I'm all for the world-traveling stuff... take a year off and do what you want to do. Often spending a year bumming around Europe or just working helps give a bit of focus, and it's a good break from all those years that you spent in school. But if I can give just a minor suggestion: as boring as this may sound, even if you spend a year or two in college taking a few business courses, you'd be amazed at how that helps you with a job. And having a boring 9-5 job is actually pretty sweet, because your alternative is earning minimum wage dunking fries at McDonald's which SUCKS big time! Besides, if after highschool you want to travel the world, where do you plan on getting all this money to do so? As cool as travelling is, it can get expensive. It's true, waiting an extra year or two (or four) to travel after college is over is a bit more worth it than doing it before...
I agree with the moeny issue, but once again, that isn't too much of a concern for me. First off, I could work for my entire seinor year a save up money, but when it comes down to it, I really woudlnt plan on spending much money. The bulk of it would be on groceries. the point of travelling that way would also be to experience the shortness of money, and the alternative ways one can get the money he needs. I'm just into all of that excitement, adventure, danger, fun, memories, etc.
If you can go to college.. take advantage of it.. THEN continue to have a very un-average life. That's my plan. College will give me the potential to make the money I need to make to travel.. plus, it sounds like a place to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. Because I'm lost.
I just don't know if college is the best place for me to figure out what I want to do with life- I know write now that i DON'T know what i want to do. I feel that travelling will give me time to explore myself and my feelings about the world, and that that will help me determine what I want to do. If I did this I'd work for a couple thousand dollars at the least, and then travel all year with little money. Cheers, Dylan
you've gotta be goddamn creative and really willing to go without things... i plan on trying it. i want to shut doors and burn bridges so i don't have the option of being idle in life. if i want to go to college to learn something, i'll just go. i don't want the credit. but i don't know much... so don't listen to me... unless you want to.
Two choices College track or Get a job with a great company Perhaps you can learn a TRADE in a short period of time? This could then be your PLAN B if you cannot travel for a period of time. It is tough making these HUGE life decisions! Part of me feels that a college education will afford you the ability to travel thru-out your many years. Consider the Long Term too. Definetly hang in & finish High School though. It sucks, but do it. And follow your dreams. I vote college- maybe short-term? or college abroad? Learn different foreign languages in college (great for business maybe?) & then go travel??
Yeah, I'm still unsure, AmyC. But once again, I disagree with you saying that I have two choices- college track of get a job with a great company. Very untrue indeed. All of the people on this thread who say I should go to college seem to be oblivious to the fact that I've said I want to go to college at some point. I just don't think that going right after high school will be the best for me- after a year off perhaps.
you're not the only one! everyone around me keeps going on about which uni they want to go to but i have no idea what i want to do in the slightest so i'll just hope im gonna be lucky and see what happens!
You're trying to take too big a bite! You shouldn't be asking, "What am I going to do with my life?" Try asking, "What am I going to do next?" It's doing a succession of "the next thing" that defines what you have done with your life. So, abandon the "Master Plan" concept and think of what you want to do next. College is typical, but not necessary. Depends on what you want to use college for. Half of first year students don't return the second year. Why? They lack discipline in life and that will always haunt them in whatever they will do. You’ll definitely need it if you want to become an engineer, astronaut, lawyer, doctor, CEO, etc. But to start your own business, become a WalMart Department manager or many other things, just a few appropriate college courses will do. So, if mediocrity is your cup of tea, then taking courses until you're tired of taking courses will suffice, but then you'll be back to where you started, and life doesn't have any time-outs. Taking time off to travel is not bad, if you have the money. Just got back from Europe and it is damn expensive. And bumming around ain't what it's knocked up to be. No matter what, you need money or you're sponging off someone else. Screw the talk about living on the street or anything like that. I do suggest not going to college right off the bat unless you're a person who really likes school. By the way, college is not high school. No one is going to stand over you and make you do anything. You're not a kid anymore to be babysat. That catches a lot of new students off balance. If you lack self discipline you're gonna struggle. Taking some time off before college does give you an opportunity to mature a bit before knuckling down to studying. That little bit of maturity gives you a better understanding of what college really is about and how not to waste it. There are lots of failures in the world, give yourself a fair shot at doing it right the first time. Most people don't get a second go! But don't take too long. Some professions penalize you for your age and sometimes it takes a little longer to finish a degree program than the recommended time. One Human Resource Director for Honeywell told me, "We're looking for a twenty-four year old with a sheep skin and thirty years experience". If you've got any business connections, someone who will start you out working for them, that'll work. Most people change jobs several times by the time they're thirty. Don’t be too surprised if you haven’t landed “the perfect job” by then. If you have special talents, exploit them to the max. If you're totally void of any prospects, the military has been the route for millions of people. It's the only one I know of that offers education, career and retirement opportunities for Joe Average or college types. It's one of the few professions that actually has a sort of plan that you can count on. And don't let anyone sell you on the anti-military bullshit. Talk to anyone in the military who has a job, is raising a family and has a guaranteed light at the end of a twenty year tunnel. At sixteen I'd be thinking about looking at internships that many companies and corporations have. TV stations have them and radio stations. So do many newspapers, magazines and the like. And be prepared to ask your question many times during your life. Many people in their 40s, 50s and 60s are asking the same question for the umpteenth time. Hope this doesn't depress you, but there's no real answer that anyone else can give you. Just the tools to aid in your own search. Best starting off advice I can give is to sit down with yourself and have a realistic self evaluation of just who you are, what you're willing to accept and not accept from yourself or others. Intangables count. Like Clint Eastwood said, “A man has to know his limitations”. You can have lofty dreams, that's what drives all of us, but it's the realities that call the shots. When you find yourself succeeding at things you are good at and suited for, you build confidence and usually create the next step. BE PATIENT! Hey, you made it to sixteen, you’re already on a roll. Good luck in life and always be kind to people.
