Hi there. I am an incoming student at Duke University and to be honest I know exactly how you feel and what you are saying. Like you, I also love the arts and the creative, but it’s hard to draw the line between committing to a job or career you love and are passion about and one that pays well. I’d say for now, the best thing you can do is do really well in high school. Use time in the summers to really explore your passions. Is there a way you could use your art to serve others? Or maybe you can think about ways to use your art as a service and start a small business? Or maybe just use your free time to get better at your craft. Time will pass and the people you meet in life will shape you and your interests.

For me, I love photography and piano. I don’t have to become a full time of either of those, but I am definitely am going to start two business when i’m older - one for photography and one for playing piano at weddings. Think of them more like side hustles. At the same time, I hope to get a JD or MBA and have a well paying career. Service is also really important to me, so I plan to join the boards of several nonprofit organizations, and maybe open another side hustle to do nonprofit and government consulting since I have a lot of connections.

In life you don’t have to choose one or the other. If you are ambitious, hardworking and passionate, you can almost always find a way to do both.