A tough decision?

While you think of this as abandoning years of planning, see if this is accurate:

I middle school, you were attracted to/interested in science. Just about all young people know about a career in the sciences is either engineering or medicine, because that's what they hear about the most.

When it comes to a career in medicine, most young people think "doctor" -- lately, with newer TV shows, they also think forensic science.

My guess is that you went with doctor without ever really knowing about or considering marine biology.

When I was in middle school, I decided on English Literature as a college major. But in my sophomore year of college, I discovered comparative literatures and linguistics -- two fields of study that I hadn't even known existed.

It could be that your plan to become a doctor kept you in the sciences, and that led you to marine biology.

If you think you have a passion for MB, follow your interest in it. If you are truly torn, see someone in the career counseling department to see if you can major in marine bio and at the same time keep your options open for medical school.

Either way, best of luck -- may you find work you love and the courage to pursue your dream!

Here's the thing: you are not designed so that only *one* career will satisfy you. There are plenty of satisfying careers out there and to worry about which one of two careers will be the 'right' one is off the mark--there is no one 'right' career for you. (In fact, most people nowadays don't stick with one career during their adult lives, so you could end up starting with one and then switching to the other sometime down the road!)

But here's something you can do: imagine yourself 5 years from now in your environmental career. How do you feel? Now imagine yourself in orthopedic surgery. How do you feel? Which one *feels* the most... soul-fulfilling? This is not a rational activity in going, "Well, this one helps people and this one does that..." No, which one FEELS, in your gut, as most satisfying to you? Go with that one. With no regrets. Knowing that there's always time to change course in the future if you change and want something different.

Everything that you want to do with your life sounds very rewarding - emotionally and finanically - because you love what you're doing. However, you have to imagine yourself in 10-15 years. Do you think you will still LOVE your job then? And which job will you love more in a few years? It is your future, and your call. Either way, you will be successful. Good luck!

Do what you LOVE. I didn't and then had to start over.