I'm finishing up my junior year of high school and I need to decide what I should do for my life long career. There are benefits to all three, and drawbacks of course. Some information on me as a student: I am in the IB program, which makes high school much more work than it should be. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, I'm not sure how much IB classes are weighted, but I assume it'd be 4.7+ weighted. I am relatively intelligent, I'm not a genius or anything like that. I am very determined and I work hard in order to achieve my academic goals. My dad wants me to be an engineer, but I feel that I would be much happier as a teacher. I already tutor my friends and nothing gives me more satisfaction than helping them understand a tough concept, and then seeing them get a high score on a quiz as a result. If I became a teacher my dad would feel very disappointed in me and he'd think that I threw my potential away. I wouldn't mind being an engineer, but I just think that I'd be much happier as a teacher, mainly a high school teacher, but my dad wouldn't be as disappointed if I taught college. I know this isn't really the place to come to for life advice, but my friends all tell me the same thing, "do what makes you happy," and I'm not sure if they understand that what makes me happy wouldn't go over well. Benefits of being a high school teacher: [spoiler]This is what I'd prefer to do I want to help kids who may need guidance with their futures I have a full scholarship opportunity where everything would be paid for, and the college would get me a job teaching at a high school in my county. [/spoiler] Drawbacks of being a high school teacher: [spoiler]My dad would be upset if I threw my potential away by being a teacher. I would have to deal with some disrespectful kids Low pay[/spoiler] Benefits of being a college professor: [spoiler]High pay Make my own schedule The students want to learn the content I can kick out rude students My dad wouldn't be disappointed[/spoiler] Drawbacks of being a college professor: [spoiler]Many years of college required I wouldn't be able to help the students as much as I'd be able to in high school I'm not sure how much I'd enjoy teaching college, as I haven't experienced college yet[/spoiler] Benefits of being an environmental engineer: [spoiler]I have a strong interest in the environmental sciences High pay Job availability My dad wants me to be an engineer Florida A&M is a good school for this, and they have a very good scholarship opportunity that I qualify for[/spoiler] Drawbacks of being an environmental engineer: [spoiler]I'd be happier as a teacher[/spoiler]