aroraborealis

I'd give them the same speech John Boyd (http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jrboyd.htm) used to give, about the career fork in the road.

...Boyd would tell them that a day would come when "you're going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go." Then he would point his hand to the left or right.

"If you go that way, you can be somebody. You will have to make compromises and you will have to turn your back on your friends. But you will be a member of the club and you will get promoted and you will get good assignments.

"Or," he said, pointing in the other direction, "you can go that way and you can do something -- something for your country and for your Air Force and for yourself. If you decide you want to do something, you may not get promoted and you may not get good assignments, and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you won't have to compromise yourself."

Even Boyd was talking about the military, I think it's good advice in general.