DR. WALLACE: I'm enjoying this summer, but my priority is to use it to figure out which career path I want to pursue. I'm off to college in the fall, and I've picked a general university that has a wide range of possibilities, so I still have some time to figure out what major I'm going to focus on.

I've kind of narrowed it down at this point to two possibilities; one seems more practical and a more sure path to landing a job upon graduation, but my motivation isn't high in this area. The other possibility is definitely more uncertain, but my motivation is much stronger, and my mind is constantly spinning in a nimble way, coming up with ideas and possibilities. I have a certain mental liveliness for the less certain of the two possibilities.

Which one should I select as I head off to college this fall, the seemingly sure thing or the more uncertain path that I'm much more motivated by at this point in time? — My Career Decision Is Looming, via email

MY CAREER DECISION IS LOOMING: My advice to you, as it has been to many young people who have asked similar questions in the past, is to absolutely follow your motivation and interests as a starting point. You're young enough that if what you're excited about now turns out not to be a proper path for you, you have plenty of time to change direction.

You'll also benefit by the enthusiasm and motivation you'll have at this point, and the experience you'll gather, whether or not this new path makes sense to you for the long run. Beyond that, when you enter college, typically the first one or two years involve mainly general education courses. This will allow you additional time to keep considering your ultimate career direction. Speak to as many friends, classmates, teachers, counselors and potential mentors as you can along the way.

I'D LIKE TO ADJUST THE GREAT DEAL MY FATHER GAVE ME

DR. WALLACE: I'm a guy who is a second-year college student, and I've run into a bit of a financial dilemma. For the past couple years, I've had a really tight but effective budget and have been able to pay my bills, attend college and pay my living expenses comfortably even if I don't have a lot left over each month. The challenge I face at the moment is, I have a really solid business opportunity that I can enter into with one of my close friends, but I would need some startup capital or at least be able to start making payments into the business weekly so that I can build up equity and capital in the venture. My friend has enough savings to be able to come up with his half.

My father gave me a great deal on one of our family's used cars a couple of years ago, and I put down a small down payment and have been making the monthly payments that we agreed upon at a 0% interest rate. My dad is all about finance, fiscal discipline and being responsible with money and capital. I don't want to ask my father for a loan to go into this new venture, but I did have another idea, although I'm hesitant to run it by him.

I did the math, and if I could reduce my car payments to my father by 60%, this would give me enough money every month to start putting my share of the capital into the venture with my friend. However, since my father is not charging me any interest at all, I'm not sure how well he would receive my proposal to extend the payment stream back to him, as I would be benefiting not only with cash flow but with interest-free use of his capital beyond the terms of our original agreement. Should I say anything to my father at all, or just keep thinking about other possible ideas to fund my venture opportunity? — Seeking to Start This New Business, via email

SEEKING TO START THIS NEW BUSINESS: My advice to you is that you immediately go to your father directly. Explain your situation openly, and tell him that you fully understand that you made an agreement with him and that if he prefers for you to stick to that original agreement, you will do that 100%, as it was more than fair at the time he offered it to you.

Also tell your father that before he provides you an answer to your request either way, you'd like to tell him about the venture you're considering. Explain to him what you plan to do and why, who you're doing it with, what money you'll need and how you'll be spending it. Ask him to act as a sounding board as to the feasibility of what you'll be trying to do, whether or not he makes any adjustment to your existing agreement.

The fact that your father has excellent financial acumen makes this a two-pronged situation, where you can simultaneously in one conversation have him spot-check your business idea and also revisit your existing financial agreement regarding the vehicle you purchased from your family.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: George Bakos at Unsplash