What is a career? A career is a long term occupational path that an individual might choose to compete in a specific field. Choosing the correct career path can be difficult, yet it’s an important decision that most of us have to make at some point in time. If you’d like further information on choosing a career, check out my other post on How To Choose a Career.
In this article we’ll be covering several interviews from 8th graders in Florida.
First guest: Moksha C., 14-year-old female, Indian.
Q: What career path interests you, and why?
A: I’m interested in architecture because I love to draw, and it seems like a really fun major to take. I also feel like in the future I wouldn’t regret my decision if I choose to become an architect because it’s something I like to do.
Q: How do you feel about the typical work environment and salary range of an architect? The typical work environment is an office setting or a construction site, and the salary range of an architect in Florida is $68,000 – $123,000 for an entry-level architect. Do you still think you would still want to follow this career path?
A: Yes, because the typical work setting is in an office or construction site, I feel like I’d be comfortable because I’ll have colleagues who I can collaborate with throughout my career. And salary wise, I think that architects make pretty good money, and money isn’t much of a concern to me, because I’m doing something I’m interested in.
Q: Do you have an education plan on following this career path?
A: So after high school, I want to go to college, major in architecture and design with business as my side major, then get my bachelor’s and master’s degree. Once I’m out of college, I’d like to start my own company.
Emma: Thank you for your time, Moksha!
Moksha: Yeah, thank you for inviting me, Emma.
Second guest: Iris D., 13-year-old female, Indian.
Q: What career path interests you, and why?
A: Astrophysics, because space and physics have interested me since I was 4. I love learning the math behind how the universe works, it’s just really fascinating to me.
Q: How do you feel about the typical work environment and salary range of an astrophysicist? The typical work environment are offices, research laboratories, and observatories. The salary range of an astrophysicist in Florida is $44,000 on average. Do you still think you would still want to follow this career path?
A: The work environment is fine, but the salary is a bit scary on average. So I’d probably be a physicist instead.
Q: Do you have an education plan on following this career path?
A: After high school, I plan on going to college.
Emma: Thanks for doing this interview, Iris!
Iris: Of course.
Third guest: Manasvi M., 13-year-old female, Indian.
Q: What career path interests you, and why?
A: Software engineering, I’ve not really been that much interested, but my dad is helping me to find ways to immerse myself into it.
Q: How do you feel about the typical work environment and salary range of a software engineer? The typical work environment are offices, and the salary range of an entry-level software engineer in Florida is $86,000 on average. Do you still think you would still want to follow this career path?
A: I feel like I’d still go into this path, because the salary range is good enough to live decently and the work environment doesn’t really matter because not everywhere is going to be perfect, and there’s always some unsafe or unfair conditions.
Q: Do you have an educational plan on following this career path?
A: Currently, I’m thinking of going into PLTW Engineering next year, and I’m also thinking of doing some computer classes. And then for college, I was thinking about going to Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT).
Emma: Thank you for answering my questions, Manasvi!
Manasvi: Thank you for interviewing me.
Fourth guest: Caleb Z., 14-year-old male, Chinese.
Q: What career path interests you, and why?
A: Honestly, a marine biologist. Just because I had something for sharks when I was younger.
Q: How do you feel about the typical work environment and salary range of a marine biologist? The typical work environment are laboratories and field sites (ocean, lakes, etc.), and the salary range of an entry-level marine biologist in Florida is $45,000 on average. Do you still think you would still want to follow this career path?
A: It’s enough to sustain a healthy lifestyle, I would follow it because I don’t care about money.
Q: Do you have an educational plan on following this career path?
A: No, I’m just going to gamble it.
Emma: Okay, thank’s for the interview, Caleb.
Caleb: Sure.
This article is an insight on 8th grade students in Florida and how they feel about their career and futures.
