Members Bitterguy Posted January 22, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 My dad could, my grandpa could, my other grandpa could, my uncle could, and my cousin is going to can you take and give orders ? SO......... It depends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Furtive Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 I knew when I was in my early 20s: own a little cafe and build amps on the side. I plan to retire early and do exactly that by age 45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 As others have said, it really is good that you're thinking about it now. It will have to be a mix of about 4 things. 1) Your desired life-style/living standard2) Your interests3) Your capabilities4) Your opportunities Just do your best to try to maximize all four. I wasn't that good at it. I make a pretty good living, but it's not one I'm passionate about or even enjoy. I like the title and pay check but that's about it. Life can be about compromises, but you don't have to choose that. Just set your sights, put on some of those horse blinders, and try to stay on track once you've identified your top choice. Try not to let the naysayers get to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 Education first. While your doing that throw toghter a few like minded people and have some fun with it.If you do make it as a musican you will most likely go through many bands and a lot of geners before you hit pay dirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Busk Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 I recommend going to the best four-year college you can get into. Take loans. Take hard classes, and work your ass off. If you need to find some place cheaper, go to the best state school you can get into. Living in CA, VA, NC or MI is where I'd move for state schools, but most states have at least one excellent state university. At your age, you'll only have an idea of about 10% of what people even do out there. I recommend being inspired by a bunch of really smart students and profs for 4 years. It's not the only way to be inspired, but it worked for me. This is a very personal opinion, but if I could get into Harvard, I'd go, even if I graduated $100K in debt after whatever aid I got (probably would be even more than that now). I am a diplomat for the State Department which I enjoy doing everyday, and is in line with a lot of my interests. Still rather be a rock star however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kanamvar32 Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 Best advice I can give is to kick ass in school (like top 1-2% of class in both high school and college) so at least while you're figure out what really interests you career-wise you will have the flexibility and marketability to do nearly anything you desire. It took me a while to figure out what career path to pursue, but having a strong GPA made it easier for me to get interviews at a variety of places. People tend to give you a shot if you can signal that you constantly work hard and are intelligent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members claffman Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 Sometimes a job or career will find you. Be the BEST at whatever you do. Give it 100%. Be nice and polite. Never quit on bad terms EVER.. Listen BEFORE you talk. See that last statement. I'm glad you are thinking ahead. But at your age.. Lots will happen, you will learn lots of stuff. You will change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor49 Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 When I was 14 or 15, I wanted to be a GM apprentice because I saw some cool design classes they did and concept cars they built. My parents must have been floored as they had high hopes of a professional career like my dad but they never said a word.When my o levels came in better than expected at 16, I elected science a levels.Still no real idea what I wanted until I picked up a book on acoustics at 17 .As I was playing guitar 24-7 that seemed to spike my interest.So I checked out universities that did it and found one with a postgrad course.Found out what grades I would need to get in at undergrad and do engineering for three years then the post-grad I really wanted.Worked for and got the grades, did the BSc, started the MSc and got asked to convert to PhD.Got that and went to work in a consultancy in offshore noise and vibration..plus some OSHA stuff.Travelled the world.Changed to major project management after about fifteen years, ran urban transit construction projects in Asia until retiring in 2007.Now I am going back to do more of the same! lessons/advice?? Get as much education in as many things as possible.Don't be fooled by the "self-esteem beats ability and qualifications" stuff - it doesn't in the real world. I have seen too many people coming along these days who believed they were the best and talked a great fight. But they could not actually do anything.Do things that fire you up.Be patient and work towards your goals.Don't panic if circumstances make you change direction.Think about your choices carefully. When I was 18 and just got my grades for uni, I was asked to go on tour in Europe. I chose to go to uni instead. And played my way thru there instead. Above all, do what ever you do to the best of your ability. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tom LP Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 I'm 52, and while my carreer path has been very good to me in a number of ways, what I would really like to do now is retire. Whatever you decide to do, start saving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterzachariah Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 I'm 21. Started out majoring in Philosophy (which I still love, but it honestly doesn't do much at all for your career prospects) and I'm now studying Neuroscience, soon to be applying to Ph.D. programs. I absolutely agree with many here that you ought not to worry about a career quite yet. Just figure out what makes you tick (which will be different in five years, I can just about promise you). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Spike Li Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 Wow, i have to say Im quite surprised at the majority of responses here. Like I mentioned before, ive pretty much had an idea of what career i wanted to follow all my life and have really stuck to it (but then again ive come to realise that im a weirdo). Im still working towards my ultimate goal career wise but im a lot further ahead than i had even planned at the moment. However, its taken me a long time to realise that theres much more to life than a career/work so thats another thing to keep in mind. As for advice, id have to agree with the "do what you love and the money will come" idea as its whats worked for me so far. Also, give everything you do 100% - especially school because its such a big stepping stone in life. I know waaaay too many people who are stuck in dead end jobs, yet they go on about how they "couldve done so much better in school if they actually studied"... By slacking off, the only person who suffers is you in the end... nothing is easy, but the good news is that hard work always pays off. So i say follow your dreams, but always have a backup plan too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theficklefinger Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 I'm fifteen and i feel as if i should be getting a grip on what I want to do for a career, but I have alot of options on my mind. I could try and get a scholarship for music and go to a good college and start a band or teach at a school. I could not deal with college and start a band. The problem with those are from what I've heard it's very hard to get into/ become famous in a band.Since i don't like putting all my eggs in one basket I'm going to a vocational tech school that will switch my elective periods for computer tech classes.And now to the actual question, what do you do for a living and when did you find out you wanted to do that? I have done a variety of things...some to a professional career level, many to an advanced competitive hobby level. Many will say 'do what you love the money with follow'...with that advice that if you do what you love, you'll be good at it, and you will never 'work' a day of your life. At 15 I didn't know who i wanted to be, but I had some ideas on where I wanted to go. My advice...read books, become aware of the world, see whats out there, and I would say not to settle...if being in a band is the only thing that makes sense to you...do it...but don't do it, if your not really sure, not really talented...go with what really makes sense... Short of that...find where you want to live....go there....you'll feel better there and your choices might be more clear. Good Luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Strat87 Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 I fell into my job. My high school actually offered an EMT course, and since I didn't have the luxury of going to college while I figured things out, I started working right out of school. I'm a paramedic now making more than my recently graduated friends, and without the student loans. Should I decide to go back to school to perhaps further myself in healthcare Ive already got a pretty good head start too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ashasha Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 Thanks for all the help and advice keep it coming. i reallt like all of the insightful advice and stories, i forgot how good the HC community was because i honestly forgot about it up until recently.Something else that has always been a major decision for me. If I don't manage to get a scholarship (or my dad wins the lottery) then I'm planning on signing up for the military for what i want to do. This way they pay for college and I am "ahead of the game" when it comes time to goto that college. Thoughts? Opinions? The military is fine. I'd never recommend it as a fall back/last resort and I'd never recommend it if the only reason is to get an education. You don't just go to boot camp and then start going to school; there's an expectation of service and while some people ignore that understanding and just show up to work, I'd never be able to do that. Education is a benefit provided, it should not be a sole reason to serve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willyguitar Posted January 22, 2011 Members Share Posted January 22, 2011 Although I would be happy for my children to do whatever they want in life, within reason, and support them in it, I would have one exception and that would be anything to do with the military. I would go out of my way to try to dissuade them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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