life that's not spent at work.

[Burnout18]

- will you be likely to find and keep employment for the rest of your life?
- will you earn enough money to do the things in life you want to do (own a home, have a kid, have three meals a day, etc)?



Fuck enjoyment, its your job eventually you'll dread going to work.

These two are what matters.(y)

[DIGI]

Human Sexuality - I LOVE it. I find it so incredibly fascinating and I feel comfortable speaking openly and honestly on the various topics under this major. A lot of friends also approach me when they have questions about sex or sexuality and I'm always happy to discuss it with them. I know a lot about it despite not being in classes yet because I peruse the information on my own. I think I'd be very happy teaching it at the college level and would love to write for magazines or books on the topic, speaking at campuses or giving lectures, whatever.



She's gonna be my cock professor, studyin' my dick.
She's gonna get her Master's degree in fuckin' me.

[Dorothy Wood]

Human Sexuality.

I think you can use your artistic and creative writing abilities to make yourself stand out from others in that field. (y)

[The Notorious LOL]

make a porn video game like Tracy Jordan.

[Gareth]

^haha thats the first thing i thought of when i saw options 2 and 3
and the first thing i thought of when i saw the thread title was bone thugs n harmony

[nodanaonlyzuul]

You would be looking atleast 4 more years of school before you could get into a career involving human sexuality right?

Do colleges in the states require a minimum of a masters degree before you can teach a specific topic?

If so, that means you are looking at about 4-6 years of schooling. Unless you can get a non thesis masters diploma in the field which would only require a year on top of undergrad studies. ..

If the gaming thing can provide an immediate position sans any extra schooling I'd swing that way right now.

For Human Sexuality, yeah I'd need about 4 years more of schooling (already have an associates). For gaming, probably 2 since they prefer me to have a bachelors if I were to be on a permanent payroll, but I'd probably be able to write freelance right this moment since that's already been offered to me.

Maybe I'll just do the freelance to see how I like it while I'm building my credit to get myself school loans. If it looks like I really enjoy that then pursue that one. If I'm not liking it, then HS it is.

I think that'll be my plan.
I think.

haha. damn it.

[skra75]

I agree with Heiress, but having known many folks who beat their faces against the wall in the game industry, I'd watch my ass if I were you if you choose that route. Alot of those guys are Otis School of Design cocks who are fucking amazing bob-rosses of digital oil painting. You gotta play that game to compete and you gotta do the same shit everyone else does.

HOWEVER. You might have an in if you finesse a wierd yet necessary specialty such as character animation. those guys focus on human movement and nuance. It's really interesting and you have to have an artistic eye - but you don't need to learn how to digital oil paint like Doug Chang's car-designing cousin.

Those ancillary guys (animation, particle effects, music, etc...) are so important to the game industry: and there is shitloads of cash rolling in that direction. Only caviat is this: everyone I know in the game industry gets burned out - they work the shit out of you. They bring contractors on, power through 8-12 months of development, expect 15 hours of work a day, then pump that shit out. Typically there is break of a month or so but the aggressive guys I know get one gig after the next and they are like slaves, they never leave the studio. But if you don't have kids that may be alright I guess.

[nodanaonlyzuul]

not doing the art side of video games! I appreciate the comments for that, but that's not what I'd pursue :)

And sorry I didn't specify about the gaming. I used to think I'd like to do the game art, but now I'd want to go in to the editorial/reviewing side, which are where the majority of my connections are.


I find reviewing/previewing/etc a lot more fun than doing the art side of the games. I know staff writers, the editors, etc. They've offered me opportunities to try it out professionally.

[saz]

you should go into whatever industry or profession that hasn't been severly damaged by the recession, in which there are a lot of job opportunities or a healthy job field. i'm making a difficult but necessary career switch from media, journalism and broadcasting, which is getting killed by the recession, to teaching. i don't know anything about the video game industry, but considering the popularity of gaming it sounds like the way to go, and you should definitely take advantage of your connections.