Essay, Research Paper: Fashion Merchandise Vs. Architecture

Architecture or Fashion Merchandizing?
That is the Question
At a young age children begin thinking about what they want to do when they "grow up". They usually have high hopes for their futures, such as doctors, presidents, veterinarians, and for some firemen. When the time finally comes to make a decision however, many are not ready. At the peak of their wonder years, teenagers find it difficult to face the fact that they are growing up and settling down. Many high hopes turn into dreadful thoughts; negative perspectives come to mind, such as schooling. The little kid who always wanted to be a doctor is now thinking he is so sick of studying that there is no way he is going to medical school. Although it is important to hold on to dreams and hopes and strive for success despite minor obstacles, one must consider all choices and chose that which best suits his needs and desires. As a little girl, I always knew I would be a doctor. Over years, however, I have come to realize that I do not want to be the bossy Dr. Obvious who makes you anxiously wait hours in his office until he is finished chatting with his last patient about the upcoming bake sale. I have come to terms with the fact that my childhood dream is not all it was made out to be, and that years of medical school would only pay off if doctoring were really as exciting as shown on the television show ER. I learned that a doctor's day of snotty five-year-olds with ear infections is not my field of choice, and that I am willing to consider new careers such as Architecture and Fashion Merchandising. I say Architecture and Fashion Merchandising because they are both fields that I have developed an interest in over my lifetime and they fit my needs and desires very well. Although they seem completely different, they also have some things in common, and I find myself completely unable to chose which one I want to do. Architecture and Fashion Merchandising are similar in terms of schooling, pay, hours, travel, time, etc. However, in terms of interests and job description, they are very different. Both satisfy different aspects of my talents and desires and therefore I can not make up my mind between the two.
Architecture is something that has been in the back of my mind for several years now. I first realized I enjoyed architecture when I was instructed to design a house in my art class. I was very good at it from the start, and I enjoyed it very much. My interest inventory results indicated that I am talented in spatial, mathematics, and the arts, two important areas of skill for architects. I have always had a love for design of houses and buildings, and this interest could be that spark in my career life that keeps me interested. Architects also get a good salary, or have the opportunity to climb up the ladder of prestige, two very important factors. Architecture requires an average of four to six years in college. I intend to continue my schooling past a college level if necessary, and this number suits me very well. In addition, architectural majors go into many other interesting careers such as city planning, housing, and interior design. I am very artistic, and I also enjoy math, so I think Architecture is the perfect combination of both.
Fashion merchandising is a completely different field, but many aspects of it are similar to those of Architecture. For example, it requires approximately the same amount of schooling (sometimes less). The field also requires my interests, talents, and goals, making it another important choice for my future. For example, the majors of Fashion Merchandising need to have design and mathematics skills, which I have. I have been interested in designing clothes since a very young age and would love to pursue that dream. I have a lot of love for and a very good understanding for clothing and fashion, and I would love to share that with the world. Fashion Merchandising has about the same pay as Architecture, and also gives the opportunity to increase one's prestige. A major in Fashion Merchandizing can lead to very interesting careers, such as merchandising for stores or catalogs, store managing, personnel managing, fashion coordinating, and public relations directing. Like Architecture, this field is based on design, and would allow me to express my artistic side as well as my mathematics side.
Because both of these jobs apply so well to my interests and talents, I remain undecided as to which one I want to pursue. One good thing about my undecided state is that both fields require similar college courses. Therefore I could take courses in college that would allow me to explore both Architecture and Fashion Merchandising. The two fields are excellent outputs for my creative side and for my mathematics and spatial side. They both require about the same education, and they are both of great interest to me. So although I probably will not become the doctor I promised my parents to be, I can live out my childhood dreams in other fields. I can hold on to my artistic dream, for example, and become an Architect or Fashion Merchandise.