rex-craft7

i went out today to get some exercise and do something useful at the same time by volunteering at a local tree hugging/planting/trail making sort of organization. i had never done this sort of thing, but we (the volunteers) met up at a local park, and we spent the day killing blackberries. the whole time, i was wondering why i was doing it. after a quick internet search at home, i found that the species we were removing were Himalayan blackberries, which are apparently overrunning the NW (i live in seattle) from first glance, it looked like they were taking over the local tree/brush so that the area would turn into basically a mass of bramble bush - so it would change the local ecology. but that sort of thing happens all the time, so im still wondering why these invasive plants need to be killed - how much damage exactly do they do?

ok, the title isnt getting across exactly what i want to say, but - I think the more I go along in school, the more I'm feeling like research is not for me. At the moment, I'm actually dreading eventually having to do research for the sake of experience and for the sake of applying to grad school - its really confusing to the point of questioning myself whether science is really for me. I keep thinking it would be great if I could find some way to apply my science interests to something more "practical?", hands on, and fulfilling (for me) than research. I want to try using it to actually see my work helping people, or making a difference that I can SEE. basically, I've noticed that I get really excited when I hear about these kinds of work: rehabilitating animals and releasing them into the wild environmental consulting building trails, planting trees, etc forensic science hazmat diving (yes, i think it sounds pretty interesting, and i would not mind trying it out to see if i like it) so basically I have two main questions - am I a horrible candidate for graduate school? AND, does anyone know any other fields they can name that have the kind of traits that I've mentioned? Any input is appreciated, thanks in advance!

from the time i could walk, up until elementary school sometime, i wanted to be picasso. my dad was an art teacher, so i grew up with paint splatters and drawings all over the house - thinking back at it, imo, i was a pretty strange kid (i havnt met anyone other kid who would hole up in his room 8 hours a day just because they wanted "to finish one more page of the comic"). ive been pretty much drawing/painting/making comic books, etc ever since i could walk. so pretty much my life ambition is to be a well known painter for making art that "calms" people. that doesnt mean ill be able to get a job structured around that. ive recently started to realize that no matter how many times people say "do what you love, do what you love", in my case, "doing what i love" and making a living may be two different things. my life ambition hasnt changed, though im expecting to enter a field thats completely unrelated to it heh...

... specifically in bio or a bio related (i.e. marine biology/zoology/ecology/environmental/ just anything that can give me more of a chance to be outside or more "hands-on"). i know there are, but i mainly wanted to know how many options are available for people who dont want to do research (or med). basically living in a lab for a good portion of my life doesnt sound too fun to me -

actually, my questions more specific then that - im currently exploring around what other options are available i dont really have a set i-want-THIS-exact-career/job kind of mentality right now. i just feel like trying to go towards something i find interesting, and fits the kind of person i am, but in a very broad and general fashion. i really hate the corporate life - love nature, love playing around in the mud, looking at weird creatures; basically, i was wondering if the bio field had many opportunities for the following kind of work/jobs (just random examples i made up) : working outside in for example, a national park. research while in the outdoors, going on the water, other countries to figure out what places need more environmental help, lots of fieldwork, very hands-on and nature oriented conservation work, etc. (lack of routine would also make me very happy) and if there are such jobs, how many said jobs are available to biology related graduates (microbiology, marine biology, zoology, etc.). it would not make sense to study biology if only say, 1% of the field had the kind of work im describing above, and that its impossibly competitive to get those jobs (if there are any). (just in case, maybe i should also note that monetary accomplishments are not very high on my list of things i want to do. as long as i can eat, go on occasional vacations, have a simple roof over my head, i think ill be satisfied.) any input would be appreciated - thanks in advance

hi guys im new here, currently a sophomore in uni, confused as to what to do - im in a very confusing and frustrating situation right now, and was hoping if anyone could relate - i love art. ive loved art since i could walk - i had my first "for sale" drawing in a downtown art store in elementary school, entered contests, drew a 300 page graphic novel for fun in 5th grade, and since then i have always made it a tradition to start drawing a new comic book every summer break for fun. i draw to relieve stress, for fun, and well... basically i draw a lot. just recently, ive been accepted into the best design school i could ever hope to get into, and i have a couple weeks to reply whether ill be attending or not. lately though, ive been feeling a little hesitant. the more i learn about the art WORK world (i.e. after graduation), the more "disillusioned" i feel. i believe im a pretty realistic person, and because of this, i feel like theres a limit to the saying "follow your passion and you'll be happy". well, im following it so far, but the end result doesnt look too "happy" to me. in fact, ive lately been thinking if i would be happier to just leave art to be a side passion without twisting and forcing it to be a career. lately ive been wondering if i should start studying my second interest - science. luckily im in a science/research oriented uni at the moment (i entered because i thought i would be studying science, not art), so getting into this shouldnt be a problem. im starting to look into the marine bio program at the moment. so my options are to stay at my current uni and study BOTH science/art (im likely never going to let go of art), OR, go to the design school and study solely art. the problem is, i believe im a fairly average science person... my worst subject is math, and after taking all the AP/honors science courses my highschool offered, i ended up with a 3.5 GPA - so im also wondering if an "average" student in science can succeed in it (i.e. can i get a job...? and im mostly interested in field work, which im guessing is the most competitive to get?). is there a place in the field for people who arent med school material (i dont know how else to put it) - sorry for the wall of text, but i feel like i have to explain this fully to get good input - any advice? opinions? has anyone ever been in a similar situation? anything would be greatly appreciated -