Good points!
My own experience is that it is really hard to understand and appreciate a career choice until you are actually into it and doing it.

I fully support intern programs while in school. But I think actually working in the field (even as an unpaid assistant type) is the best way to learn and understand what that choice REALLY is and how well it fits with a person's abilities and preferences...

I would encourage the OP to seek out volunteer, intern and other work related experience in his chosen field. It has a number of benefits:
1) clarifies what the choice really means and how it fits the person's goals and objectives.
2) Opens up new doors and windows of opportunity
3) Makes the academic education a LOT easier because you can relate to what is being taught.