Expert: John J. Shea - 11/19/2010

Question
Hello and thank you for taking time to take interest in my question, I was wondering what it is like being an archeologist and also experiencing different cultures. I am a junior in high school and wish to pursue an education in ancient archeology, specifically Mesoamerican cultures and civilizations such as Maya's, Aztec's ect. I would like to get an archeologist's perception in the career and education.
Thank you.
Christopher

Answer
Christopher,
I'll answer briefly, for I have to limit time spent on this forum in order to do my own work.  Know, though, that there are a lot of books out there on careers in anthropology and archaeology, as well as many memoirs by archaeologists.
Archaeology is a lot of fun, but it is also a lot of hard work. As an archaeologist who is a college professor I only spend about a month or so in the field each year.  Much of the rest of the time is taken up by analysis of my findings, writing (research reports, papers and books for publication, grants), teaching classes, reading the literature.
On the other hand, archaeology allows you to work outdoors and indoors, with your hands as well as with your head, so it's a nice balance.
Traveling to encounter other cultures is a lot of fun, especially when you are young.  It gets a bit more difficult when you get older and when you have a family.
As far as education goes, you have to decide to do your best always, literally from your first year in college onwards.  To get financial aid for graduate school, you need very good grades and letters of support from your faculty.  The field is very competitive.  There are not a lot of jobs, and those go to people who have done the hard work and become the best qualfied.
At the undergrad level, it is important that you go to an archaeological field school so that you can see firsthand what field archaeology is like.  No small number of students discover that fieldwork and/or archaeology is not for them.  Best discover this earlier, rather than later.  Also, if you want to work in Mesoamerica, learn Spanish early on and practice it.  
For high school, be sure you take science classes.  Archaeology increasingly draws from methods and techniques that require an understanding of biology, chemistry, geology and physics.  Most of the art history, history, and social sciences stuff you can pick up in college.
Best wishes for success in your studies.  I'll be nearing retirement age when you get your Ph.D., but if our paths cross between now and then in the field or at the archaeology meetings, introduce yourself.
Cheers,
John Shea