Two roads diverged in a wood....

[Kisa]

.....and I don't know what one to travel by.
I've always liked this poem, but I always wonder whether the "difference" is a positive one or a negative one. Did the writer end up happy for choosing to do something different and experiancing rare things, or was the road less traveled by because you have to walk over hot coals littered with shards of glass coated in lead based paint to find a pile of steamy dog crap at the end?

Right now, I'm at the crossroads trying to pick a road. I know later down the line I can change paths, but it won't be as easy.

Path 1:
Continuing to go to college, transfer to an engineering university, get my degrees, get a job as an engineer making big bucks, pay off any debts within a year, live an easy life with nice things working long hours to make the world a better place.

Path 2:
Drop out of college, start training at a nearby special effects makeup studio, work my butt off for years and years for little to no pay, maybe make it big and live a decent life working long hours at my kick-ass job, maybe spend the rest of my life working for peanuts while working a part-time job on the side to keep my one bedroom apartment and ramen noodle diet.

I know Path 1 is the easier and more practical of the two, but Path 2 is my geeky childhood dream that I'm having a hard time letting go of. I'm on Path 1, but I have my doubts...

[TheSHAD0W]

If you find path 1 to be "easy", you've been blessed with a good mind, and IMO you should continue on that way. You can definitely do training in your dream on the side, perhaps take a semester off for it, and have fun too.

[mathnerd]

I've always interpreted that poem to mean that "the road less traveled" might have a few more obstacles, but the rewards more than made up for the added difficulty.

[PepperElf]

I've always interpreted that poem to mean that "the road less traveled" might have a few more obstacles, but the rewards more than made up for the added difficulty.

sometimes it does. but sometimes the rewards don't make the risk worth taking too.


Like on my first ship, working flight crew. (we only had 2 helos while on deployment).

The road less traveled had the benefits of extra "hazard pay", experience, and good evals (if you didn't screw up). But there's a reason it was "less traveled" - physical risks (life & limb), the excessive hours worked (on TOP of your normal job), and the randomness & odd hours of the schedule.


so really you have to decide which is more important, and the answer might not always be the same depending on what the choices are.

[Kheldarson]

I don't know how far away you are from graduating, but if it's only another year or two, why not finish and then see if you can try the makeup studio afterwards?

Or join a local theatre group and see if makeup artistry's what you really want to do. Or do a summer internship at the studio.

Mostly, I'd just make sure that the makeup artistry is what you really want to do, before getting off path A, if possible.

[dalesys]

Are you Jam? http://www.wastedtalent.ca/comic/talent-points

[MoonCat]

I would agree that it's a good idea to get the degree. Even if you try Path 2, you need a backup plan.

There's no guarantee that path 1 will work exactly as you wrote it. Somebody once said "Life is what happens while you're making other plans." Just something to keep in mind.

If you have a passion for engineering, you may want to stick with path 1. There may be a way you can work path 2 into your life as well.

[Tama]

Yeah, you could end up making robots or something on a movie set. How awesome would that be?

[Kisa]

If you find path 1 to be "easy", you've been blessed with a good mind, and IMO you should continue on that way.

Well, easy in the sense that it will take more time than effort. Math and science always came very easy to me. I just started my 2nd year of college and I'm doing 3rd year math. Special effects would take a lot of time and an insane amount of effort.

I don't know how far away you are from graduating, but if it's only another year or two, why not finish and then see if you can try the makeup studio afterwards?

I'm a long way away. I'm in my 2nd year and my goal is 2-3 bachelors degrees. I'm looking at at least 7 more years.

I would agree that it's a good idea to get the degree. Even if you try Path 2, you need a backup plan.
If you have a passion for engineering, you may want to stick with path 1. There may be a way you can work path 2 into your life as well.

Engineering isn't at all my passion. It's something I'll be good at that will make me money. Special effects, art, writing; these things make me happy; these things are my passions, but my passions won't pay bills so I picked engineering because I figure it will challenge me mentally and keep me doing different things unlike 95% of the other possible careers.

Yeah, you could end up making robots or something on a movie set. How awesome would that be?

Sadly, animatronics are an endangered species. Very few artists can do them the right way, so most producers opt for CGI which sucks IMO.

[Kheldarson]

I'm a long way away. I'm in my 2nd year and my goal is 2-3 bachelors degrees. I'm looking at at least 7 more years.

You sure about that? I got both of my bachelor's in the 4 years I was at college. See how much your programs overlap.

Engineering isn't at all my passion. It's something I'll be good at that will make me money. Special effects, art, writing; these things make me happy; these things are my passions, but my passions won't pay bills so I picked engineering because I figure it will challenge me mentally and keep me doing different things unlike 95% of the other possible careers.

While I'm not going to disagree with the logic, at the same time...if it's not your passion, why bother? Yes, sometimes you pursue something because you think it's your passion until you get in the real world (i.e. see my education degree and lack of current teaching job), but if you already know you don't like it as passionately, why not take the chance on your passion? At least for a semester? Does your school have a good arts program? I'm sure there are lower level classes you could take to get a feel for the work and study.

[Kisa]

You sure about that? I got both of my bachelor's in the 4 years I was at college. See how much your programs overlap.





While I'm not going to disagree with the logic, at the same time...if it's not your passion, why bother? Yes, sometimes you pursue something because you think it's your passion until you get in the real world (i.e. see my education degree and lack of current teaching job), but if you already know you don't like it as passionately, why not take the chance on your passion? At least for a semester? Does your school have a good arts program? I'm sure there are lower level classes you could take to get a feel for the work and study.

The first two years of all 3 degrees are basically the same. The second two years of all three are pretty different. And I'm going to school part time because I'm low on funds.

Maybe I could do engineering school for winter/fall/spring semesters and take summer off to do spfx classes? And then become some crazy batman-esuqe character.

By day, she is Ms. Kisa Volkov, a mild mannered engineer putting her nose to the grindstone at Ye Olde Research Facility. By night (and on weekends), she is a zombie making, robot building, book writing, canvas painting force of nature! Kiss me, I love it!

[Draper Mel]

I'm going to say Path #2 (big surprise). The possibilities there aren't only "become the next Rick Baker" vs. "eat ramen for the rest of my life." It is possible to have a career in the theater arts, one that will allow you to have a family, own a house, not shop at Goodwill forever.

Between film, television, theater and the internet, there's a lot of demand for good makeup artists. High definition video is now standard, and ultra high is around the corner. In theater, we're seeing a trend towards cinematic playwriting; if somebody gets shot or stabbed onstage, they want blood effects. (And then in the next scene they want the actor to be in a completely different outfit, all cleaned up, in less than 30 seconds, but I digress ) And not everything in science fiction and monster movies is done with CGI. Makeup is still necessary.

It's definitely a reasonable path. Just because it's something you like to do doesn't mean you shouldn't be compensated for it. There are even degree programs out there for makeup and hair.

I say go for it. Those engineering skill will still come in handy when you're trying to get that alien face to look realistic.

[Kisa]

Not everything in science fiction and monster movies is done with CGI. Makeup is still necessary.

I've noticed by watching movies/T.V. with friends and family, many people think 99% of all effects are CGI.
Friend: Wow is that Florida? That's a pretty sunset.
Me: It's a matte painting.
Friend: What, that? No way, it's CGI or real.
Me: No, it's a painting.

Family: Ohh that guy just got shot in the head! Cool computer graphics!
Me: It's makeup.
Family: What, that? Nooo it's CGI. Makeup can't make his head look like that.

Friend: Woah, that girl got cut in half! CGI is amazing!
Me: It's a dummy filled with bloodpacks.
Friend: What, that? No it's definetly CGI.

[Grendus]

Have you looked for engineering fields that you might be more passionate about? I know I was miserable trying to do some of the mechanical engineering prep courses in high school, but computer science is a dream come true for me. People always talk about Engineering like it's one big happy field, but the truth is that a Biomedical Engineer has about as much in common with a Civil Engineer as he does with a Physics major - similar background but massively different application. You may find that going into computer graphics, or animatronics, or any of the host of other engineering jobs involved in the performance arts are just as exciting as the field you're looking into, but with a much higher paycheck and more stable job prospects.

Ultimately, you need to find a field that you're passionate about, but I would definitely check into alternatives before betting my future on the long shot. It's not just two paths, you have a whole freaking forest of opportunity to look through.

[Seshat]

I was aiming for path 1. Computer science degree, reliable job, husband and kids and a nice house in the suburbs.

I got sick. Disabled. Forced onto the road less travelled. And mine is filled with brambles.

Don't make yourself miserable for the sake of taking the path more travelled. You never EVER know what life is going to throw at you.

I'm not saying 'don't make plans'. Make plans. But make them flexible plans. And make plans that involve you enjoying today. Or at least most todays.

(I never enjoy cleaning the litter tray, but having the cats is worth the litter trays.)

And if you find yourself on a bramble-filled road, stop from time to time to enjoy the view. It's amazing from up here.