Career confusion ?!

Hello, I hope who ever is reading this is doing well, I am 18 years old and currently preparing for my first AS level exams. I have taken Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics in my first year, even before A ( advanced level ) levels whilst I was doing my O ( ordinary ) levels I also chose computer science as my main field and as per my optional subject I took advanced mathematics. Yet, these are the subjects I never imagined myself studying to build up my career, I have always been interested in Arts and wanted to become an Artist ever since, I never could have imagined that Arts would be the only thing I would ever want, when I was quite young my mother kept telling me that I should now start letting go of this dream and have a more practical approach towards my career, what she really meant was that Arts has no scope and not much to offer, in the matter of income and financial stability, and that I should opt for something that is more ideal and practical, and something that is in the world trend right now, which has been computer science and I.T, I rebelled against them by winning major art competitions in my school, but they never took it seriously, until there came a point a year ago that keeping Art even as a hobby that I got to do rarely due to the overload pressure of my studies was becoming impractical and useless and really just childish, they say that if you want to struggle in life and face the hardships then sure go ahead, they think choosing Art is just , I guess I've made it quite clear on what they think. What's worse is that I'm a creative and theoretical person, I just don't do too god with numbers, I especially don't do too well in programming, and now the main thing I struggle with is that if I do somehow take arts, English literature and language in my second year of A levels, will I be able to cover it up? Or should I continue with my subjects, give their exams, hope and try my level best to achieve a good enough result and then opt for Arts and literature in my bachelors? I don't think I can live a life opting for a career that might make me wealthy but not happy, and who's to say that opting for a career in I.T is to bring success to anyone who opts for it ? It might and might not bring you success, that's the same with arts, but at least by taking arts I'll know that I failed or succeeded by doing something that I love and am actually good at, plus who knows about life and the opportunities it might bring, the doors to success it might open for you and for me.

Reply 1

bee2018

4

Hey, this sounds like a tricky situation to be in. I guess in some ways, yes it can be very difficult to build a stable career in the Arts and Creative industry, but it is not impossible, due to difficulties in networking with the right people and also lack of funding in those areas (if you are from the UK that is).

Alternatively, there are lots of ways you can be creative jobs in the computing industry such as being a game designer or a graphic designer for companies. You get paid relatively well and it's mix of both logic and creativity - something to consider.

However, if you feel like studying physics, computer science and mathematics, is making you feel very unhappy and you really don't like it, then yes do consider doing something else. You could finish your A levels and choose whatever BSc you want at university, or do other A levels. It's difficult for me to advice you on this area, because I'm not sure whether you are struggling academically with it or you just purely dislike it.

STEM A levels are generally valued, and widely accepted for most English/Arts/Humanities based degrees. This isn't usually the case if you did A levels that were English or Humanities based, and choose to do STEM degree like Mechanical Engineering at university for example. This is something to consider.

Parents are sometimes a bit pushy with making their kids do STEM degrees because of financial stability so I'm sorry you had to experience that 😅 Life is too short so do consider your happiness. A lot of people do art as a side hustle/hobby alongside their full-time job. I personally had a part-time job at university uploading scenic pictures on university social media pages, whilst I was doing my STEM degree. Photography is more my thing. Even now, I make sure I gave myself time to do artsy stuff, as a scientist and I do love my job, but sometimes it's nice to have a creative outlet. Even if I wanted to, I could make it a side hustle and do it full-time if successful. This is a possibility for you too. If it doesn't work out, you could fall back on your STEM degree or whatever degree that gives you a stable income if that makes sense. You can choose to do be an Artist whenever you want to be so this is something to consider :smile:

Reply 2

OtakuLeveledUp

8

Original post by sohakhan17

Hello, I hope who ever is reading this is doing well, I am 18 years old and currently preparing for my first AS level exams. I have taken Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics in my first year, even before A ( advanced level ) levels whilst I was doing my O ( ordinary ) levels I also chose computer science as my main field and as per my optional subject I took advanced mathematics. Yet, these are the subjects I never imagined myself studying to build up my career, I have always been interested in Arts and wanted to become an Artist ever since, I never could have imagined that Arts would be the only thing I would ever want, when I was quite young my mother kept telling me that I should now start letting go of this dream and have a more practical approach towards my career, what she really meant was that Arts has no scope and not much to offer, in the matter of income and financial stability, and that I should opt for something that is more ideal and practical, and something that is in the world trend right now, which has been computer science and I.T, I rebelled against them by winning major art competitions in my school, but they never took it seriously, until there came a point a year ago that keeping Art even as a hobby that I got to do rarely due to the overload pressure of my studies was becoming impractical and useless and really just childish, they say that if you want to struggle in life and face the hardships then sure go ahead, they think choosing Art is just , I guess I've made it quite clear on what they think. What's worse is that I'm a creative and theoretical person, I just don't do too god with numbers, I especially don't do too well in programming, and now the main thing I struggle with is that if I do somehow take arts, English literature and language in my second year of A levels, will I be able to cover it up? Or should I continue with my subjects, give their exams, hope and try my level best to achieve a good enough result and then opt for Arts and literature in my bachelors? I don't think I can live a life opting for a career that might make me wealthy but not happy, and who's to say that opting for a career in I.T is to bring success to anyone who opts for it ? It might and might not bring you success, that's the same with arts, but at least by taking arts I'll know that I failed or succeeded by doing something that I love and am actually good at, plus who knows about life and the opportunities it might bring, the doors to success it might open for you and for me.

My university offers a subject called Digital Media Design and it is kinda a hybrid of Art + CS. It is an art degree at heart but you do 3D things like blender and they teach you how to program. Look at game dev as well. Best of luck. Also there is no rush so think carefully.

Reply 3

Instructor!

4

Original post by sohakhan17

Hello, I hope who ever is reading this is doing well, I am 18 years old and currently preparing for my first AS level exams. I have taken Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics in my first year, even before A ( advanced level ) levels whilst I was doing my O ( ordinary ) levels I also chose computer science as my main field and as per my optional subject I took advanced mathematics. Yet, these are the subjects I never imagined myself studying to build up my career, I have always been interested in Arts and wanted to become an Artist ever since, I never could have imagined that Arts would be the only thing I would ever want, when I was quite young my mother kept telling me that I should now start letting go of this dream and have a more practical approach towards my career, what she really meant was that Arts has no scope and not much to offer, in the matter of income and financial stability, and that I should opt for something that is more ideal and practical, and something that is in the world trend right now, which has been computer science and I.T, I rebelled against them by winning major art competitions in my school, but they never took it seriously, until there came a point a year ago that keeping Art even as a hobby that I got to do rarely due to the overload pressure of my studies was becoming impractical and useless and really just childish, they say that if you want to struggle in life and face the hardships then sure go ahead, they think choosing Art is just , I guess I've made it quite clear on what they think. What's worse is that I'm a creative and theoretical person, I just don't do too god with numbers, I especially don't do too well in programming, and now the main thing I struggle with is that if I do somehow take arts, English literature and language in my second year of A levels, will I be able to cover it up? Or should I continue with my subjects, give their exams, hope and try my level best to achieve a good enough result and then opt for Arts and literature in my bachelors? I don't think I can live a life opting for a career that might make me wealthy but not happy, and who's to say that opting for a career in I.T is to bring success to anyone who opts for it ? It might and might not bring you success, that's the same with arts, but at least by taking arts I'll know that I failed or succeeded by doing something that I love and am actually good at, plus who knows about life and the opportunities it might bring, the doors to success it might open for you and for me.

First of all, thank you for sharing your heartfelt story, and let me say this—you’re not alone in feeling this way. Many of us face the tug-of-war between passion and practicality. Here’s the thing: your love for art and creativity is a gift, and it’s clear that it brings you joy and fulfillment. But stepping into the world of Arts doesn’t have to be a leap of faith without a safety net. Why not consider a balanced approach? Continue with your current subjects for your AS levels. This will give you foundational qualifications and keep options open, while exploring art seriously on the side. Take online short courses in areas like digital art, graphic design, or even creative writing through platforms like LiveX, Skillshare or Coursera to build skills that align with both your passion and practical career paths. This way, when it’s time to decide for your bachelor’s, you’ll have a stronger portfolio and clarity on what feels right. Remember, success is about doing what makes you happy while also being adaptable to life’s uncertainties. And who says artists can’t be successful? The world is full of creative people thriving in fields like animation, illustration, design, and more. Take small, consistent steps toward your dreams, and don’t let fear or anyone else make you believe it’s impossible. You’ve got this!

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