Not sure what I REALLY should do when I grow up

Im not sure what I should do.

My main plain is to get a chemistry major when I hopefully go to college (You can’t say will because you can’t trust ANYTHING in life to go according to plan, duh, and I could very well die tomorrow if its my time, etc etc), and from there work in the medicinal chemistry field, extracting, deriving, and synthesising medicinal compounds from plants, fungi, bacteria, and other natural substances. I think this would be a very good job choice for me, because its not too easy, I wont break my back, it is interesting, I can (albeit indirectly) help people, and it will pay well

The thing is, I kinda just want to live Amish. They have it perfect, really. Sure, they don’t have anything. But that’s what I need I think. I live a county/2 away from the Amish, so I wouldn’t really have trouble getting there if that’s what I would do.

But I say this because I feel if I would try to become Amish, or something similar, it would be a waste of my brain, which is capable of so much.

But then again, Im sure I could find a way to live Amish (which I think I’m just using as a term for off the grid communal reliance) and have the job is a chemist.

What are your thoughts on this? And how realistic is this, really?

Are you big into the pacifism aspect of being Amish?

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I think at the very least I want to be kinder, and when you put it that way I think living with the Amish would help me achieve that. Id say I’m pretty passive but then again, could be moreso

I am specifically asking as it relates to military service. Pacificism isn’t about kindness. You can be a pacificist and a total a-hole, or a warrior and quite kind.

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I am ashamed and shocked having to ask this…

…Can you explain more on “pacifism”? I know the general meaning of it, being against hurting others, but generally I don’t know much on it

The Amish refuse to join the military or fight in wars. They are declared pacificists.

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Im all for that.

Assuming you’re saying you’re all for joining the military, a way you could make this work would be to join ROTC at your University, get that degree, become a Chemist for the military ( Careers in the Military ) serve your 20 years, get a pension, and use that to finance homesteading.

If you graduate college at 22, you’d be retired at 42: still plenty young to make it work. You’d have guaranteed stable income and benefits (to include health care) so that you can have a safety net while you live like the Amish.

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Oh, no, I mean; Im all for pacificism. I couldn’t bring myself to fight in the military really

I think they used to call that “conscientious objector”, and it was like that last question the recruiters asked.

I remember one kid was, but continued with enlistment because he wanted to become a chaplain.

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My father-in-law was one of these. He was drafted for Vietnam and was made into a medic.

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Check out Corporal Desmond Doss for the most famous example

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I will! Some of the strangest and most amazing stories come from the military.

Edit: Wow. Just read the wiki. Aside from being incredibly brave and dedicated, that guy was cloaked in protection by God.

Holey moley!

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The whole contentious objection thing is neat and all, and maybe if circumstances make that something I need to do, for whatever reason, so be it. But anyways.

I have this idea. Over the summer, for a month or two, I could stay with the Amish. I would work for them in the farms, and learn about stuff like food preservation, how to live off the land, etc. I think it would be really good for me to have that kind of work. I could coinside this with Basebuilding, maybe, haha. That might work though.

I think this could be really beneficial for me. What are the chances of this? I want to go to a very conservative Amish household. Far away from technology.

Oh and of course in the end its up to my parents.

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There is a good documentary about him. Also a movie. It’s got Andrew Garfield playing him. I think it’s semi accurate.

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Hacksaw ridge, I believe. Was a Mel Gibson movie.

OP, how old are you? if I was you, I’d research overlanding and living off grid. Then go to college and live in a vehicle on federal land (find a university that has your chemistry major by BLM land), then do your off grid thing. If that’s how you want to live, you can have a full corporate job experience and then head home to a minimalistic life.

in another life, I’ve got 20+ acres with a shop. In it is an RV and a few vehicles. I would work remote from my RV/converted van when I need to travel or just commute to town where office is, and crash back in my shop while working from office.

There are several states where this is very possible.

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I used to spend a few weeks with my aunt in the summers and she lived next door to an Amish farm. (She lived in State College PA) I was the same age as their children and spent most of my time there. It was a really interesting experience. I would imagine it would be very eye opening for you to see how life is lived without technology.

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Im 15, will be 16 in June. Il look into that, definitely.

@BethB Yeah, im sure it would be. Ive spent a day or two here and there without much technology and it was wonderful but I just couldn’t keep it up because I would reason with myself “well its not that bad etc etc”.

Thinking about it though, my parents wouldnt let me. I remember I asked once and it was just downright no way. Oh well. I can still learn about stuff online about off grid living

Where do you live now?

How you considered “Country Living,” where you live outside of town. And maybe cut firewood for the woodburning stove and raise chickens, without going Full Amish?

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This could be one of my favorite statements ever

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