Making a difference through your career can mean improving lives, solving complex problems or serving your community in meaningful ways. Explores impactful paths in healthcare, STEM, public service and people-centered roles — plus how GCU’s degree options can help you get started.
Speak with a University Counselor today.
Approved and verified accurate by the Assistant Vice President of GCU Marketing on May 12, 2025.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
As kids and adolescents grow up, one of the most common questions they’re asked is, What do you want to be when you grow up? Some people are drawn to careers that allow them strong earning potential, or that let them travel around the world. Others prefer careers that make a difference.
Leaning toward jobs that make a difference in the world is certainly admirable. You might think those types of jobs can only be found in the nonprofit sector. In truth, all sectors and a broad variety of industries have plenty of job opportunities that allow workers to have a positive impact on the lives of their neighbors.
Perhaps you’re interested in a job working directly with people, but you’re not quite sure that the healthcare field is right for you. There are still plenty of options to choose from.
Consider the following people-focused jobs that make a difference in the world:
Social and community service occupations help people cope with and overcome life’s many challenges — from abuse and neglect to poverty and social injustice. For instance, someone who works in the social work industry may provide coping skills and rehabilitation to an individual who is struggling with substance use disorder, racial prejudice, a young mother in need of financial assistance or a hospitalized elderly patient who has suffered from abuse. Social work is a challenging, hybrid field that blends advocacy, social services and mentoring services.
A youth development coordinator, also known as a youth program coordinator, focuses on empowering and uplifting children and adolescents. They develop and implement programs designed to help enrich the lives of youths, such as helping them further their education or their personal development. Youth development coordinators play an instrumental role in helping at-risk children and teens stay out of trouble and on track toward a better life.
Homeless outreach specialists engage with unhoused individuals, often by traveling to shelters and tent cities and by walking around a high-risk area to identify people in need of services. They focus on building trust and relationships with unhoused individuals and connecting them to community resources that can help them get off the streets. Housing, education, employment, healthcare and substance use treatment are all critical priorities for homeless populations everywhere.
This professional is a case manager or social services provider who specializes in working with convicted offenders who have left or are preparing to leave the prison system. Reintegrating into society is exceptionally challenging for offenders, particularly if they have been incarcerated for long periods of time.
Socio-emotional reintegration aside, formerly incarcerated individuals can find it difficult to obtain housing and gainful employment, given their record. These problems may lead to recidivism. Correctional treatment specialists help rehabilitated offenders become productive members of society, connecting them to education, employment and housing resources, with the goal of reducing recidivism rates.
Special education teachers work with students who have a range of learning, cognitive, socioemotional, physical and developmental delays and disorders. They serve as mentors, advocates and teachers, adapting lessons to suit the needs of each student. With the help of a devoted special education teacher, students with exceptionalities can work toward overcoming their challenges and potentially pursue a productive life, both during their school years and after graduation.
Grand Canyon University is a Christ-centered university that embraces right doctrine and right practice in both heart and deed. We welcome and encourage our students to work toward careers that allow them to serve others in Christ.
We offer a wide range of degrees that can help prepare graduates to pursue careers they may find meaningful. Consider enrolling in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work or the Bachelor of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Pre-Veterinary Medicine — degrees that can potentially lead to careers focused on helping others and making a difference. Fill out the form on this page to get started!
Healthcare is often one of the first fields that comes to mind when people think about meaningful careers. Indeed, what could be more impactful and rewarding than helping a sick or injured person feel well again?
This is why so many people who feel compelled to serve others decide to become doctors or nurses. It’s also why some of those individuals choose to focus on underserved populations, such as the homeless or impoverished.
Yet, behind the roles of physicians and nursing professionals, there is a wide array of other healthcare jobs that make a difference.
Consider the following:
People often turn to physical therapy for help recovering from surgery, acute injuries or chronic conditions. An exercise physiologist works to improve people’s overall health, similar to a physical therapist. Those in this type of role can help make a difference in patients’ lives not only by improving their ability to function and reduce their pain but also by empowering patients to feel in control of their health.
A phlebotomist is a specialist in drawing blood. Many people are fearful of needles,1 so becoming a phlebotomist may be an opportunity to help them by easing their fears and providing emotional support. Plus, phlebotomists can potentially help save lives through medical diagnoses and facilitate the blood donation process.
After earning your undergraduate degree, you may choose to attend veterinary school and become a veterinarian.2 This line of work can be meaningful for anyone who is passionate about animals and animal welfare. Furthermore, veterinarians have the opportunity to provide pro bono services to rescue organizations that take in abused and neglected animals. This can be a rewarding career path for those who want to make a positive impact in animal rescue and rehabilitation.
These professionals serve as health advocates for their communities. They develop and implement programs designed to help their neighbors enjoy a healthier lifestyle and a reduced risk of diseases and injuries. Community health workers also help underserved populations become more health literate through educational initiatives and work to improve access to needed healthcare services.
An SLP works with pediatric and adult patients suffering from a range of delays and disorders, including those related to autism, stroke and cancer. SLPs specialize in helping their patients speak, eat, swallow and drink, as well as acquire important social communication skills. Their work not only enhances health and quality of life but also enables children to overcome academic obstacles.
So far, most of the job opportunities discussed in this career guide have been those that directly help people, such as careers that save lives. Yet, there are also plenty of jobs that make a difference in a less direct fashion. For example, students who love computer science might consider a career as a software developer, software engineer or information technology (IT) specialist. It all depends on the focus of one’s work. For example, a computer science professional can work on technology innovations that help alleviate hunger, address unemployment and even combat climate change.
Here’s a look at some examples of how people have used computer science for the benefit of society:
Professionals in this field work on genome-sequencing technology that allows medical scientists to develop personalized medicine. Through genome-sequencing technology, medical providers can accurately diagnose health problems or even discover a person’s risk level for secondary health problems.3
K-12 schools and universities can use e-learning platforms to deliver accessible education to their students. An e-learning platform can provide an engaging way for students to work through the curriculum, such as by introducing them to interactive activities, video lectures and more.
There are many STEM opportunities in the clean energy industry, including solar and wind. Wind energy engineers, for example, are responsible for designing, developing and improving these clean energy systems. They study the aerodynamic properties of materials and designs and, in general, help support the transition to clean energy to protect the environment and safeguard the grid from changing market conditions.
Some computer science professionals decide to work on projects that funnel resource donation. Consider, for example, a website that allows nonprofit organizations to fundraise.
Another example is the app HTC Power to Give, which allows Android users to donate their phone’s spare computing power to a grid focused on scientific projects, like researching Alzheimer’s disease treatments, fighting cancer and improving crop development.4
The answer to this question can look a little different for different people. It all depends on your values, what you’re passionate about and what concerns you in the world. For example, if you are concerned about climate change and value environmental stewardship, then a career as a climate scientist could be the right path for you to make a positive difference in the world. If you believe that God has called upon you to help other people in need, then perhaps you would be interested in working at a shelter for the unhoused.
Even business and management careers can potentially allow you to make a difference. For example, if you own a clothing brand, you might commit to fair labor practices and environmental sustainability.
Although there is an incredibly diverse spectrum of jobs that can make a difference, they often share some similarities. For example, these jobs generally offer meaning and personal fulfillment, and they typically focus on helping others or making the world a little bit better for other people. There are even many careers that save lives, such as certain jobs in healthcare.
Civil servants and those who work in publicly funded organizations work hard every day to keep government services functioning and deliver assistance to those in need. Many careers make a difference in this sector, from police officers to aid workers.
Police officers are tasked with protecting others in their community, as well as assisting them during adverse situations ranging from car breakdowns to severe weather events. Some police officers specialize in investigating homicides to obtain justice for the family of the decedent, while others may support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. The ability to stand with people during their most difficult moments makes this career especially meaningful.
Every individual who is charged with a crime in the U.S. has the right to legal defense, but many can’t afford it. Public defenders are appointed by the government to represent defendants who cannot hire a private attorney. Public defenders uphold their clients’ legal rights, provide legal advice, represent them in court and advocate on their behalf. This role offers a meaningful way to ensure equal access to justice within the legal system.
Wildland firefighters are assigned to a specific wildland area, such as a national or state forest. They work on crews to fight wildfires when they arise and mitigate the risk of fires by initiating prescribed burns (controlled, intentional fires).
Wildland firefighters not only protect the region they are assigned to but can also be deployed across the country to support other crews in need of assistance, such as those working on large wildfires. In short, wildlands firefighters protect life and property, as well as the environment.
Public health professionals protect entire populations of people. They study diseases and disease transmission, as well as risk factors that increase the likelihood of health problems (such as the risk of not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle). Public health professionals can help others by delivering public education, increasing access to needed healthcare resources and developing vaccines for emerging diseases. Helping prevent disease and save lives can make this a truly meaningful path for many.
