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need a few words of wisdom from the tw'ers

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by mntbiker2008, Dec 27, 2009.

  1. Dec 27, 2009 at 10:33 PM
    #1
    mntbiker2008

    mntbiker2008 [OP] First I derp.. then I herp

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    Heres a dilemma im having. been in college for 2 years and have lost interest in the major i am studying in. Ive decided to take the next quarter off to firgure things out and what i want to do in life. I was studying in forensics and when i look at the big picture... theres just no where i can go... plus, i will be in school for 4 more years just to make 25k (starting salary). not my cup o tea. I guess what i want to know is how did you guys find out what it is that you are currently employed in right now? I am the kind of person that gets bored super easily so i need a job that keeps me on my toes. But i also need something that i can at least make a living off of.

    what do you all recommend i do to get myself back on track? It sucks. I used to know what I wanted to do but seems a lot of things fell through the cracks and I either lost interest or just didnt see a future doing what i was doing.


    thanks guys every bit of information helps


    Aaron
     
  2. Dec 28, 2009 at 4:30 AM
    #2
    takern

    takern Well-Known Member

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    im sort of in the sampe dilema you are. i just completely lost interest in school at the 2 year mark. i originally was going to finish school and then try to become an officer in the Marine Corps. now what i am going to do is finish out the year then just enlist this summer. if i want to go officer later i will. you might try enlisting in the military for a few years.
     
  3. Dec 28, 2009 at 4:43 AM
    #3
    Capita

    Capita Well-Known Member

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    I went to university first for 2 years, wasnt for me. Then went to college for 2 years and got a Forestry diploma. Work only summer student jobs for a while then had no work. Went to landscaping for 2 years. Later saw a job advertisement for a Meter Reader and applied. Now work for a great company with great pay and benefits. Had no idea I would be in the utility business at all. But I love my job. Things will fall in place, just do what makes you happy.
     
  4. Dec 28, 2009 at 5:03 AM
    #4
    rb11701

    rb11701 Oh yeah!

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    You should focus on emerging technologies. Anything in the medical field will yield great results down the road. Renewable energy is another. IT secutrity is huge right now. As IMHO, the next great attack on the US will be in Cyberspace not open space. Too many people are out of work in the fields that tons of college kids are now studying. There will be jack when they get out. Go for something that is just blossoming and you should do fine. If I was your age, I would be into IT security or something to do with pharmacueticals (sp?)/medical lab work. X-ray techs start at around $40k with unlimited potenital for earnings (just an example).

    Best of luck!
     
  5. Dec 28, 2009 at 5:06 AM
    #5
    mws4ua

    mws4ua I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter.

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    Any interest in accounting? The big picture is that you can always find a job if you're a CPA. Also, if you get your Masters in Accounting and a CPA, the starting salary at public firms is around $50k these days. You're always doing something different, and when you get tired of public accounting, it's easy to transition into industry b/c everybody wants somebody with public experience.
     
  6. Dec 28, 2009 at 6:24 AM
    #6
    misterquad

    misterquad Well-Known Member

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    My dad's advice to me, "Work in the food industry, people always have to eat.

    I spent 8 years in college (self funded) to get my B.S. degree in engineering. I spent 4 years trying to figure out what I wanted to be and trying to find a major that did not require calculus. I tried numerous majors and got a flavor of everything. It made it more fun and I figured the other option was just go to work for the rest of my life waiting until retirement.

    My advice:
    1. Stay in college don't take a semester off. It is almost impossible to go back if you leave all together. Change schools if it would help. Try junior college to save money. Get the College Catalogue and pick classes that interest you not just GE or major courses. I took a class titled, "Fermented Foods", half the class was wine and beer tasting!!! With field trips to the Wine Country and a tour of Budweiser. I actually learned real information in the class too.

    2. Consider the military. You can learn a trade, earn money, go to college, etc. Not serving is my only regret in my career.

    3. Whatever you do, just set the goal to be the best person ever doing that job.
     
  7. Dec 28, 2009 at 6:44 AM
    #7
    mws4ua

    mws4ua I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter.

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    +1000

    I don't know official stats or anything, but I bet most people who plan to take just a little time off never come back. Everybody I knew who 'took some time off' either never came back, or took a LOT more time than they originally planned and got their degree years after I did.
     
  8. Dec 28, 2009 at 6:46 AM
    #8
    Slotback

    Slotback Triple Option

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    mntbiker2008: It sounds to me like you've "hit the wall" so to speak. I think that it happens to us all. Be it in school or in our careers. It's frustrating and maddening. For the moment I would tell you to stay in school and keep grinding. You can still end up with a degree in Forensics, then do something else completely different. But you want to be able to show that you finished what you started.
     
  9. Dec 28, 2009 at 6:52 AM
    #9
    hendooman

    hendooman The Stroker Ace

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    I would agree with what others have said about staying in school. You need to fight through that urge of taking a semester off. While forensics would be cool, if the money is not there go a different route. I am not sure what your classes have been but it would seem to me that you probably had to take a lot of math and science for forensics. Those classes translate well to other majors. Like engineering or chemical engineering, those are jobs for the future. Working for a big drug company or something like that would be good money going forward...
     
  10. Dec 28, 2009 at 6:58 AM
    #10
    j83soldier

    j83soldier Well-Known Member

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    Stick with school bro, you have two years invested already. I LOVE my job but every person hits a time where you feel like whatever you are doing is a waste or it doesnt make you happy. Slotback put it right, you just hit a wall. You can work through it and it will get better. No one is happy with their place in life all the time.
     
  11. Dec 28, 2009 at 8:00 AM
    #11
    Death_Stalker

    Death_Stalker " The Master Ninja"

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    i was 18 when i graduated High School right after which joined college. At that point i had no idea what i wanted to do. I am a person who gets bored easily also i hated college but i had to do it so i kept going ... at the time i was working as a night clerk in a motel..After a year working there and a year in college, i was offered a jb at another full service hotel as a desk clerk... That’s when i realized that a hotel is a fun place to work and that’s something i want to do. Within a year of was a manager, then became a department head, then a Director.. Next step is a GM and it doesn’t stop there. I was 19when i got my first management position. i was making 30 k at that time. Now i am just moving up and at the age of 24 making close to 60k. I think this is an industry that is always in demand and everyday there is a new and exciting day. You get to travel a lot and many other benefits. I think you should look into it and see you may like it.
     
  12. Dec 28, 2009 at 8:08 AM
    #12
    THXEY

    THXEY Panda Jerk

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    i got a question... and please dont take this the wrong way but are you A.D.D.? because i am and that requires me to be doing somthing all the time.... like im good with my hands and fixing things and stuff so thats why i want to be a automotive technician or welder/fabricator... it helped me make my decision because i love drawing and graphic design but i knew i would be in a room sitting on my ass all day staring at a computer... i hope some of this makes sense :p just my $.02 :D
     
  13. Dec 28, 2009 at 8:21 AM
    #13
    Mark C.

    Mark C. If you want it bad, you usually get it bad!

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    mntbiker2008: If you were considering the military, I can tell you from experience that it is much easier to finish your degree (even if it is in general studies), and then apply to enter the military as an officer. I did the opposite and entered before I had finished high school.....then slowly took classes here and there and finally got a BS at the age of 38. I then went on to get a masters at age 42....all going to school on weekends and nights, while serving in the Navy. Hard on the family and it is hard work.
    Get that education out of the way first....many employers like to see that an applicant complete a degree...not worried about what TYPE of degree, but that you have the desire, perserverence and the ability to learn. Those are the traits that will carry you in "non-technical" fields.

    Unfortunately, Engineering and medical fields require the credentials.

    Best of luck!
     
  14. Dec 28, 2009 at 8:44 AM
    #14
    TimberT

    TimberT Timberlicious

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    I was never a good student but got really motivated in my senior year of high school and decided to challenge myself with the hardest thing I could think of so I went and got an electrical engineering degree. If you can get through an engineering or computer science program and are willing to relocate, there are a lot of journeyman level programs in the federal government that will allow you to make 6 figures within 5 years of graduation.
     
  15. Dec 28, 2009 at 11:14 AM
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    Evil Monkey

    Evil Monkey There's an evil monkey in my truck

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    That's what I did. I started out as an engineer but didn't really care for the classes so I switched to business. Then a VP at the company I worked for mentioned that he was writing computer programs to track product in the company. Since he was a VP, he didn't really want to keep on doing that so he mentioned that he wanted someone to take it over. I bought a book on C++ and learned to program. I enjoyed it so much that I added Computer Science to my business program (had about a year to go on the Business degree) and got a double degree (Computer Science & Business Administration).

    I got a job straight out of college paying $50K/year plus a $7000 signing bonus. Been here since 2002. My pay has gone up quite a bit since that time too. I'm closing in on six figures. :)
     
  16. Dec 28, 2009 at 11:43 AM
    #16
    Plumber6304

    Plumber6304 New Member

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    If you like working with your hands look into a trade, plumbing, electrical, HVAC etc.
     
  17. Dec 28, 2009 at 12:49 PM
    #17
    mntbiker2008

    mntbiker2008 [OP] First I derp.. then I herp

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    Yes. I def. have "hit the wall"....and it sucks...big time. luckily UC is still on quarters so it wont be nearly as long. My parents are on my ass about going back because they know if i say "just another quarter" i will never go back.

    you are correct. there is a lot of math and science (chemistry).... i absolutely suck at chem.

    yep. im a.d.d. sounds like im the same as your. I would much rather work with my hands than stare at a computer screen.



    Thanks you guys for all the responses. Ive been thinking today about going back and trying to get my EMT-B cert. I went to vocational school my last 2 years of high school and came out with my firefighter I, II card but didnt make it through emt class. Im considering trying to retake it and go from there possibly. I have also tried to find some jobs related to scuba diving (ive been a diving for a little over 8 years now)....regardless.... i have to go back to school and come out with something.


    keep the suggestions coming.

    Thanks again!

    Aaron
     
  18. Dec 28, 2009 at 12:52 PM
    #18
    Incognito

    Incognito No better friend, no worse enemy

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    Same thing about the education happened with my Dad while he was in the Navy... He also strongly recommends getting your edu first and going in as an officer and saving your the trouble.
     
  19. Dec 28, 2009 at 1:01 PM
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    Wreckless_71

    Wreckless_71 WRECKLESS for Life...

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    I just have to say the same as everyone else here... stay in school. I'm in the same spot you are now, 20 with 2 years under my belt and I've hit the wall. All of my buddies are back home working or starting a trade and spending money on their trucks, etc. while I'm spending 20,000 a year and living like a homeless kid lol. I talked to my Dad and this is what he said, "go to school, no matter what you have a degree in, whether it be basket weaving or engineering, it's going to help you in the long-run." I started off in the Civil Engineering program and decided there was to much math involved. I switched to Construction Management and I'm a lot happier now. But then again I still have doubts as to what I'm doing with my life. I kind of want to be a cop. IDK. So i'm going to minor in criminal justice too. Either way you go, or we go, there's going to be a job for those of us with a degree. Don't take the semester off if you can help it.
     
  20. Dec 28, 2009 at 1:01 PM
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    Evil Monkey

    Evil Monkey There's an evil monkey in my truck

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