Do I (24F) need to handle lack of predictability in creative field or consider a career change to medicine?
Reasons I question my current creative career choice:
- Lack of income stability. I can't afford this as parents get older, and it is happening
- I was disengaged at work.
- I could not got used to sitting in a desk for 8 hours a day and felt guilty for getting up to get water or bathroom — few people seemed to be doing that.
- I don't have a knack for researching and understanding what people want or what makes people want to buy things, or for creative direction. I know this because I spent a lot of time around people who are good at this.
- The creative work is tiring. I had no energy to hang out with friends or even smile at a coworker. I'm scared that it will get worse as I get more responsibilities as I grow older.
- Everyone says I am creative. I'm not — I just like drawing, which is different. So 1) they don't know what they are talking about or 2) I am discrediting my spectacular, amazing, career prowess.
- My relationships with my mentors are spotty.
- I have skin issues doing creative work. Never happened prior. I've worked a service job — it was tough work but this didn't happen. What if it's my body saying this is wrong?
Pursue medicine and why:
- I was better at math and science more than english and the arts. I didn't pursue STEM because it was competitive and I wanted to be cool, and not a boring person. It was also highly competitive. Funny because I am definitely out-competed right now in my career — I'm unemployed.
- I worked in service jobs and loved being on my feet. Making rounds in hospitals, or are in between patients sounds like it is a good fit. I also really liked working in shifts. I felt needed.
- Not having to worry if my company will lay me off and not affording rent for a period of time.
- I am "too" nice, polite, and softhearted, according to friends. There's usually some subtext to what they are saying, maybe I'm being a doormat, or too stiff in reality, but maybe my strength is being caring. I am unsure. I hate being a goody-two shoes but at this point, if I have difficulties changing a part of myself, might as well find a way it can earn money.
- A medical career path is more standardized and milestones are clearer — you either pass or fail. I'm not doing great post-grad without structure.
- I have decent memory for facts, people, places, things.
- I find joy in making things, breaking them or taking it apart, getting confused, then putting it back together so it's stronger and better. This, I think, comes from practicing design thinking, but it could help me learn tough subjects like anatomy and physiology.
- I am good at deductive reasoning, and was good at multiple choice tests.
- I like following instructions and standardized procedures.
- I did okay in the sciences in high school and never got below an A-.
Hesitations
- Healthcare workers are responsible for patient's lives. That's a greater stress than being unemployed for a few months at a time.
- Medicine is competitive and the road is rocky, despite me looking for stability right now. I could be a doctor or a medical assistant 10 years later I have no idea.
TLDR; is a medical career a better fit if i am struggling in a creative career?
Posted Dec 1, 2025, 4:03 AM UTC
05