Hey there! This is Morgan Noonan, junior at the University of Maryland pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Studio Art. Yes, I get asked "So what are you going to do with that?" quite a bit. I plan on becoming a medical illustrator. Booyah!

Compromise is good, but not when it comes to choosing your career. No, happiness does not pay the bills, but really, truly, without a doubt, money is not everything. Choosing a career path based solely on average salaries is a recipe for disaster. For one thing, the averages that you see online are not a guarantee.

The amount of money that you could potentially earn at your supposed 'high paying job' depends greatly on your own competency and skills at said job. You may think that becoming an engineer is where it’s at, but not if you hate math and suck at problem solving.

Ignoring your natural proclivities means that you probably won’t even be able to land a job in the allegedly lucrative field you choose. If you do, though, it’s doubtful that you will excel at it. And nobody wants to be mediocre. Succeeding at work makes you feel good about yourself and – drum roll please – leads to promotions and raises. That means more money, while doing something you enjoy! Win – Win situation right there, folks.

Disliking your job makes you miserable and, over time, can even lead to depression. No amount of money will erase that sense of dread felt every Monday morning on the way to the office if you aren’t excited to be there.

Luckily, there is a great way to explore the different routes that you can take: with college courses (and internships!). Universities have core requirements for a reason. Yes, they make you into a more well - rounded student and future citizen of the world. But they also ensure that you are in the right major. The University of Maryland calls for a number of different subject areas ranging from social and behavioral sciences to academic writing.

If you despise your chemistry class (as I most certainly did), then maybe you should not be planning on getting a medical degree. However, if you take a required course outside of your major and wind up loving it, then perhaps you should rethink your 'four year plan'.

You know it when you are sincerely engaged during lecture, when you actually want to learn the material, and even look forward to group discussions. The classes that excite you, the ones that you tell your parents about and bring up in conversations with your friends, are the classes that are quite possibly pointing you in the direction of your future career.

Not everybody has the aggressive personality to be a lawyer, the physical discipline to be a farmer or the endless patience to be a teacher. Your temperament is just as important as your natural talents and intelligence in determining your career.

Aside from your own personal qualifications, also think about what your job will do to you. Working your way up in the business world is great if you are ambitious and dedicated, but you probably will not have a lot of time to devote to a family – at least not right away.

I am all for financial stability. Just make sure that you try your best to find the happy medium between strictly following your heart with no sense of responsibility and being a slave to your job as you sell your soul. That way you can follow your dreams and make some money in the process!

(Image courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons)