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Dreams vs. Security

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e.wait
Posts: 869 - Karma: 1,954
I'm currently a freshman at Cornell University majoring in chemical engineering. Although I do like math and science, my heart isn't really in engineering. I mostly chose to go into engineering because it offers relatively high prospects of employment following graduation, especially at a school with a huge alumni network like Cornell. Don't get me wrong -- I can deal with it. But it isn't what I want to do.

My heart is really in film. I don't feel like getting all melodramatic about it, but I really could see myself writing and directing Hollywood films. I find myself daydreaming about it constantly, and now that I have started my undergraduate studies, it bugs me more and more everyday that I am essentially doing what I have always told others not to do -- settle for security instead of pursuing one's dream(s). Part of me wants to believe that I really can achieve my lofty dreams through hard work and passion, but the other half of me fails to see any reason I would make it in Hollywood over the countless other kids majoring in film across the world. It's just unrealistic and pursuing film feels like too much of a gamble when my other option is nearly sure-fire employment (granted I survive school).

As I sit in these math and science classes, it still feels like high school -- just a bunch of required classes I'm taking because I don't have a choice. I'm worried if I continue down this road I'll always feel like this and dislike my career later in life. But then again, this is real life and we all can't be rockstars and professional sports players, so I should just suck it up, right? Or should I just grow a pair and go for it?

Has anyone else felt this way? Not really sure if I'm asking what I should do or just trying to get this off my chest. I know some of you will question why I brought this question to NS and to answer that question: I just like the relative anonymity I have here and I'm hoping some of you will have some useful advice for me.
Sep 3 2013 10:33AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
It's a classic conundrum we all face.

I think you'll find as you progress though that you NEED to have a solid plan to be successful and comfortable in life, but to let that dictate who you are or the life you lead is a total loss.

Hell, my heart isn't 100% into what I do all day and few people can say otherwise. Real life is almost never what you really want it to be, but if you play your cards right and stay focused you can really have it all.

I'd say if you're good at engineering go for it. Be the best fucking engineer you can be- but never let it kill your passion to create with film if that what keeps you sane. The likelihood of being able to support yourself in any capacity from filming is slim to none, but I bet you could have a lot nicer gear if you had a good engineering gig, y'know?

Sparknotes: Nobody's heart is 100% into being at work, but having a good job that will allow you to be who you want to be on the weekends is often more of an enabler than quitting it for "the life".
Sep 3 2013 10:44AM
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theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,633
This will happen to you. Unless you find a new found love for something in engineering.There are two ways to do this, go for your dreams, or combine security and your dreams.

You can combine them somehow, there is always a way. I don't know how because I am not in that field, but I am sure there's a way for you to get into the film industry through engineering, maybe not chemical, but mechanical?? You would know more about that than me.

The second is to say fuck it and go for it. When I was picking my major I was applying for a program where you needed at 3.7 to even be considered. I had a 3.2, well off the mark. But I told myself that there is always an exception, an outlier. And I was going to be that outlier. Sure enough, I showed them why I really wanted to be in that major, they gave me an opportunity to prove myself, and I did. I was accepted and graduated 2 years later.

You say you how will I make it when there are countless others trying, well how did the people who are there make it? Someone HAS to make it. Why not you? It will be hard fucking work, but in the end if you can do it, you'll be so proud of yourself and happy you put in the work to get there.

I say go for your dreams.
Sep 3 2013 10:46AM
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Bludbath
Posts: 93 - Karma: 13
One question, would you rather live your whole life wondering what if? Or take a chance at being able to do something you love for the rest of your life.


If you really love film, so much so that you are thinking about it every day, so much that it hurts that you are not doing it. Then drop what you are doing and chase that dream.

Life is to fucking short. If you have passion, determination and are willing to put in the work you can make it in this industry.

Why suffer and do something you hate for the rest of your life?



Sep 3 2013 10:51AM
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saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
One of my best friends has a degree in film production. It is ridiculously difficult to find decent work. He has written/directed a documentary that had some local success, but his everyday job is as an assistant producer on a local tv station.

I'm not trying to crap on your dreams here, but from what my friend has said, it's a tough job to moved ahead in and it's an industry that is largely based on who you know.
Sep 3 2013 10:56AM
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FightClub27
Posts: 486 - Karma: 416
Man like the others have said thats the question just about everyone faces. my advice would be this; If you dont really enjoy or have a passion for engineering, dont do it. Im in my junior year of mechanical engineering and I'll tell you that school absolutly sucks. I really dont do anything else but go to school, and then get home and do homework. BUT, I also love it, the stuff im learning is really awesome and fasinating to me that its worth it and I know when Im done im going to love my job. but if i didnt have this passion for it there is no way that I could do it.
I know everyone says money doesnt make you happy and I really is true. if you hate your job everyday but just grind through it, your like is gonna suck, even tho you can afford to do some cool stuff I know I couldnt do that for 40 years of my life.
So with that said, I would say find something else that you love to do (Like Filming) and try and make a career out of it. remember you are going to be doing said thing for the next 30+ years.

Side note: if you could find some engineering job WITHIN the film industry, you might have a home run there
Sep 3 2013 11:23AM
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theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,633
OP, what made you pick engineering in the first place. I know you mentioned job security and all, but there are other majors that provide that. Something had to have attracted you to it in the first place.
Sep 3 2013 11:34AM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
I'm in the same spot as you OP. Just recently I discovered what I'd really like to do, be a travel writer. Right now I'm going to school, with expectations to become an engineer or something else with good job prospects, but I don't really want to be 40 and look back and think "that was a waste."

After watching both Dead Poets Society and Train Spots, I'm stuck wondering if its better to live passionately or buckle down and do the 9-5 and love your wife and get the house with the white picket fence.

I don't know. I've got the same conundrum, was even studying engineering.
Sep 3 2013 11:55AM
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GnarNinja
Posts: 660 - Karma: 884
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Sep 3 2013 12:04PM
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e.wait
Posts: 869 - Karma: 1,954
Job prospects coupled with the fact that I'm pretty good at math and science and enjoy them to a certain degree. Chemistry in particular interests me. I like the potential to go into the business and management side of things later in my career while still having hands-on experience in the field, as opposed to those who have only ever learned the business side of things.

But there is one other option I can explore here at Cornell.

I have enough AP credit that I may be able to complete a minor in film while still fulfilling my requirements for an accredited major in chemical engineering. And if that isn't possible, I could also declare an independent major, which would give me a little more slack with the rigorous requirements of the engineering school. Clearly the accredited degree would hold more weight when looking for a job in engineering; however, I have been reassured that engineers with independent majors still do very well with job placement.

I've done some research and it seems to me that the best possible shot at making it in Hollywood through academia is graduate work at place like the American Film Institute or USC. It's only necessary to have a background in film in order to apply -- and there's probably a portfolio of sorts which I would guess is the most important part of an application. Just not sure they would view a chemical engineer in the admissions process...
Sep 3 2013 1:40PM
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DGski
Posts: 3491 - Karma: 2,328
Can't you double major ? I know engineering is pretty intense but if you really want to go into film you could have a back up. I'm just going all out and doing creative writing and something like philosophy in college (next year) then hopefully I can get into screenwriting at USC, there are some pretty big names coming out of there
Good luck
Sep 3 2013 2:10PM
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first_rodeo
Posts: 2385 - Karma: 7,781

my dad made me go to some gay ass Jesuit college

I'm still here because i know that it's reputation will land me a job.

Yes it'd rather be out roofing, painting, dealing with my friends-- but for how long...

Sep 3 2013 3:12PM
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LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
Try to find a balance I guess. Good example are the Yawgoons. The filmer Dr. Brendan is a dentist by day and filmer whenever the crew gets together and shreds.
Sep 3 2013 3:44PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
You only live once, you may as well go for it. If it doesn't work out you can always change your career later in life.
Sep 3 2013 3:49PM
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panojibber.
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 683
If you can do it without debt, then go for it. No reason you can't go back to school and get an education degree or something if it doesn't work out.
Sep 3 2013 4:19PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51738 - Karma: 163,438
I'm going to copy and paste something I posted on a friends facebook a few days ago.


"Too many people give up their dreams too early without a fight. Dreams are viewed as a childhood fantasy that should be ditched as soon as you reach a certain age in order become just another bland member of society. It's alright to leave certain dreams, or let them evolve as time goes on, but it's sad that there is so much pressure to give up on your dreams for other reasons. You may never see your dreams come true, but if you give up and bail on them, it's a guarantee that they won't. If you're passionate about something, fuck what anybody else says and just go for it."


Like others have said it's something you have to figure out. What in life makes you happy? Do you feel your dreams are realistic? Is bailing on them going to make you happy? If you follow your dreams and never fully achieve them can you still be happy?

It really is all up to you. Everyone is different, has been dealt a different hand. There are so many variables.

That said if you're really truly passionate about something I say go for it. I would rather go out trying to pursue my dreams than settle for a 9-5. I know that I couldn't be happy in that life, it just isn't for me.

Regardless of what you choose I hope things work out for you OP and you find happiness in your life.
Sep 3 2013 4:28PM
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