Note to readers • This is part of a collaborative project between The Salt Lake Tribune and the Highland High School Rambler. Amplify Utah is publishing the work through its ongoing partnership with the Tribune to elevate diverse perspectives in local media through student journalism. Read more about these young Utahns’ experiences here.
My dream job as a child was to become either an elementary school teacher or a professional writer. My favorite place was in the classroom, and I have always loved studying English.
I asked my mom to sign me up for every class so that I could explore every possible passion — I played soccer; I took piano, violin and viola lessons; I signed up for dance classes; and I engaged in service projects. I wanted a taste of everything.
I knew what I wanted, but inevitably someone would warn me, “Watch out! There is no money in that field.” This confused me. My parents have always taught me to choose what I love, but everyone else told me to do it for the money.
So what do I do?
I want to love my career. I also want to love my life outside of my career. I want to be motivated to show up to work every day. I want to be able to travel with my future family, and I want to get a house with plenty of space for my friends to come and hang out. I want work to not feel like a job. I want to have a savings account that I don’t have to dip into for groceries or gas.
I am 17 years old, still trying to figure out who I am, but I feel like the world wants me to already know my life plan. I feel like I must pick a profession that pays well, but also one that I can stick with for the rest of my life. Does that profession exist?
When I was in sixth grade, the COVID pandemic happened. This not only changed my daily routines, but it changed my perspective. I realized how much food and gas cost my family.
And the costs keep going up.
I can’t even imagine buying a home these days. The economy changes quickly and limits so many people, which scares me. I want to provide a comfortable home for my future family, but I’m worried that I need to pick a job simply because it pays well rather than diving headfirst into something that I truly love.
A study comparing costs between generations found that “Generation Z has roughly 72% less purchasing power than baby boomers did in their 20s,” according to the Journal of Consumer Research.
And the cost of living has been skyrocketing the past few decades, which is exacerbated by salaries that aren’t keeping up with inflation. Home prices have risen 1,045% since 1973, according to the Journal of Consumer Research.
I’m wrapping up my junior year this spring. Heading into my senior year, I am trying to take every class possible. However, the battle between a good career and something I love is taking place even in my class choices. I’m taking one class on emergency medical technician and one on journalism to try and figure out this decision.
As I consider going into different career fields, I have started to look at prices of tuition. I am torn between a major that will propel me toward medical school and one that will satisfy my love of literature. Although it costs more money to go to school longer to become a doctor, it can pay so much more in the long run compared to whatever I do with an English major.
With my high school experience coming to a close, and limited time to explore what interests I have, I feel pressured into choosing a career that I love or one that simply pays well. It seems harder than ever to have both.
