What to study in college & why? [Career Challenge]

Audience, let me reiterate that while my opponent's argument theme seems to be "unfounded optimism", my theme continues to be "practicality". The grim reality is that success is a product of preparation and opportunity. For every promotion you get, a dozen more people have been passed over. For every job you are hired for, dozens upon dozens have been turned away. Wanting and choosing to study in a field does not guarantee that you will get the job you are aiming for, or even get a job in the field you are studying. The more resources you pour into your study, the more likely it will be, but in the sense of practicality, you should consider fields that will not lead you to the disaster that is unemployment. Please examine the following link detailing the horrors that college-bound millennials face: . http://www.theatlantic.com... "At every education level, the 25- to 32-year-olds of 2013 confronted a higher unemployment rate than past generations did when they were stepping into the workforce" And in case you weren't frightened enough, please take a look at these numbers in depth from an article written by a millennial: . http://www.huffingtonpost.com... Note: 16.3% of Millennials are unemployed, only 6 in 10 have a job and half of those are only part time even though 59% of millennials have a college education. And here's the kicker, audience: "250: The average number of resumes, according to ERE, that are received for each corporate job opening. Out of this number, 4-6 will get an interview, 1-3 will be invited for a final interview, and 1 will be offered the job. Which brings us back to that 16.3 unemployment rate. " Audience, I don't want to scare you. I simply want to inform you that my opponent is optimistic to the point of delusion. Shooting for the moon and failing will not land you among the stars. It will set you on a trajectory to the infinite and desolate blackness of space. If you want to be true to yourself and succeed, you need to be PRACTICAL and REALISTIC about your job prospects. My opponent sells the same gimmick for every job. "If you have a passion for this job, it is the best! " This is a terrible argument. Half of the jobs my opponent suggests will not even be available to you until you go though hell and back, and they aren't even good jobs. The other half are hyper inflated with unrealistic optimism. My job recommendations on the other hand are not so fantastical. You will work hard, you will succeed, through your own skill. You will be paid fairly. You will take pride in your job, you will not find it hard to find employment, and you will find it difficult to lose your job. Please keep this in mind while comparing our approaches. *** Now, I shall address my opponent's defenses in light of the new discussion we have had about practicality. Special Education Teacher, Massage Therapist, Writer/Author: While being successful or lucky in these three fields *can* promise you what my opponent stated, the road to get there is extremely rough. For Special Ed teachers, the people this field is a fit for are so few and far between, it isn't even worth listing for general consideration. I will let the audience weigh the facts I have stated versus the idealism my opponent is a proponent of. Next, being a writer or an author is simply about gambling while you pursue a hobby. Your success or more likely, failure, is entirely dependent upon what your READERS want, not the quality of what you write or want to write. As for Massage Therapists, I simply don't have the heart to lie to you, audience, while my opponent does: "May I remind you, one year of education will start you off making well over $50,000 annually! " And yet, examine her own source: . http://www.bls.gov... The median salary is only about $35k (far lower for entry-level) and requires a post-secondary education, along with licenses and certifications. I have nothing against optimism, but when they start contradicting facts and may negatively impact the rest of someone's life, I have no choice but to speak out. My opponent's counterpoint about Financial Managers is far, far too optimistic. The hard work is far harder, and much less worth it. You don't gain prestige and respect from coworkers, you get disdain, envy, and backstabbing. Using charts and graphs will not show how smart you are, it will only show that you don't deserve to get fired, and that hot secretary is already dating your boss's boss. I have already stated the facts in my last round: if you want to start in giant debt through a lot of schooling and work 5 years at another job before you can even START this one, please go ahead and try. I have nothing much to say about Police or detective work, and it seems my opponent does not either. The pay is horrific, the job is incredibly stressful and dangerous, and it can tear families apart. Your spouse and your children will worry about whether or not you come home alive every single day of their lives. And that one day you don't, do you really think that honor will matter to them more than losing their loved one? In terms of Aerospace Engineering, you really shouldn't choose it over the other types of Engineering. The growth rate is slow and the jobs are few. While my opponent is correct about Engineering being a secure field, Aerospace Engineering is an exception. Finally, for Medical Scientists, lets be perfectly honest. You aren't going to cure cancer or HIV. You will be the lab grunt of the team of the top level researcher of the giant pharmaceutical corporation that does. *** My opponent has two new additions: Actor: Consistently tops the charts for *worst* job year after year. . http://www.careercast.com... You aren't going to be a movie star. At best, you'll do a commercial or be an extra. Industrial Designer: Slow job growth, few jobs nationwide, highly competitive, middle median pay, but low starting pay. Creativity stifled by your superiors. You will be doing grunt work the vast majority of your career. In these fields, just as with nearly all of my opponent's suggestions, you will fail due to competition and succeed only through luck. You need to consider fields in which you can succeed through your own skill and hard work. *** My opponent has conceded that I made good choices in Nurse Practitioner/related fields, Software Engineer, and Registered Nurse. I want to point out that in terms of passion, making a difference, creativity, and expertise, these jobs are far superior to any job my opponent has posted. Furthermore, I want to point out that Pharmacists do not simply "hand out meds". Pharmacists use a lot of clinical skills, nearly as much or more than Nurses do to provide care to patients, especially those who work in hospital settings. Pharmacists are slowly taking over the role doctors used to have. Note that it consistently ranks in the top professions year after year. The salary is fantastic, and you usually make $90-100k at ENTRY LEVEL. *** My opponent then levies a general attack on the 5 hands-on professions I listed, implying that they are unintelligent, lack creativity, and lacks room for passion, pride, or growth. Personally, I feel very insulted on behalf of all the hardworking individuals who are in these professions. My opponent seems to think that these "blue collar" jobs are beneath him. Do you know what millennials call the people working in these fields? They call them "Mom" and "Dad". These five professions are better by far than any that my opponent has listed in terms of job growth, job stability, and practicality. You take these skills for the rest of your life, and you start off without being saddled with 100k in college debt. You will be making 40-50k a year in high demand jobs while the people who pursue my opponent's jobs will likely be unemployed and in debt. These individuals take pride in their jobs. They are masters at their craft. Yes, they work with their hands, but is that reason to turn your nose up at them? In this economy, many are applying to technical school to find a way to survive. Many individuals in these professions then end up being managers or supervisors, or going back to night school since they aren't saddled with debt and have a stable profession. No one said you had to do this forever, but coming out of high-school, these are viable ways to jet propel yourself to success ahead of everyone else. *** Now, I have another bunch to list: Computer Systems Analyst Market Research Analyst Civil/Mechanical Engineer High pay, excellent job growth, job stability and in high demand, many opportunities for advancement. Physical Therapist/Occupational Therapist Physician's Assistant Dietitian/Nutritionist Dental Hygienist High pay, excellent job growth, job stability and in high demand, patient interaction, great for compassionate people who want to make a difference without breaking the bank. And since my opponent is such a proponent of jobs with specific niches: Survivalist- In case of global catastrophe, expertise in wilderness survival, basic agriculture and tool making. Is actually becoming very popular. Internet Web Camera Model- Makes from $20-$100 an hour, for those who aren't shy about their bodies, don't care about social taboo, and want quick, easy, cash. The right person can make a LOT of money to fund their dreams and passions Thank you to my opponent and the audience. . http://money.usnews.com... . http://www.wikihow.com... . http://money.usnews.com... . http://www.wikihow.com...