College soon...

So I am eighteen, and I will be graduating high school this year, and I honestly have no idea what I want to do after high school. I am not one of those kids who just plans to live off his parents and find a job and do nothing. I worked for my grades and I just am not as smart as others. I don't have the grades to get into a nice university like WSU or CWU (WA), nor the foreign language requirements.... failed.

I am currently a volunteer firefighter and have been for almost four years. I have not gone through the academy yet, but I do respond to all calls and do everything everyone else does, (besides working with patients as an EMT). I could persue this as my career and try to find a job with this, but I am not sure if I wanna to do that forever.

Sorry to dump this on TW for people who could probably give two shits. But I am honestly just looking for suggestions at this point.

Right now I am thinking Community College, Trade School, or military.

So basically, if anyone wants to throw up suggestions of jobs you are involved with, or have done in the past, and how you liked it?

I am a very horrible decision maker, otherwise I would have something by now.

Thanks guys for any input you may throw in, it really helps.

 

man i was in ur same position.... u gotta just go with what ur interests are. go to school for something your passionate about not something u think will make alot of money.... money will come eventually. the way i look at it........IF U DONT LIKE IT NOW U DEF. WONT LIKE IT WHEN ITS A JOB.... plus dont have it in ur mind that once u pick a career, ur stuck there. not true. i plan on going back to school and broaden my horizons.... my bad about spelling i know ill get shit lol

 

Do Community College and the Reserves.

 

I am in the middle of my third year at WVU and its a good life experience but I am like you and have to work harder than most others to get my shit straight.... but you sound like you really dont want to do the whole school thing. I think this may be the best option for a stable future but you have to pick something that you can find a job with. Dont go and do some sports management and pay money to go to school and get out and not be able to find a job...

Looking back I prob would've done the military thing. I could potentially hate it but the whole not college thing looks pretty good.

I had a few buddies go to a trade school into a welding thing and dont think any of them have held a stable job with welding. I may be completely off base but i feel as though if you do a trade school thing you would be set up to be on stretches of unemployment from time to time so i dont think i would do that....

My pick is a college or military/air force.

 

Thanks for the input guys!

 

Best way to start off is by going to a Community College. I was in the same shoes you are in (well kinda still am). I've changed my majors two times so far but think I found something finally that I'm gonna stick with (Business). Still got two or three years left of school.

 

i'd say start out at college, cant go wrong starting there.

i have not changed my major once, love it.
(business)

 

You'll never regret having a college degree. Ever.

Though if you know that higher education isn't for you, DONT waste your time or money. College expenses rack up quick, but are worth it in the end. The last thing you want to do is get loans for school and take classes that you don't like and end up leaving with with debt and no degree.

 

I have been in FBLA at school for four years, and competed at state the last three so far. ( Future Business Leaders of America)

Idk if you guys have heard of it, but I have been thinking about going in for business, then for drafting. I would like to get into my dads business and one day take over for him, but I dont want to be one of those kids who relies on his parents to get by in life. He owns a welding and fabricationg business in Redmond, WA. He specializes in building bridges and parts for ferry terminals and other structural jobs.

 

Yeah I was in FBLA too (sports management). But taking over the family business is not relying on them to get by in life. If I had a son and owned my own business I would actually expect him to take it over one day. But to each is their own.

 

Well there's your answer then! Taking over your parents business isn't "mooching" off of them; it would be a continuation of your father's interests/ideals.

 

Well there's your answer then! Taking over your parents business isn't "mooching" off of them; it would be a continuation of your father's interests/ideals.

 

Honestly bud, you sound just like me. I am just finishing my first semester in college next week. I was a vol fire and vol ems all through high school. You are best off going to college and figuring it out there. I am not good in school either but many schools with accept you. if anything, save money and go to community college. I am waiting for the FDNY and NYPD test to come up so i can take them. alot of schools have ems and the local fd. I am joining both here. so honestly go away to college, bec its the best choice. I am also looking into joining the national guard but id wait till i graduate college bec you always need a degree afterwards.

 

Im in your same position man. I've been thinking about joining the Marines tradition in my household, but i've decided this: ive always wanted to be a firefighter. I filled out local scholarship forms for the closest university (Florida Atlantic University). And if i dont make it..so what? i'll go for a community or state college. Im hoping everything will fall into place because... im slackin off my senior year

 

Do you know what you want to major in? You can go in undeclared, take a couple of classes to broaden your horizons, and pick a major that interests you.

Trade jobs can pay just as good or even more so than jobs with a college degree. You'll get into the work force quicker and be earning cash faster. Electricians, plumbers, mechanics, specialty fields are in demand.

 

Not only would it be really cool to continue the family business that he and his brother started, but.... i would make bank, which I don't have a problem with. I worked there almost everyday all summer, and everyday during school breaks, busting my ass trying to make enough money to buy little things for my truck and have the money to get around.

The coolest thing would be to run that company one day.

 

Sounds like you've already made up your mind
talk to your folks, see what you need to be successful and go for it!

My dads pushed me to take over his private practice for years...but im not smart enough. Haaaaaaaaaa

 

hahaha yeah I could never get into anything like that, brains are waaay below standard lol

 

go the college. through your GE requirements you may find something that interests you and you may want to pursue. if your not sure about the military, considering getting a degree first so you can become an officer going in. not a lot of people get to live the college life.

 

OP, sounds like you could use an intent to become more involved in the family business to craft your next moves... i.e. maybe start w/ community college, and get a degree that compliments the tradecraft of your dad's company... keeping a family business in the hands of the family seems cool to me, ...but you need to demonstrate you have met certain credentials, and earn your way into it