Will I still be able to use an aerospace engineering degree even if I become a commercial pilot?

Hello, all, I am in a bit of a dilemma right now. I am a senior in high school who wants to become an airliner pilot, but I realized that there are multiple pathways to become an airline pilot.

Even with this, I believe that aerospace engineering is one of my goals as well. Anything in the aviation field is interesting to me. But with this being said, I just want to ask a specific question.

Let's say I graduate with my aerospace engineering degree. I use that to earn flight hours at a part 61 to get the ATP minimums of 1,500 hours. I then become a pilot for the airlines. What about my aerospace degree? I don't want to be a commercial pilot and not use my engineering degree. As many have said, a degree is useless if you don't use it. Not to mention the risk of losing my license after a medical issue, how can I then use my degree if I haven't used it in, let's say 10 years? All that time flying commercial , and when the time comes that I can't fly anymore, would that mean that I can still use that degree? I am also open to being a test pilot. Anything to fly :)

Sorry for sounding so rash and nervous. I know that a lot of people are in my boat (college apps), and I just want to make some good decisions.