From an engineer/surveyor/geologist/professor/business owner
Step 1 - follow Jimm1's suggestion and contact your high school counselor about vocational/interests testing. I knew I was going to be a Civil Engineer from the time I started walking. I took those tests anyway, and they indicated I was best suited to be an Engineer or Scientist– right on!
Step 2 – even though circumstances may change with time, evaluate what you want in life. Always best to make the best decision at the time. Indoors or outdoors, desk work or working with your hands, instant gratification or long range planner, design the product or build the product, etc, etc, etc.
Step 3 – evaluate whether money or job satisfaction is most important to you. As an employer, I find that job satisfaction is nearly always considered more important in the long run than income. However, highly satisfied and productive employees produce more income for the company, and they are paid accordingly. What goes around, comes around. An employee who is not happy in their job will sooner or later be a detriment to the company. As a business owner, I truly enjoy creating jobs for those who are enthusiastic about learning and want to be the best in their field.
It will never be as easy to get higher education than immediately after high school. So, if you decide this is best for you, try to continue your education without a lapse.
I am a licensed Civil Engineer, Land Surveyor, and Geologist. Definitely the right decision for me for nearly 40 years. But not necessarily for everyone. As an engineer, most work is desk work with a lot of design and mathematics (my true love). But I could spend more time outside if I wished. As a surveyor, about half the work is outdoors taking measurements, and about half indoors reducing the data and making a drawing of your work. As a geologist, most of the work is outdoors.
I also teach civil engineering and surveying at an accredited university – see my following post.
