anyone shot down by a guidance counselor?

[Spike Li]

I think being successful in whatever you choose to do depends more upon how determined and flexible you are than what degree you earn. Sure, plenty of people who wanted to become "stars" are working at Walmart. But I'd imagine that if those same people said: "I wanna be a CPA" a good number of them would still end up working at Walmart. Because those people don't have the drive coupled with good sense to make a successful go at anything.

And if your dream is to be a recording engineer, make damn sure that being a recording engineer is your FIRST choice for what you want to do with your life, because you'll be competing against a hell of a lot of people for whom it is. If you're just "settling" for a studio support role because a career as a guitarist doesn't seem very realistic to you, you probably won't succeed at that either.

I think this are some of the best advice here.
Simply going to college and getting a degree isnt enough to be successful. My experience was that you get as much out of it as you put in. Some people I graduated with complained about the course we did, that it didnt teach us much, etc, and then went on to study elsewhere or get a non skilled job. Me on the other hand am doing pretty well in my chosen field (multimedia design/ 3d animation), because I work hard and really give it my all.

The counselor may have intentionally been harsh to get you to really think about your decision- to see if you believed in it so mush as to ignore or her, or to question whether she was right or not.

But by the sounds of it, the OP is very level headed, best of luck

[Misha]

You know what they say: if you don't know what to do with your life, become a guidance conselor!!

[nuke_diver]

But by the sounds of it, the OP is very level headed, best of luck

 

 

Yeah it does, like I said so long as you pursue your goal with your eyes wide open and not full of delusions of grandeur you have a good chance at making it in something you love. And that is worth something. There are a lot of folks around here (I am an engineering manager) who work and make a lot of money but really don't love their jobs (and yes I'm one). But I also know from friends of mine that are in the music business (specifically a producer/sound engineer) that even though he has a job in a field he loves working on things he loves it still is work and not always a fun thing.

[FourT6and2]

Never really spoke to a guidance counselor. High School's counselor was just for college and that worked out pretty good. College career services department was useless, though. You have to decide for yourself what you want to do with your life.

As far as college goes, I'm glad I went. My degree is useless in my chosen career path, though. I should have studied English more and taken a bunch of design/art classes. But, then again, I didn't know I wanted to be an Advertising Creative back in college.

In this industry, degrees don't mean a thang. It's your portfolio.

But, not every industry is like that. Sometimes a degree is what lands you a job. But that standard is in decline.

[uab9253]

To add to what others may have already said, it is never a bad idea to have a backup plan, even if you want to be an accountant. You never know what life will bring you. That way if you decide that music sucks as a job, you will have options.
Me - it was my father and not GC's that squashed my music dream. But even later when I dabbled in gigging on the side, I found that doing music for money ruined it for me. Just like we all think being a porn star would be awesome - it could just be a quick way to get sick of doing something you used to love.

I love music a lot more as a hobby. I remember reading that Tom Scholz felt the same way and that's why he started an electronics company and only did a Boston album every 10 years or so.

[Virgman]

The college career counselor at my college was a drunk.

 

He was in the bag when I went to see him.

 

It's a good idea to double major.

 

Music plus something practical.

 

Frankly, anyone who is a guidance counselor at a high school or college is not really someone you should be taking advice from. They are not the definition of success.

 

Now if you wanted to be a teacher you might consult a very good teacher. A banker? Talk to a rich banker. Etc.

 

Find a very successful practicing professional to mentor you in whatever it is you want to do.

[Angry Tele]

you've been out of highschool 2 years, how do you know she was wrong?

[Floritar]

Well in general people expect kids to have dreams, but then when they are closer to trying to realize them(high school graduation), people do not take them seriously if they are too far fetched, like a astronaut, congressmen rockstar,movie producer, I mean like what are the odds, is the obvious comment, go for something more attainable. Well usually for the majority it is very good advice, I learned the hard way. But it does work out for a few very talented lucky ones. A kid in my school always dreamed of being a TV producer, majored in tv, communicatons and now is sitting as the president of Paramount. We all thought his major was ridiculous, with every other ambitious person trying for med school, law etc.. So for some it works out great , but really the majority of the school that wanted anything in the arts, well would of been better off listening to those guidance counselors.

[Virgman]

If you have a passion for something, go for it.

 

But have a backup plan too.

[Willyguitar]

Interestingly, the man starts a thread bemoaning the inadequacies of career guidance. And what does he get?

A thread full of career guidance!

{censored} the guidance. Just follow your heart and aim high.

[snowaie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxTgGR6_1ps

[YOUTUBE]PNdKlR-T0C4[/YOUTUBE]

[DavidMgT]

no, but I was once shot down by a homeless guy in Baltimore. He said I wasn't worth {censored}. Soon after I had beer and crab.

[seifukusha]

i was always told to get a job and keep music as my hobby. As a result, I had alot of money for that hobby, and a bit of return now.

 

Unless you have a exact vision of what u want to be, or alot of great luck and support, id say keep it as a hobby

[strtdv]

Now if you wanted to be a teacher you might consult a very good teacher. A banker? Talk to a rich banker. Etc. Find a very successful practicing professional to mentor you in whatever it is you want to do.

 

 

 

This is good advice.

[seifukusha]

This is good advice.

 

 

that is true, im nothing but what i learned from my mentors and ive had a few great ones.

[maxnew40]

I remember seeing my high school guidance counselor at a concert and he was pretty stoned. We always figured that he was a pothead. I don't remember actually talking to him ever, except to say hi at the concert.

Max

[DL2]

Mark Twain used to say "I never let my schooling interfere with my education".

Some of the wisest words ever spoken.

Many people feel the only way they can learn is to go to college. Realistically though, a college diploma is nothing more than a letter of recommendation from someone who knows the subject. You could easily learn everything you can in college through books. However, if you go to a job interview saying "I know the stuff cause I read some books", they'll laugh you out the door.

So the best thing you can do to get a good job (if such things exist) is to educate yourself above and beyond what your college classes taught. Nothing will please an employer more than someone talking about college as if it was just a footnote in their education, and I guarantee there is more to learn about a subject then what one person can explain to you in front of a class of 300.

[Warfish]

the one in the park right behind campus? that pond always seemed pretty nasty. Iv known some kids who swam across because of a bet.

 

 

Thats the one, and yep, it often looks scummy and polluted (sadly).

 

Still, it's nice to take a wee lassie on a walk round the pond, feed the ducks, enjoy the day (especially a day like today) and maybe catch a fish or two.

 

Just be sure to toss um' back.