Sue Wangs Career Report

1. My Top 15 Jobs
1. Chemist 6. Chemical Engineering Tech 11. Artist

12. Computer Hardware

2. Physicist 7. Scientist
Engineer

3. Musician 8. Technical Writer 13. Computer Software Engineer

4. Composer 9. Translator 14. Special Effects Technician

5. Computer Programmer 10. Chemical Engineer 15. Inventor

2. Top 2 jobs
Top 2 Jobs I am most interested in

1. Physicist

2. Musician

3. Go to the Interviews on the left side menu. Click on Likes and Dislikes and report on 2 likes and 2 dislikes
from each interview. (See top right of interview page.) Report in point form below. Include your own likes
and dislikes.
Career 1 - Physicist

Likes Dislikes

Interviews:
1. The challenge of research and of doing
things that others had never done before.
2. Passing on knowledge and training to
students.
Interviews:
1. Physicists working in the private sector face
many (sometimes unreasonable) pressures.
2. Going to long, unproductive meetings for
progress discussions, evaluations, and reports.

Me:
3. Being able to create, innovate, and explore
in the field.
4. Being able to solve problems that contribute
to existing scientific knowledge.
Me:
3. It is very difficult to obtain a job at a university,
but the alternative is difficult work in the private
sector.
4. Having to rely on others (companies,
universities, grants) for funding.
 Career 2 - Musician

Likes Dislikes

Interviewees: Interviewees:
1. Making new friends with and through music. 1. You have to work with different people, and
2. Having freedom and control over what you do (if some people are difficult to deal with.
you are self employed). 2. People undervalue musicians and take music
for granted, despite it being important.
Me:
3. Its something that Im good at, and it is already Me:
a large part of my life. 3. I feel like I could end up losing some of my
4. The end product (the performance or piece) is passion for music if it becomes my job.
incredibly rewarding. 4. Being a musician requires an incredible
amount of patience.

4. In the interview section, there are many gems or insights each interviewee has shared. For each of the
questions below, give some great advice or information.
Career #1: Physicist
a) Can you tell me about your background and how you got into this field?

Marie: I studied science in high school and then physics in university. After I finished my PhD, I obtained a
fellowship to work at IBM Zurich research laboratories in Switzerland for 1 year, which was an exciting experience.
When I returned, I took a position at the National Research Council (NRC), where I have now been working for 17
years. I guess I became interested in physics largely because of my father. He was a biochemist and stressed the
importance of science to me when I was young. He gave me a biography of Marie Curie signed by the author, and
reading it really piqued my interest in physics.

Pedro: I studied physics and engineering in Argentina, Israel, and Canada. What attracted me to my career was
my love for physics and math and my strong desire to understand the universe. Even when I was 4 years old, I
loved math. I moved into my current position in academia because I was interested in pursuing my research in this
setting. Ive now been working as a physicist for 16 years.

b) What personal characteristics are required for someone to be successful in your job?

Marie: Physicists must be curiousthey must be driven by a desire to understand natures mysteries. They must
be organized as well, because research must be done in a logical and thorough fashion. Its also essential to be
open-minded. Research wont progress well if the person conducting it isnt open to new ideas and theories.

Pedro: For the research side of things, it is crucial that a physicist be creative. Originality is essential to develop
new theories and experiments. Hard work and perseverance are also important, since failed experiments are
common. As a teacher, it is also important for a physicist to be both enthusiastic and patient. All instructors should
have respect for others no matter what their abilities.

c) What other jobs could you do with the skills you have gained in this field?

Marie: Physicists can be good teachers if they communicate effectively and convey a sense of excitement about
nature and its mysteries. Some physicists make a career of writing about science or become associated with a
science museum as a curator. Your knowledge of science and how research is done can be useful in government
agencies as well. Physicists are also involved in the private industrial sector doing research and development.
Pedro: Physicists could work in computer programmingsome of us already do a lot of this during the course of
experiments. Moving into teaching positions at the elementary or high school levels is also a possibility. Applied
mathematics or applied physics are another two options. Applied mathematics includes any position in which
math is used in a practical way, such as a managerial position. Applied physics includes areas like medicine, in
which physics is used to design and control new equipment.
d) Are there many opportunities in your field? What should people do to get started?
Marie: There are opportunities in physics, but it is a competitive field. If you want to become a research physicist
and you have just obtained a PhD, then you could get some job experience by doing post-doctoral work for a few
years before applying for a more permanent position. High-tech companies will hire physics students with a
bachelors degree and train them. They will also hire PhD graduates to do some research. Actually, some
companies pay for your graduate degree if you agree to work for them when youre finished.

Pedro: There are opportunities for physicists, though academic positions are becoming harder to find. I would say
that medical physics and computer-related development are two of the best areas to get into in terms of job
opportunities. Generally, I think its easier to find work in the private sector than in universities.

Career #2: Musician

a) Can you tell me about your background and how you got into this field?

Akiko: I studied piano performance and pedagogy at university. Overall, I have been working in this field for 8
years. Prior to owning my own studio, I taught private lessons and worked at a summer camp and music studio. I
was attracted to this field because I love music, and I incorporated teaching into my career because I enjoy
working with students one on one. For me, its a very rewarding job.

Leonard: Ive always liked music. I started playing piano when I was 5 years old, in church and in school choirs. I
joined my first rock band when I was 12, and I played sax in the school band. My dad was a musician and he was
very supportive. So was my mother. There was always music in my house. I graduated from a performing arts
music program at college. I began my career in the late 1960s with a popular local blues band. After that, I joined a
jazz/rock fusion ensemble and eventually an R&B band. In 1980 I was tour manager for a number of popular
musicians. I joined The Guess Who in 1991. I have performed with a string of bands. I recently released a live
recording project with a funk-rock quartet. When Im not playing music, Im listening to it.

b) What personal characteristics are required for someone to be successful in your job?

Akiko: A musician needs to have passion. To be successful, you need to be passionate about music and what you
do because you will be spending many hours playing, practising, and working on music lessons with your students
and other musicians. Self-discipline is also very important. As a working musician, you are solely responsible for
everything you do. You have to be self-disciplined to make sure that your work is of a high standard every time and
that you are professional and reliable. Finally, organization skills are essential for musicians. There is a lot of
scheduling involved with lessons, rehearsals, and events, and you have to be organized and on top of things to
find success.

Leonard: Dedication to the challenge and art of playing music is essential. If its not a passion, forget it. Good
people and communication skills are important because you have to relate to an audience, in addition to club
owners and other musicians. In the music business, perseverance and determination are very important. The
squeaky wheel gets the grease (or the gig).

c) What other jobs could you do with the skills you have gained in this field?
Akiko: Musicians can also work in the fields of music therapy, music administration, or musicology. You might also
be able to teach music in public schools or work as a church organist, orchestra musician, composer, instrument
technician or composer, as well as perform jobs in recording or song writing.

Leonard: Entertainers are outgoing and can draw people into what they are doing. These skills can translate into
a variety of related occupations, including performing live, studio work, scoring music for films or commercials,
and theatre acting. You could also teach or become a tour manager.
d) Are there many opportunities in your field? What should people do to get started?

Akiko: Yes, there are opportunities out there for musicians, especially if you use teaching to help fund your career.
There are many students who wish to learn an instrument. Effective marketing is essential to connect with these
students and to find other opportunities as a musician. Musicians who are just starting out should work on their
skills as much as possible and gain some experience by teaching students, either privately or through a music
studio.

Leonard: The only way to enter the music business is to dive in with both feet. Its a sink-or-swim scenario with no
guarantee of success. There are many ways to try, but no proven formula. I have a college degree in performing
arts, but I remember a professor telling me that my degree only means that I spent a few years of my life in school.
The only things that matter are what you do on the bandstand, how you build your reputation, what audiences think
of you, and if you have the drive to keep going.

5. Go to Education on the left side menu. This will take A LOT OF TIME TO RESEARCH & it is important to see
the options available to you.
When you click on Education, you need to scroll down until you see the name of the program.
Now, glance through the titles of the Programs and click on the one that sounds most interesting. Read about the
content of several programs, the length of time to complete, the cost, and decide whether or not the program might
be the right fit for you. Here you might decide to choose between two schools and report on both. Include the
school information above in this section. Repeat this for your second career option.

6a) Career 1 - Physicist

Program 1: Physics - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Program 2: Astronomy and astrophysics - University of Toronto, Scarborough, ON
I find physics interesting because it explains the workings of our world so elegantly and breakthroughs in it can be
of great benefit to humanity as whole. For example, many physical principles are applied in engineering, chemistry,
and medicine. I also enjoy it simply because of the joy of exploration and discovery, and it is a very interesting
intellectual pursuit if nothing else.
After looking at the education page for physicist, I found that there were two topics I was interested in: physics
(presumably just in general) and astrophysics. I actually particularly enjoy quantum physics and particle physics as
well, but neither choice was on the page. I chose one program from each category that I think would be interesting.
I chose these two particular programs because both of them are located in places that I find enjoyable to live in
and that I have some degree of familiarity with.
Although both programs would be interesting, I think that ultimately I would choose the undergraduate physics
degree at UBC. The main reason for this is because a general physics degree is more applicable for many
different types of physics, while astronomy and astrophysics is more limited and doesnt account as well for
changing interests and demands. The degree at UofT is a more general and less technical introduction to
astronomy to astrophysics, but it would still be limited to a fairly narrow field, while I could adapt the general
physics degree for many different things both practical and theoretical. Also, despite the fact that UofT would be
located in a very interesting environment that would be a welcome change, UBC is conveniently located close to
home, which would allow me to have more familiarity with my surroundings as well as cut down on my living costs.
Both programs are from more well known and good universities, which could help me get better jobs.
If I choose to go into physics, I will most likely have to pursue further studies (e.g. a masters degree or even a
PhD), simply because of the nature of the field and the general attitude of the scientific community.

6b) Career 2 - Musician

Program 1: Music Performance - University of Toronto, St. George, ON
Program 2: Piano Performance - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Program 3: Major in an Orchestral Instrument - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Music is a very possible career for me. I enjoy it a lot and its a big part of my life, and I already have many musical
achievements that could help me get a career in music. I enjoy music because its incredibly rewarding - although
the long hours of practice can be tedious, the feeling once you finally connect with a piece is amazing. Also, I enjoy
ensemble playing a lot because of the varying textures and the sense of connection with other musicians. This job
could actually have more opportunities for me than many other fields, since I am fairly proficient at 5 instruments
and am also interested in composing and conducting.
For this career, I actually had trouble choosing between 3 different programs at 2 different universities, simply
because I had trouble choosing a university and an instrument to major in. The music performance at UofT has
many options for areas of concentration (the ones Im interested in are collaborative piano, conducting, piano,
strings, and woodwinds), so I would have to choose one of these areas if I do choose this option. The piano
performance program at UBC focuses specifically on piano performance, which I am very interested in but could
be limiting. The orchestral instrument program at UBC also focuses on one specific orchestral instrument. The two
programs arent actually two separate programs - theyre simply a variety of different instruments to major in, and
piano is separate from orchestral instruments only because piano isnt an orchestral instrument.
I had quite a hard time picking between the three programs, but if I were to take this career option, I think Id
choose UBC. One of the reasons Id choose the UBC program is because they require auditions, making it a more
competitive environment and therefore a more attractive choice to me personally. Also, as I mentioned before, it is
closer to home and has all the benefits that come with that. I find choosing an instrument difficult, because
although piano is my primary instrument and Im best at it, it also has more limitations than orchestral instruments
(for example, transportation, and there arent as many ensembles with a piano) and there are a lot of pianists. If I
were to choose, though, it would probably be piano or bassoon - Im best at piano, and there is a high demand for
bassoonists.
As with physicists, most musicians also have to pursue graduate studies. In many cases, a masters degree is
enough, but some musicians also choose to do a PhD in their field. My dream music school is the Eastman School
of Music in New York, so hopefully I could do further studies there.

7. Grade 11 and 12 courses I will need to take

Career 1: Physicist

Grade 11 Grade 12
English, Mathematics, Probability & Statistics, English, Algebra & Geometry, Calculus, Chemistry,
Chemistry, Physics, Social Studies, Computers Physics, Social Studies, Computers

Career 2: Musician

Grade 11 Grade 12
English, Mathematics, Science / Physics, Social English, Literature, Communications & Media
Studies, Music, Dramatic Arts / Visual Arts, Studies, Mathematics, Science / Physics, Social
 Computers / Electronics & Communications Studies, Music, Dramatic Arts / Visual Arts,
Technology Computers / Electronics & Communications
Technology

8. Final Reflection. Answer these questions underneath each question. Format neatly. Your response should be
longer and deeper than this.

What did I find interesting in this assignment?

This assignment introduced me to a variety of career choices and their practical implications. This assignment
really helped cement the reality of each career for me, by showing me the education required for each as well as
the myriad of challenges. Even though it showed the challenges of the careers, they seemed much more
achievable after this assignment. It helped break down the careers into more approachable steps (take these
courses in grade 11, take these courses in grade 12, choose from these universities, possible future steps).

What did I learn doing this assignment?

This assignment helped me ascertain my general areas of interest/proficiency (essentially, STEM and the arts),
which could help guide me. It suggested many different careers that I could be interested in, some of which I didnt
even know existed or didnt think of. I also learned how important it was to not only match your career to your
interests and passions (which is something that everyone says but that I didnt always believe) but to your skills, so
that you can actually do the career.

What programs will I possibly want to take? (This is a summary of your research)

For the career of physicist, I chose the physics program at UBC, because of its location and the more general
subject area. For the career of musician, I chose the music performance program at UBC because of its audition
requirements and location, but the music program at UofT is very appealing as well (especially because of some
areas of concentration that it offers). However, this website only covers Canadian universities, and I will possibly
want to look into schools abroad. Also, for both the careers I chose, graduate studies are recommended. This
would mean that Id have to look for somewhere to pursue a masters degree or possibly a PhD, and I would have
to look into this as well (both in Canada and in other countries).

What did I like and dislike about the programs?

For the physics program, I like that its more general and allows me to branch into different fields of physics. Also,
the cost is relatively realistic (a little upwards of 20 thousand for 4 years). Something I dislike, not about this
program alone, is that I would have to spend a lot of time pursuing graduate studies in physics in order to establish
myself in the field. Even though it takes a long time, I think it could be interesting depending on my area of focus,
so there is nothing that I really dislike about this program.

For the music program, I think I would like the level of competition and intensity at this program - it isnt extremely
intense like at the most prestigious music schools, but its intense enough for my liking. However, there are actually
better programs available abroad that I could choose to go into (for example, the Eastman School of Music, the
New England Conservatory, and the Royal College of Music, among others), and the UBC music program
probably wouldnt push me enough.