The title pretty much sums it up. I got into one of the best universities in my country for business and computer science. A lot of people have told me it was a smart decision and I’ll do well, and I originally chose it because I wanted to become an entrepreneur in the future and maybe make software and apps that I could connect to my passion for the outdoors.
However, now that I am here I’m not sure. Since applying two years ago I started getting outside much more. Now, it’s the only place I really feel fulfilled.
The pros of university is that my degree is flexible. Business and computer science would allow me to do a lot. I probably could connect it decently to my passions. I would also likely make a lot more money if I continue on this path, and it would be a lot more secure. The cons are that I don’t like it here. I find I cannot connect to a lot of the people, and we don’t share many similar values or interests. It’s really not my community. I dislike every day because of how heavy my program is, I am sitting at my computer working for 10 hours a day just to get a decent grade. I though it would be okay to push through before, but everyone in the program and alumni just talk about that’s how it is for the rest of your life. I know I can choose to change it, but it’s still disheartening. Also, not many alumni have followed a path even remotely similar to mine.
The cons may seem like just short term hardships that I should push through, but it’s more than that. I don’t care about money in the future for the most part, I only want enough to support a family and give them a good life and support my parents in the future. I do not need to make much. Also, I can’t see myself following the path that essentially everyone else is on in my university. Currently, my plan is to graduate and have the degree for security, and still go into guiding, but maybe work part time in the tech industry or doing something more secure. It seems wrong to do something for only security.
The pros of guiding are that I would really enjoy it. I don’t just like being outside, I like sharing my passion for it. I like teaching my partner and my family and my friends. I don’t think I would start to hate it just because I start doing it for a living. It would be following what I am passionate about and there is the potential to make a good living. The cons are making less money, and less security. I also know I want a family, and I know guiding can sometimes mean being away from home for long periods of time.
If I went into guiding I would likely go down the path of ACMG certification and try to eventually own my own company. I would love to own a guiding company that ran out of hostels somewhere in the mountains.
If anyone has any advice that would be great. Questions are also great, often I get stuck too much on one line of thinking and it’s hard to think of new ideas, so questions help me clarify and think of new possibilities. Thanks. I’m in Canada by the way, there was a flair about editing for location.