Help decide my future

Flay

I'm currently posed with one of the biggest dillemmas I've ever had to face.

First things first, I'm nineteen years old and currently studying a double degree in Visual Communication (i.e. Graphic Design) and International Studies (focusing on learning Japanese). For the past few weeks I've been working at a large development company as an intern, and now that my internship is coming to an end and university semeseter is starting up, they've offered me a part-time job, with the possibility of full-time employment.

At the moment I have two main options: 1. Continue with my double degree as is, or 2. Drop the second part of my degree. Both descisions have their own pros and cons

1. Continue with my double degree:

PROS:
Go to Japan for a year
Gain a secondary qualification

CONS:
Adds another two years to degree
Significantly more university fees, as well as the cost of living in Japan
Japanese isn't the most useful language
Will be harder to move out of home


2. Drop the second part of my degree

PROS:
Finish university two years earlier than I would have
Enter the workforce earlier
Move out of home earlier

CONS:
Don't recieve a second qualification
Don't get to visit Japan
Will still have to pay fees for the international studies subjects I've already completed


But this still doesn't really give a full picture:

Largely due to a problematic perfectionist streak and general anxieties, I have a tendancy to stick to fairly tight schedules. Even when I'm not working or at university, and I'm usually studying at least one or two things in my spare time. The problem with this is I don't have a great deal of world experience, and combined with the fact that I can be a pretty austere person, if I'm working or studying full time I don't allow myself a great deal of time to do or experience other things outside my own routines.

Going to Japan was supposed to be one of the things that would help me break out of this cycle. I've never been overseak (heck the furthest I've been is the state next to mine), and I've never lived on my own, but I figured throwing myself in to the deep end and doing both of these at the same time would force me to learn a few things, and perhaps be a little more adventurous.

There's also the issue of moving out of home, something I'd like to do as soon as possible. And in order to that, obviously, I need money. Going to Japan would get me away from home for a short while, but would make it more difficult to move out once I got back, as I expect I'll have to put quite a lot of money in to living overseas. If I were to stay here I would be able to get in to the workforce much earlier, and become independent earlier. But I'm afraid if I try and throw myself in to full-time employment too early, and that I'll end up wishing I'd taken my time instead of throwing away (potentially) the best years of my life.

I'm in need of some advice guys, what've you got?

BoomShake

Try looking at it this way:
What do you want to do professionally, long-term? How are each of these degrees contributing to achieving that?

I don't know, maybe there's some great link between graphic design and international studies/japanese, but at least on the surface they seem unrelated enough that having a second degree in one wouldn't really help out the other.

Flay

It's not a very useful language in general, as far as I can tell. My main reason for picking up Japanese was that I thought it would be a useful language, since they're one of Australia's major trading partners, but as I've been going through the course I've seen mounting evidence that that's not the case. I'm considering persisting with it only becase I've already spent a year studying it, and there's still the possibility of spending a year overseas.

adytum

Doesn't sound like you're that interested in continuing on with Japanese.

Take the job, get experience, finish college, take a gap year, come home and start working in your field.

You'd be a year ahead of if you continued with your Japanese program, and I daresay a properly executed gap year will teach you a lot more than a study abroad! Probably significantly cheaper, too.

Docken

Drop the second degree.

From personal experience International Studies is a do nothing subject that is great for experiences, but not much else. Ultimately its not worth the cost in time and money.

Get out sooner, save and invest and do the trip 5 years later on your holiday. Trust me this is the better option... the more time in the workforce you have the better your life will be provided you are sensible with investment and career path.

desperaterobots

I recommend the job, especially if it's on the career path you want to travel.

Give it a year or two. If it's not for you, go back to study.

But experience is valuable, and money will enable you to do things... like go to Japan on holiday!

Siegfried

Drop Japanese. You don't need a degree to speak a language anyhoo. You could learn on your own over time or after you graduate if you still want to know the language.

I also don't think it's a good idea to bank on living in Japan for a year to be your "living away from home experience." Its a totally different culture. Are you living with your parents now? I'd say just use that money you were saving up for Japan to get a house or apartment with some friends near your school.

Also I'd like to point out I have a little experience on banking on a program to fulfill your travel desires: I've wanted to go far out of town for co-ops and my last few opportunities have been in my hometown of Cincinnati or in Columbus(1.5hrs away), while I've watched my friends get jobs in San Francisco, New York, and Washington D.C. Just saying things don't always turn out the way you want them to.

desperaterobots

You could do a 'teach english in japan' thing, too. A few friends of mine were accepted into a program and taught English for a few years, and were paid to do it. They didn't know any Japanese before starting. They just needed a degree. One of them had a degree in 'multimedia design', just so you know how irrelevant it can be.

Flay

Hm... It's looks like dropping Japanese might be the thing to do.

I've also updated the OP with a bit more information, and another problem. I've got to figure out whether I should focus on university full time or stretch it out alongside work too.

Improvolone

I don't know how the job market is in Australia, but getting a job in the US is so beyond difficult for a new graduate that you'd be stupid to not take the work.

Fellhand

Flay wrote: »

Hm... It's looks like dropping Japanese might be the thing to do.

I've also updated the OP with a bit more information, and another problem. I've got to figure out whether I should focus on university full time or stretch it out alongside work too.

You're 19 years old and you have the entire remainder of your life to work.
I'd focus on university and try to relax a little before having to enter the real world if your finances will allow.

However, being offered a job right now is pretty big as it will look really good on your resume once you finish school and be a huge foot in the door.

If you enjoy Japanese, then stick with it. Don't let it be a thing that later in life you regret dropping. If you really aren't that into it, then drop it.

schuss

Work with the company to see if you can do part time during the school year (in place of a random crap job) and full time during the summer. It will be invaluable experience and you'll potentially get a better than entry level job when you graduate. At the very least you should make decent money.
As far as adventure goes - now's the time to explore your world! Check out some different college groups or rec. programs to get your start.
Though I agree with the others - if you just want the Japan program to learn to speak japanese/go to Japan, there are easier options.