I've just finished my GCSEs and I've taken maths, further maths, chemistry and physics A-levels.
I don't really know which career I want to do, but I would really love to do a natural sciences degree at Cambridge, or maybe Durham or Imperial. I'm predicted 9s and if I continue to work hard I think I could achieve the required A-level grades too. I think the best career for me would be something where I could use my science/maths skills tied in closely with my job, like in a chemistry lab or research facility like CERN (if I do well enough!).
The thing is, my parents are really keen on me doing a more vocational degree like medicine, engineering, IT or finance, and those aren't really things that I want to do. I think I would much rather enjoy a more science based career than those; being a doctor seems stressful to me, engineering doesn't incorporate as much science as I would like it too, I don't really enjoy coding and as far as I'm aware at least the maths involved in finance is more arithmetic based and not theoretical. I really love STEM; I love reading about quantum mechanics and theoretical maths and quite enjoy biology in my own time too (I would have taken it as another A-level if I was able to).
I'm trying really hard to convince my parents that natural sciences (again I'm not set on a career path) is a suitable course for me but I haven't been successful. I know that teaching is an option but I'm not sure if I want to work with kids or teach in a university; they wouldn't be happy with the salary either. They tell me that I'm throwing away my hard work by not doing something vocational and I feel like I'm being really picky and that I'm constantly unable to be enough for them.
Are there any careers that pay and work well after doing a natural sciences course? Or should I maybe change my A-levels and try for something that they would appreciate? I'm really tired of arguing and just want to make them happy.