As the last year of high school closes, most people think about what they are set to study in college. Careers in industries with longevity are at the top of the list for most people, which means looking at industries like healthcare, hospitality and engineering. Engineering is one of those industries that never seems to die, and that’s because we are fortunate enough to live in a world of innovation. We are constantly moving forward in our methods, and we will always need people to work to make those changes to make life more efficient.

Many freshman students have their doubts about whether they should stick at engineering; it’s a lot of work, a lot of math and it’s not always easy to study. However, when you come out of the other side and your career is doing more than replacing oil stop valves, and instead you’re running your own engineering company that hires people to do that for you, it’s so worth it. There are a lot of reasons that you should look into engineering as a career path, and we’ve got five of these reasons for you below.

1) Prestige. When someone you know says that they are studying engineering, you’re impressed, right? Well, you’d have others feeling just as impressed that you’ve got the smarts to study such a difficult pathway. Everyone who has been to school knows how difficult it is to study engineering. Respecting an engineer comes easy, so if you want to impress people, engineering is the way to go.

2) Success. Engineers are analytical and logical thinkers. You become far more objective in your thinking and you will be able to do well no matter which engineering pathway you want to choose. Did you know that the most common undergraduate degree in the Fortune 500 list is engineering?

3) Problem Solving. When you spend your degree solving problems and learning how to solve the most intricate issues this filters into your personal life, making you a problem solver!

4) Money. Let’s be honest, one of the biggest draws for an engineer is the potential for big bucks. Whether you work in chemical, computer, nuclear or electrical engineering, it’s a role that attracts a large salary and great benefits with it. It’s a respected career, so it’s paid very well.

5) Improvement. Choosing to work as an engineer means that you are choosing to improve the world around you. Not only are you innovating every day, you are building on the innovations of others to make them a reality – essentially making the world a better place. Imagine seeing a building constructed, knowing that you were the brains behind the electrical engineering of that building? It’s a job satisfaction that you won’t find elsewhere.

Knowing that engineering is your future can help you to feel motivated to do more than you could have thought possible. Rise through the engineering ranks to become your own boss one day, and know that you are making a difference.