A recent study from MIT finds that contrary to popular belief, many high school students actually are interested in studying for careers in technology and other related fields.

According to the Journal of New England Technology, the survey found that 85 percent of teenagers surveyed were interested in science, engineering and mathematics – all of which are fields where critical shortages are expected nationwide in the coming years.

A large majority (80 percent) of the students also said they had been well prepared by their schools to follow such career paths, with more than half of the students motivated by a desire to improve society or help the environment as opposed to just earning more money.

One point raised in the survey was 31 percent of the students saying they did not know anyone working in science or technology, which could make them less likely to do so themselves, while 28 percent said they were unsure what workers in these fields actually do. With that in mind, mentors are seen as extremely important for attracting more students to these fields.

Students who do choose to pursue technology, science or engineering careers will find their services much in demand across a broad spectrum of fields, from agriculture to energy to computers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects double-digit growth in demand for most engineering positions alone in the coming years, particularly in aerospace engineering, which is expected to see a jump of 49 percent.