I graduate from Secondary School, Friday evening, and I am planning on waiting till next Spring for classes. I want to be an Automotive/Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineer. But that's a long shot.

 

I taught Social Studies to Senior High students and was the head varsity soccer coach, each for 33 years. I retired last June. Am too young to really retire so I mow lawns and do some light landscape work for extra money and to pay for truck stuff. Right now I have 7 lawns I mow weekly, 2 family cemetery plots I mow bi-weekly, and I get paid for mowing our 12 acres of grass at our soccer club with a diesel Kubota zero turn mower with 72" deck. I also trim bushes and haul mulch for people. My 70 F350 flatbed dump makes all this easier and more fun!

 

After high school in 2004 and went into the Air Force, was special operations security force. Got med discharge, and worked in various factory's until 2008 when I went to school for Computer Integrated Machining. Got my 2 year degree, now I'm a senior setup machinist at the age of 28.

 

I am Da Man. da heet, da Fuzz and numerous other nom de guerres 6th Generation Law Enforcement. Pops always told me that PIG meant Pride Integrity & Guts.

But, its just one of many. I used to build houses, fight fire (Wildland), Run heavy equipment (Track hoe / Dozer), & play cowboy. Whatever it took to make the buck. FoMoCo Trucks with but one exception and that was a hand me down.

 

Im a machinist. I setup CNC lathes.

 

I am a welder. Currently I am making stainless exhaust systems for boats, but I have done pretty much everything from wrought iron handrails to nuclear subs. I started out in automotive and liked it right up to the point of dealing with people. I was working at an exhaust shop and found I liked welding much more than wrenching, so went that route. All my training has been either company welding school or on the job, and after 11 years, I'm pretty damned good.
Before you blow off going to school for an engineering degree, ask yourself one question- When you're in your mid-30s, and your back and knees are going from too much physical labor, how are you going to support your family and get the degree at the same time?
I took the easy road doing automotive in high school, I stayed at the top of my class through high school and college, but only use it as a hobby thing now. I should have been over in the machine shop, then on to a mechanical engineering degree instead.

 

Ford Six, what all do you remember learning in high school, as in how far did you get before graduating? 'Cause I'm taking automotive at my school and next year it looks like I'll join some program at the community college, but I have no idea how much I'm learning/not learning.
And see, that's what I'm saying, I don't really want to go into engineering, I know it wont keep me as happy as just working in a small auto shop in town. I do have an invention idea or two for a car, but I'm not planning on becoming an engineer. It'd help me, but it's not my ultimate goal.

 

I'm 74 and retired after 35 years with a large computer company. I worked in service stations (pumping gas AND doing repairs) and auto parts stores as a kid but those jobs wouldn't support a family.

Its interesting to me that no one says they're looking for job that will support a family. When I was young that would have been mentioned by most guys. Not judging anyone, just noticing the difference in 2-3 generations.

If you say something would help you but you don't see yourself working that hard, you're short on motivation. Having a goal that involves not just yourself is one way to have the motivation to do what you need to do. Find some goal that motivates you to do the hard prep.

You'll enjoy your car hobby more if you make your living NOT working on cars.

My 2 cents.

 

I see your point, and I've been having similar thoughts...difficult decisions, these.

 

HAVC/Refrigeration technician Currently working for the county I live in

 

Quotes like this is what keeps me from being serious. Why would you want others to tell you what they do for a living when you can't even stay with subjects at school? No one is going to hand you anything. I thought when I got out of college I was done with school, wrong. In order to stay on top of my game I have to take classes to keep me up on the latest technology in my field.
You still have a lot of growing up to do. From what I read into your posts, you think you'll be happy just getting by while you turn a wrench here and there. Go to school and learn. Very few inventions are lucrative.
Let's just say you get a job at the shop you want to work at, a year later some kid same age as you gets hired on except he gets paid more plus he's being sent to school to learn more, because he's hungry and motivated. Before long your answering to him while your pushing a broom, because you lack motivation. What I am saying to you is get as much learning as you can. If your undecided get more learning. Because what I see you'll be cleaning a shop before you'll be working in one.

 

What? Okay allow me to back up & reassure here. I'm not trying to figure out if I should not go to college or go to college, I'm going regardless. I'm going to learn as much as I can about the automotive industry, I'm never going to stop. I didn't mean that I'd graduate high school and try to live on a crappy job forever. I started this thread to see what other people have done so as to broaden my horizons on my idea of a life career.
All I mean by the engineering thing is that I could either go to school for engineering (learning math past calculus, which I'm at right now) or go to school for learning every type of repair & modification I can. If I took the latter route, I'd probably end up getting into the computers in cars today (which I don't like, but it's good business). I think I might end up doing welding in my own time.
But yeah, I'm not trying to get out of doing work. I'm just deciding which work I should do. I love learning.

 

I'm sorry, reading over this I realize how unfortunately vague I was. By this question, I meant how far in terms of automotive. How much about cars did you learn in High School alone.

 

Im moving into my senior year oh high school next year. Ive worked a few jobs on and off like lawn care, land scaping and even at a family friends vintage restoration shop.

Last year i went to Warren tech for auto shop and i didnt really learn much. All i really learned (besides ehat i already knew) was how to plug a car to a computer to see whats wrong with it. In this age thats about all there is to new cars. If the engine needs rebuilt they trash it and replace it. So unless your fine with that i would stay somewhat out of automotive. Like mav said it would be good to keep it as a hobby. But your choice buddy.

With the jobs im working i barley have the money for insurance and gas for my 71 and i can barely keep my dirtbikes on the trails. But you work with what you have.

My brother worked as a welder for a local body shop. Built a few roll cages and bumper here and there and juat messed around for the rest of the time. He loves it and it keeps food on the table for him and his friend girl.

Also my dad has been the #1 welder,mechanic,driver at my uncles business. He loves what he does but now that he is in his late 50's all the years of hard labor (and mining) are really showing. Labor seems nice as a kid or earlier in your life but it can mess you up if you are not careful.

 

I'm a 29 year old Navy Submarine Officer. I also own and manage a property holding and management group. I am resigning this year from the Navy, and then, who knows. Hopefully something that keeps me in Charleston. I use my f100 when I work on property. Nothing like a work truck with class.