Thanks for all the replies so far. I was doing some thinking about what I like to do while I was at work tonight and just about the only thing I could think of that I enjoy doing and usually never get sick of it is metal working. I've taken several shop classes in school and I absolutely love working with metal. So maybe I'll look into that, and see if there's any possible career choices. Thanks again.

 

If you like metal working now, chances are you'll like it later. Since there's always stuff to in metalworking, you shouldn't be bored. My buddy's dad is a metal-worker, and he seems to love his job. The only thing he wished he had more of was hearing.

I'm looking to be a civil engineer, but I don't know if I really want to. If it were up to me and I could afford it, I'd start a landscaping company. The only problem is, I'll get worn out faster than the average person because of all the hard labor. Don't get me wrong, I love physical hard labor, but not for every day of my life.

 

Yea dont worry boss, I've been out of high school for 3 months, and I dont know what I want to do. All my buddies, well, most of my buddies, have left for college. I'm considering goin to this carreer center, and takeing a welding program, since welding is fun to me and kinda easy. Plus they make good money. The classes are only 2 nights a week (4 hour classes), so I have plenty of time to work and buy a car, prolly a mustang (truck's falling apart and looks like crap). Plus this school I'm going to helps me find a job when I'm done. Or there is a 2 year program were I learn hands on the first year, and the second year I work for some company, get paid, and it counts for the 2nd year of school. sounds nice to me! Plus I'd be in a union i'm pretty sure

 

Boss, take this for what it worth. I was just like you when I was in school. I was into working with my hands, tinkering with things and generally getting dirty. I had no desire to go to college, sit in anymore classrooms, and listen to anymore lectures. It applies to me now as much as it did then and that was 12 years ago.

For me the military was the right choice. If you want to work metal, check out the Navy. Lots of places for welders and metal workers. Plus get some education out of it and maybe a few certifications that look good for you.

Since I've been in the Army, I've completed my degree, met some great people, and figured out that sometimes it's better to enjoy what you do and feel like you've accomplished something more than just earn a huge paycheck and be doing something you don't enjoy. Not to say I'm not doing just fine for myself, I'll just never be a rich man.

Even if you decided it's not for you, you'd at least have a whole bunch of college money that can be used at a tech, trade, or other school and help pay the bills so you don't have to work full time and try to make the grades.

Good luck in your decison. Sometimes we never really figure out what we want to do until later in life. Just make sure you do what you enjoy doing.

 

Amen! You have to think about outsourcing nowadays. If I had it to do over again, I would definitley reconsider some of my steps. I joined the Navy, which turned out to be the best decision I could have made. However, if I had it to do over again, I would have chosen either the medical field or law enforcement because they will always be neccesary and cannot be outsourced. If you decide to go to the military, get the G.I. Bill. It has been the biggest benefit for my four years.

I would have loved the FBI, DEA, or some other law enforcement agency, but I ended up in the semi-conductor manufacturing industry, which has been good to me. The bad thing is that my factory could close and my job could be shipped overseas with very little notice.

Don't be discouraged. Bodywork can atleast get you by until you figure out what you want to do. Nowadays, it isn't uncommon for people to change careers 4-5 times during their lives.

 

Simply put: Give yourself some options. Keep body work as a hobby, so if something happens, you can always go back to that to make some money...just don't get rusty. Go to college, community or university, and get your degree. I went through 3 different changes of what I wanted to be out of high school (lawyer, mechanical engineer, sales/finance). If you go through with school, you'll get a taste of everything to see what you do and don't want to spend your time doing in the future.

 

Do some checking around...like the visit the best nearby comm. college and visit with the job counselors there. Idea is to broaden your possible career choices by learning more about careers/jobs that are in areas where you have an interest. After you make a short list, find some folks locally/regionally that are in that career and work out a deal to either work for them or just hang and learn whenever you can. They can never take that degree away from you, if you want to go that route...I did, but then again I know lots of unemployed PhD's. Trick is to be flexible and develop paying skills/talents in several areas so you can make a go of it wherever you wind up. Next trick is love what you do...if so, you'll never consider it work really and you'll get paid for it too.

 

Wow, lot of great info on this one. I just want to add one note to the idea that a person needs to love what they do for a living. I am 53 , and started out in life loving my chosen vocation. Everyday when I got to work, I put every ounce myself in to my job. I will not say I regret that part of my working past, the tireless effort has moved me up to jobs that pay better , and also carry a lot of responsibilty. But the tireless effort part is about gone for my body . That is why I put in my first post here, that one needs to have a least some passion for their job , I dont think they necessarily need to love it. ..


That said, if I had it to do over again, I would steer myself toward making more money with jobs rather than loving them. Money makes a better bed companion than going home bone tired, with little money. Because when a person starts shoving 45 years of age, they will find they arent crawling out of bed every morning with the same enthusiam and energy they had when they were 28 years old. They are getting out of bed thinking, "damn, I wish I had made more money, invested it well, and I could quit doing this daily grind of going to work , because I have to .

 

Well, I was in the same boat as you two years ago. I was going into my senior year and planned on going to Wyotech in Laramie, WY. I had already taken one year, and was going into my second year of vocational classes for body work in high school. I decided against it, body work just isn't what I wanted to do, so I moved to Wyoming anyway, and started working on a ranch. Whatever you choose, I'm sure it will work out. If you attend Wyotech, you will love Wyoming, even though you will be in Eastern Wyoming .

 

Boss50...

I went to community college for a year after high school...hoping, during that time, I'd decide on what I'd want to do with my life. After that year of CC, I joined the Air Force...ended up as a missile (Minuteman) mechanic, got married, had two children and still didn't know what I wanted to be/do with my life.

So I decided to stay in the Air Force until something better came along...nothing ever did, so I retired after 20 years. BUT...before I retired, I went back to college, with the AF picking up most of the cost, and got within a year of completing my degree (BS in computer/information science). With my security clearance, it was easy to get a (good paying) job in the Baltimore/Washington area, where I'd been working a special-duty assignment since 94. I actually started to work for TRW while on terminal leave from the Air Force in 2000. I finished up my degree 10 months after retiring and have been a "hired geek" since then

Guess what! I still don't know what I want to be....

So the point of all this is...even though you might be unsure of what you want to do with the rest of your life - there are plenty of choices to keep you busy while you're still deciding.

For me...the Air Force way of life was perfect while trying to decide on a career - it paid well enough to provide for my wife and children, has EXCELLENT benefits and provides (if you opt to participate) OUTSTANDING educational assistance.

For a young man/woman straight out of high school, it's a GREAT opportunity - they provide a decent paycheck, food, clothing, roof over your head, medical/dental care and educational opportunities...where else are you going to find all that?

I've tried to convince my son to join...but he insists on being a "struggling musician"...

Best Wishes for a bright/challenging/happy future!
Scott

 

Go to college!