What am I gonna do with my life...

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EastBeast
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by EastBeast »

I had crappy grades coming out of high school. I joined the Navy and thrived on the discipline and challenge. I got solid schooling in electronics and looooots of experience working on F-14's. College level courses were available on the boat, cheap. And it's a good way to get around a bit, see some stuff. I earned a decent living as a tech, but eventually the degree will help you earn more.

You're young, you don't have to know what you want to be yet. A solid course of action will put you ahead of the game though. Electrical/electronics/mechanicals/robotics are a good choice and all somewhat related. Follow one and see where it takes you. If it helps I'm 41 and just going back to school next semester. I don't know what I want to be either.

jamesdart
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by jamesdart »

engineer.
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TUDrewser
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by TUDrewser »

Since you asked...

My grandpa always told me to find out what I loved to do and then find a way to make money doing it.
My dad always told me that I would always make the most money doing what I was trained to do. (he knew doctor friends who decided to play professional golf instead and lost their shirts)
My HS Guidence counselor told me that people will on average change careers 7 times in their life. Not jobs...CAREERS.

In college, I started as a business major with computer minor. Then I switched to Computer Science. Then I added a Communications minor. Then I switched to pre-med. Then I added a computer minor. Then I switched back to Computer Science. Finally, I graduated with a business degree and computer minor. And yes, I was out in 4 years. But every one of those degrees taught me something about myself and what I wanted to do.

So, my advice is don't feel like you're locking yourself in. Frankly, you're not going to open and run a successful auto restoration business right out of high school, no matter how much you love it. Fact is, nobody will hire you. I'm not being mean...just real. You could be the best body guy, paint guy, mechanic ever, but until you have experience (skill AND life), statistically you won't make it. Even Richard Rawlings (of Gas Monkey Garage fame) didn't start out like that. According to his bio, he was a firefighter, paramedic, and police officer out of high school, and then started his own printing and advertising company. Sold that, started Gas Monkey Garage and now owns a bar too and is worth like $15M.

I don't want to discourage you...dreaming is important. Just don't put everything into it. Let yourself fail (EDIT: Not in school...keep those grades up!). Failure is a great tool...I've owned 4 businesses, 3 of which people would probably call failures. Guess I never saw them as that. Sure, they didn't work out, but I learned a ton, made some money doing it, and took that experience on to the next one. I also never depended on them for my livelihood because I knew I was still learning. Now I have one that I consider successful, enjoy, is growing and may some day be the full time gig I want. But for now I'm soaking it in. And in the meantime I'm using my college degree to advance my skills and experience in another area, that may someday merge with my business. Maybe not. But at least I have options.
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Nikkormat
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by Nikkormat »

I don't know if I'm cut out for military service.

Engineering is definitely an option. Thats what I'm doing now I just don't know what in engineering I want to do. To many pathways to explore. Maybe electrical; I've got an older friend who has made a fortune being a journey man electrician. He's worked everywhere from Saudi Arabia in the summer to Antarctica in the winter. He got to choose when and where he worked to. Pretty sweet setup.
Gabe, "reformed" Jeep hoarder.

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Nikkormat
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by Nikkormat »

I don't know if I'm cut out for military service.

Engineering is definitely an option. Thats what I'm doing now I just don't know what in engineering I want to do. To many pathways to explore. Maybe electrical; I've got an older friend who has made a fortune being a journey man electrician and engineer. He's worked everywhere from Saudi Arabia in the summer to Antarctica in the winter. He got to choose when and where he worked to. Pretty sweet setup.
Gabe, "reformed" Jeep hoarder.

AwesomeJ10
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by AwesomeJ10 »

Nikkormat wrote:I don't know if I'm cut out for military service.
Why not?

I personally believe that EVERYONE should be REQUIRED to serve at least 2 years of military service. I believe it helps you in so many ways.

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Nikkormat
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by Nikkormat »

I'm a softie. And not very much of a runner either.
Gabe, "reformed" Jeep hoarder.
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TUDrewser
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by TUDrewser »

Nikkormat wrote:I'm a softie. And not very much of a runner either.
I hear that. I was thinking the same thing in HS. Though to be honest, not serving is one of my few regrets in life...I really respect those who have. Even looked into joining reserves a few years ago. But with my blown ankle and now shoulder, I don't think I'd be much good :(
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will e wrote:I guess life is better if you are not moving too fast.
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Gumby
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by Gumby »

Nikkormat wrote:I'm a softie. And not very much of a runner either.
They are not all hard added, trust me on this. About the running thing I always believed that every is a runner, they just need a good reason to run :). The military needs I individuals with "softie" quality to bring about some balance.

Keep on learning all that you can, find what you love, then get good at it that others will pay you to do it for them.
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Tatsadasayago
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by Tatsadasayago »

Gumby wrote:Keep on learning all that you can, find what you love, then get good at it that others will pay you to do it for them.
That is the essence of it right there.

We are the sum of our experience and knowledge. It is rare that a person finds that 'Dream Career' right out of the starting blocks.

A wise old man once said: "The point of the journey is not to arrive."

There was a Viagra advertisement running on TV awhile back that comes to mind. It showed the guy working on a commercial printing machine. He was adjusting things and appeared calm and confident. The voice over said: "...you've been around for awhile. This means you know a thing or two..."
It could be our printer machine guy has been in the trade since he was a young man. It could also mean he started out in a different field and picked up experience that was relevant but not specific to one trade. As TUDrewser mentioned, sometimes you change and that goal you are heading toward loses it's appeal. That's actually quite normal for most people and as long as a person doesn't spend 3/4 of their life doing it, (Like me) it's okay.
Some of the most capable people I've worked with had a variety of life and work experience. On the flip-side, I've worked with people who knew their job/trade to the nth detail, but it was all they knew and they were often tripped up when a solution required 'thinking outside the box'.

Jim
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AwesomeJ10
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by AwesomeJ10 »

Nikkormat wrote:I'm a softie. And not very much of a runner either.

LOL

You know that AF boot camp is kinda lame right?

Here is the real reason why you should join; VA loan. At some point you will buy a house and when you do, there is something called 'mortgage insurance' that you must pay. It's like $200 per month. Well guess what, VA loans have no mortgage insurance requirements. Heck, that alone has save me thousands. I have friends who make what most people would consider good money (above 75k) and they can't buy a house right now, partially because they don't have the ability to do a VA loan.

But if you don't think you can run a mile in less than 13 minutes (or whatever the time is, you can dang near walk it), then so be it.

And for the record, I'm 38 years old.

AwesomeJ10
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by AwesomeJ10 »

My final post on this topic prior to unsubscribing:

I have a real good buddy of mine who recently completed his master degree in engineering/computer security. I forgot the exact degree he has, but it's a Masters. He is near 100K in debt and has to pay something stupid like $500 per month for the 20 years (or more) for that degree. Well he recently moved over to the engineering side of my company with me. He is the same age as me (38) and makes a lot less $$$ than me (he is not Senior like I am). The reason he makes less than me is he has less experience. While I did my 4 years in the service and was gaining TONS of experience, he did some same 4 years (plus another 4) of getting a degree.

End result is he is mega debt and makes substantially less than me (with no debt).

That affords me to do a STUPID amount of 'wheeling/adventures/etc that he simply can't afford.

Oh and he is also paying another ~200 or so in mortgage insurance that I'm not.

/

letank
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by letank »

Tatsadasayago wrote: On the flip-side, I've worked with people who knew their job/trade to the nth detail, but it was all they knew and they were often tripped up when a solution required 'thinking outside the box'.
Jim

This is an amazing skill, to be able to resolve unsual problems, I have not-real-twin daughters, and when doing homework, I would always try to present a problem from a different angle than the one taught at school, one would give up, the other would real concentrate and think about the puzzle and succeed. Working on old jeep is about the same, at least for the guys with white hair - or the bald ones- when we started to fix those dinosaurs, there was no internet, the Haynes of the TSM which are not too explicit and have a few errors, but we managed and sometimes I feel sorry for the people asking question on the forums, 1) obviously they have not thought about the issue(s) and 2) they have not even bothered to search the forums, all to say that education depends on your family, peers, and mentors.
Why I am writing all that.!!! ...do not give up, study many things and at one point being in any environment you will find your way, enjoy life because it goes a bit too fast...

So back to our schedule program, as said previously avoid expensive colleges, most of them are in the business of making money for the board not to educate, it is sad to see people in debts for years. You can learn a foreign language and study abroad, even in France where education is fairly inexpensive, some families are saving a bundle by sending their kids to colleges in Poland, where is the saving, the trip back home on low-cost airline is cheaper that the regional train ride, and on top housing is less.... I won't mention the entertainement, you are still in HS.
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ghcoe
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by ghcoe »

If I was your age I would look seriously at the growing Permaculture movement. There are and will be a lot of opportunities in this field including engineering. It may very well be the future of how the world will be able to feed itself in the near future. To get involved now could lead to some serious opportunities. This is just a quick video of what it can do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_AvNFqZFUA

There is a start up farm in West Virginia that offers a few different opportunities to get involved. It may be worth while to go a few months and see if it could be for you.
Here is some info on one position, but there are others you could work into.

Wwopfer (Willing Worker on Permaculture Farm)

As a PermaEthos Wwopfer you will work for the Tenant farms and the steward of the farm. A wwopfer has the opportunity to observe and be involved with the development of a PermaEthos farm which is under the guidance and consult of world leading permaculture experts.

You need to be able to lift heavy items multiple times a day. We ask for four hours a day of work for an assigned tenant farmer and then you are free to do as you please.

Wwopfers are provided with room and board.

Wwopfers have a great opportunity to get a feel for the farm and advance to a element parter position and become a business partner with PermaEthos.

http://permaethos.com/positions/

I am a founding member of Elisha’s Spring and I know that they are taking applications for these positions now . I am at a age and family commitments that I can not take a opportunity like this at this time, but for a young person like you it could hold the future.

In any endeavor you may take in life I wish you luck. George.
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ghcoe
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by ghcoe »

What timing. My podcaster has just released a episode that explains things better.

http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/perma ... uld-i-care
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Nikkormat
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by Nikkormat »

Permaculture is great. I just don't think its for me. I'm swaying back towards engineering and then branching out later. Two years of Community College in between so that I can stay in my current engineering program for a third year. But I digress... I will probably always be indecisive about my future.
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Shagoneer
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by Shagoneer »

As much as I hate to say it New Mexico State is actually a good university for engineering, out of state tuition is less than a lot of other universities in state tuition, and they let freshmen have cars, I doubt they'd let you have a boat on campus, but that's basically your only restriction.
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Shagoneer
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by Shagoneer »

Blake wrote:
Nikkormat wrote:I don't know if I'm cut out for military service.
Why not?

I personally believe that EVERYONE should be REQUIRED to serve at least 2 years of military service. I believe it helps you in so many ways.
I tried to enlist in every branch and got a medical DQ from every branch, and they all had a different reason for my DQ. I still wish I been able to join, I feel I would have been good at it. A couple months ago there were a bunch of Marine Corp snipers at the range I often go to (I believe it's the only range longer than 1000 yards in NM so they have to use it) and up to 750 yards my 556 dmr was grouping better than most of their 308s, and then I was doing better at close to a mile with the 338 lapua I was renting than most of them were with theor 338s and 50s.
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Tatsadasayago
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by Tatsadasayago »

Another option for school is outside the US. There is often a substantial difference in total costs and worthwhile to investigate.

My niece was looking at Mech Engineering and would have attended the Tecnológico de Monterrey, in Monterrey Mexico, for less than a third of the cost of a degree from Oregon State.
She decided against it because she was afraid of being language-isolated.

Something to think about anyway.
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Locked and Loaded
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Re: What am I gonna do with my life...

Post by Locked and Loaded »

It's not time to make a change,
Just sit down, take it slowly.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to go through.
Find a girl, settle down,
if you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.
Drink more Water
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