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Advice for high school students

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montageskier
Posts: 4725 - Karma: 126

This advice is for anyone lost in career aspirations, dont know where their life is going, etc.

When I was in high school, I didnt want to do anything when i got out of school or go on to college. I hated school so much, and didnt appreciate an education. I also didnt have a passion I wanted to pursue. Well i graduated, didnt apply anywere and was jobless. I thought my life was fucked. Well this has been the best thing that ever happened for me.

I got into the electrical union and got a good paying job as an electricians apprentice. Now Im not good with my hands, or a hard nose worker. I also dont like being up at 5am for work and going to bed at 7pm because im so tired. I also hate working and do not enjoy life right now.

Fast forward to two weeks ago, I relaized I hate being an adult and working a real job. Fuck that, this sucks. Im going back to school in the fall, I finally realize education is important and there is value in it.

So basically all im saying is, if you dont know what you want in life, take a year off from school. Experience the real world and see how shitty it is. You will want to be a kid again, and off to college you will be.

Dec 1 2008 10:00PM
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T-Holt
Posts: 5020 - Karma: 639
I honestly can't wait for college (almost) Idk if it's just me, but it seems like it would be really fun, even with all the work.
Dec 1 2008 10:01PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,012
same here, right now even with the work it seems like it will rape highschool on a ridiculous level
Dec 1 2008 10:02PM
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jedi.Jim
Posts: 1133 - Karma: 13
I wanted to take a year off from school but my parents wouldn't let me. So much for that. I agree with you though; if you don't know what you want to do, get some experience so you know what you don't want to do.
Dec 1 2008 10:03PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
word....

if i would not have lost free flight benefits, and health insurance i would be bumming it up out in CO or UT. but you gotta make the best of what you've got to deal with so im in college and pulling all A's and one B....

i have a general idea of what i want to do in life, i just wanted some time to do what ever i wanted, o well, i still have life after college. haha then im gonna tear it up seeing the world.
Dec 1 2008 10:07PM
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BrightonFridays
Posts: 952 - Karma: 2,314
i feel exactly how you did, all I want to do is ski. i'm a senior and i cant handle school anymore, like i hate basically every minute that i am there. Its basically pointless for me cause ive already applied to all the schools i want to. Im getting exited for college but feel like that if i go in immediately i wont work hard and it will overwhelm me. i feel like i will skip classes and just ski and party. Im not sure how i feel about taking a year off because do not want to be the kid who just sits around after high school and has nothing to do. i might try a year off but i feel like all those gap programs arn't for me. have any advice for me?
Dec 1 2008 10:13PM
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Bloom.
Posts: 3533 - Karma: 13,167

yeah dude ive done manual labor for a construction company over the past two summers and that shit is hard work and its sucks really bad. just think about doing that for 40 years of your life. going to college is an essential in todays world if you wanna make success

Dec 1 2008 10:14PM
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phishfood
Posts: 2542 - Karma: 298
i'm in high school right now and doing well/ enjoying it (as much as you can "enjoy" school), but i have NO idea what i want to major in/go to college for.
Dec 1 2008 10:18PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
yeap, for the last 3 summers i have worked at a park doing maintenance and i KNOW i do not want to do that sort of work for the rest of my life.... its an AWESOME summer job, but is far from a carrier...

what it really comes down to is you gotta follow your dreams in life, and we all have different dreams. 
Dec 1 2008 10:21PM
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t-roy
Posts: 4041 - Karma: 52
good advice.
i'm in my 5th year of college. 3 years of undergrad and now in my 2nd year of 4 in grad school.
college is a great experience. even if you don't know what you want to do, it is still a good thing to give it a try if you can.
Dec 1 2008 10:33PM
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eheath
Posts: 61100 - Karma: 118,256
College is like the best time of your life, i don't know why you'd ever want to skip it.
Dec 1 2008 10:36PM
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ClownPrince
Posts: 500 - Karma: 10
That's kinda what college is for. You can find out what you like, or if you like anything.
I guess it depends on where you go, but most schools give you pretty general options - you can take classes in almost anything. I think my roommate's taking yoga next semester...
It's totally different from high school (at least in my case), way more fun, so definitely look forward to it.
Dec 1 2008 11:27PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,270
i'm stoked to go to college but right now i'm stuck in this slump where i don't have a career aspiration, i'm not interested in much, and i just kinda waste away my days doing a half assed job on my school work. i know i'm just blowing smoke of self indulgence up my own ass by saying this but has anyone had something similar to this? i'm trying to break free but i'm not getting any inner motivation to search for interests and aspirations. it's not depression, i don't smoke a ton of weed, and it's not stupidity, it's like this inner inhibition to do anything and this block that comes from inside me. skiing and hanging out with people are the only things i really look forward to and seem to enjoy doing, the rest i just go through the motions
Dec 1 2008 11:33PM
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landonn
Posts: 2913 - Karma: 385
i have know clue what i want to do either. i enjoy the classes i do but i don't like the work i have to do in them.  luckily i get to take the winters off and go skiing and have summers off to. i just have no clue wat i want to do with my future and wat i think i want to do changes almost weekly.
Dec 2 2008 12:04AM
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C.R.E.A.M
Posts: 2930 - Karma: 4,219
my advice:

Puff puff pass, pass left, dont diddle daddle, if u roll it then u lite it, money over bitches. and lastly
"pussy kills" -NaS
Dec 2 2008 12:39AM
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uh_lis_uh
Posts: 609 - Karma: 16
COLLEGE IS DOPE!! wouldn't want to be anywhere else
Dec 2 2008 12:46AM
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Danger.
Posts: 3476 - Karma: 58
. Every single bit of work you have to do is balanced by as much if not more fun.
Dec 2 2008 12:49AM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
Wow you gave up an electrical apprenticeship? I have nothing against college students, I am one myself, but the idea that you have to go to college to be successful is ludacris. It kind of funny because my final paper for a management class I had last year was about "white collar bias" of how in todays society everyone thinks you have to go to college to be successful. Ironic right? Well for some reason I did pretty good on it but thats besides the point.
Dec 2 2008 1:41AM
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Fish_Sandwich.
Posts: 9108 - Karma: 16
Agreed.
Dec 2 2008 1:45AM
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fsscott
Posts: 4684 - Karma: 114
well i'm still in highschool and i'm a fuckin slacker bro,

so this sucks hhaha
Dec 2 2008 1:54AM
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Scott~
Posts: 2551 - Karma: 49
Career-wise 4 years of job experience will probably get you further than a BS in philosophy or some of those other majors~
Dec 2 2008 2:00AM
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funk.
Posts: 2679 - Karma: 33
So what if you are a kid.. Senior in highschool.. doing really well in school.  Applied to colleges, got accepted, got fat money.  But you really don't want to grow up.  You're already scared of the real world.  Scared in the sense of getting trapped in the overworking boredom of the career choices you have in mind.. What if really.. you just want to be a kid forever?  Where do you go?
Dec 2 2008 2:11AM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 125
college! its like the easiest part of your life. maybe it ties with high school. but its more badass than high school by a long shot
Dec 2 2008 2:17AM
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popNfresh44
Posts: 3757 - Karma: 44
i'm in my last year of HS, and i want to go to uni for some sort of engineering. trouble is, my average is around 78%, and most schools require low to mid 80's for engineering, and i need to apply for early admission with this first report card which i get in a couple weeks.

its kinda fucked, i;m really gonna have to push it for the second term. i cant see how i will be able to do it though, its been so fucking hard already to this point, and now i have skiing to distract me.
Dec 2 2008 2:49AM
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St.Steezy
Posts: 4228 - Karma: 20
chances are with a 78 you could get into uvic.
Dec 2 2008 11:46AM
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Dosh
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 14
college is srsly where it's at. you can live such an insular lifestyle there. just do well in your classes and put in the time and you will be alright. the real world fucking sucks. I consider my job as the real world and the people there are just completely fatuous. I feel bad for them b/c i think to myself if that is me in 10 years, then what is the point of even living? i honestly cannot live in the real world yet. i definitely need college classes to divide my time between. i hope to continue to do well in college, go to law school after undergrad. and start to make some money so i can retire early, move to france and just enjoy the many aspects that so many people are forced to overlook in order to keep on living a meaningless existence. maybe i will write a book as well. that's my plan for now. of course things can change. wow, coffee really gets me typing! holy shit!
Dec 2 2008 12:16PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
Ski resort job, bartending, construction (as long as you dont have a prick for a foreman), park service jobs, trail crews,
Dont limit yourself to college. Take a year off first and see what the world has to offer. There are plenty of great opportunities that dont require college.
Dec 2 2008 2:33PM
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TheWorst
Posts: 7883 - Karma: 17
good advice for all the kids on here dude. I'm going to school right now for business and as useful as business is I'm also extremely artistic. I have friends in Art schools and now I always wish I had done that instead because that's what i really love to do. So ya take a year off after highschool if your not sure, your passions will come out. The good thing with the program im in right now is I can take it anywhere so I'm grateful for that it's really flexible.
Dec 2 2008 2:44PM
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1080ski
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 191
nobody said you ever have to grow up! its not like when you graduate college, your automatically an adult- the parts of your childhood/adolescence that you enjoy the most will probably stick with you if you prepare the right way (meaning, dont get stuck working just so you can support yourself, work in a profession you like).
Dec 2 2008 3:19PM
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emopoppins
Posts: 3996 - Karma: 269
inspiring words, i think i know what i'm doing. my mom tells me i shouldn't go off to utah straight off, but go to UMaine for a year or two, then go out to U of U when i know what i'm doing. i think its a decent idea, we'll see.
Dec 2 2008 3:23PM
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[BRI]noceros
Posts: 2319 - Karma: 40
a lot of people say that they can't wait for college, but i'm the exact opposite. idk bout anyone else, but even though college seems fun, i do not wanna grow up
Dec 2 2008 3:51PM
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TheBeardedOne
Posts: 2286 - Karma: 58
yeah man.. i am just about to finish my first semester in college.. i came straight from highschool thinking college was just a big party.. and i didnt work very hard lol my grades are all B's and a C.. i did my work but i didnt study a ridiculous amount.. if you go to school just work hard at it and its not that bad, plus... college life is bomb :)
Dec 2 2008 4:03PM
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*rkp*
Posts: 8198 - Karma: 257
My best advice that I can give to people still in high school is to realize just how easy you guys have it. The level of work that is expected in high school would MAYBE get you a pass at University, so milk it for all it's worth. Realize that with minimal effort you can ace your high school courses and get into ANY College or University you want. And also realize that post-secondary is probably the best opportunity for personal growth you can have. You'll accomplish things you never thought possible, meet the most amazing people, and have the best time of your life. Don't be intimidated.
Dec 2 2008 4:11PM
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brokebutitsworthit
Posts: 2279 - Karma: 27
My advice would be to take a year and travel, the experience you gain doing that is invaluable and helps not only in college but in real life, working with people etc.  Get cultured motherfuckers. 
Dec 2 2008 5:06PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
At the beginning of this year, I could have signed up for easy classes and passed with strait A's, or I could've taken AP courses that actually challenged my mind and made me learn something, at the cost of lower grades due to it's difficulty and my late depression.
So in the long run, which is more beneficial? Good grades for wasted time, or higher education with lower grades?

I guess only time will tell.
Dec 2 2008 5:31PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
i'm freaking homeschooled.
you all have no idea.
i just want to get away from my family
Dec 2 2008 5:38PM
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BigJim
Posts: 837 - Karma: 73
oh high school if i was told i could over again...i would definitely have to thanks but no thanks! unless was like the way Billy Madison got to do it!
Dec 2 2008 5:47PM
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TheButterHashira
Posts: 9691 - Karma: 1,702
I care about my education as in learning things but never been a hard enough worker to make As. I usually just goofed off and made As on exams all my life.
Dec 2 2008 5:50PM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,018
your mom is dead wrong come to utah right off the bat you'll love it
Dec 2 2008 6:00PM
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TheQuailman
Posts: 7381 - Karma: 144

I'm a junior in highschool.  I think its important to do well in highschool, go to a good college, and become well educated.  Life is just going to be easier with an education and a diploma to back it up.  Your going to find yourself working at better jobs, with better hours, making more money.  And lets just say you get sick of working the 9 - 5 desk job.  Well, you can always go work construction or at a restuarant and ski bum it if you like.  But, as a youth, its more important to open doors, than close doors.

As for college, its important to take a wide variety of courses, because in life your going to need a wide variety of knowledge.  And also its important to study and major in something that will be useful and neccessary in life.  You may love to learn about art history but are you really going to be able to form a career off of it? - even get a job?

On the other hand, there are some kids that never go out or live life because they are pent up in a room studying all the time.  There needs to be a balance between work and play.  Learn as much as you can, but not at the expense of wasting your life.

Dec 2 2008 6:35PM
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funk.
Posts: 2679 - Karma: 33
your situation may be different but I've realized that the only benefit I get out of those classes is better work ethic and stress management skills.  Price being a life outside of BS work.  I dunno.. I get the grades in both but have found I learn more of the subject when I don't have to work my ass off the entire year.  Math is the only one I've kept up.
Dec 2 2008 7:54PM
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montageskier
Posts: 4725 - Karma: 126

Well its official now. I am quiting my job in the morning.

And I never mentioned this in my first post, but my health is in disarray. I had a ruptured spleen 2 months ago, and cant really hack being an electritian with a bum stomach, and I lost 45 pounds. I was 185 and now am back up to 163 but no were as close in strength. This was also a big factor in my decision and what was making me depressed.

This evening I filled out three college applications for next fall, and started filling out applications for part time jobs for now. I figure I dont really need much money now, so ill get a part time job, to keep my parents off my ass.

I was also talking to my cousin today and he was telling me about his job. Its the best job ever. He works for livenation and markets concerts. He is the one who makes tv ads, radio ads, billboards, contests, goes to concerts, and get paid to listen to music. Sounds like a pretty sweet job.

Dec 3 2008 12:19AM
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8710 - Karma: 5,615
bumping this because there have been a lot of threads recently about kids wanting to drop out of high school.
Nov 13 2012 4:17AM
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JAHSHUA
Posts: 343 - Karma: 241
Highschool is a joke, do semi decent work, get good grades. Seriously enjoy it. Your so fucking young don't even stress about your career aspirations at this point.

Life is all about unfoldment. You gotta enjoy each moment. If you're constantly focusing and worrying about the future, you're gonna forget about the present.

So seriously, high school is one of the times in your life with very little responsibility and a sort of timelessness. Go have fun and pack in as many good times. Before you know it, you'll be 26 with a car loan, house mortgage, health insurance to pay, and a whiny bitch as GF who you put up with because you find out all girls are crazy.

Enjoy the immaturity, enjoy being open to new experiences, and enjoy the present. Life tends to take you in the direction you want to go. Just let of the wheel, kickback, enjoy your friends and family, and your life will come together as time goes onward.

On a psychedelic note, I have found my life to have a sort of pre-plottedness to it. Instead of random occurrences, I feel like their is a hidden force pulling my life in a direction. I don't have to do much for this force to work on me. As soon as you give yourself up and relinquish control, life pulls you in the direction you were meant to go. Follow your intuition and trust yourself. Don't trust any one else because all you've got at the end of the day is yourself. Trust yourself. You'll take yourself in the direction you weren't meant to head in as long as you chill out, treat others as you like to be treated, and listen to your own intuition as opposed to all the crap that society assigns to us. Your life is an unwritten novel and the goal is for you to become the other so you can write any damn book you'd like :)

One love
Nov 13 2012 4:50AM
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4750 - Karma: -556
You are kind of fucked if you don't know what job you want by your second year in college. (AND BE SPECIFIC NOT JUST THINK SOME OFFICE SHIT SO YOU"RE NOT DOING PHYSICAL LABOR.)

You need to spend the last 3 years in college preparing yourself for that job and getting 2 jobs/internships specificallly in that field in addition to studies.

Or else you are wasting your time and are completely fucked. And who knows where the wind will take you but you're gonna require waaaaayyyyy to much luck/connections to get anything respectable.

Know what you want to do, do internships/part time jobs in that field, graduate with decent grades, and you'll be fine.

(I went to a great college but I was way too fucked up in the head to follow any of that advice luckily shit worked out since I go balls to the wall at whatever I do and use my talent/experience/knowledge to earn myself my own money but life would be more normal and easier if I could suit up and go into an office for 40 hrs a week. I can only imagine how nice it is to just do what the fuck you're told for 8 hours a day and see 1, 2, 3 or more thousand bucks a week for it. I couldn't clear fuckin 5 bills a week after taxes when I worked jobs and I had 2 of them and a degree from a top 50 school.)
Nov 13 2012 5:49AM
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canudoa9
Posts: 382 - Karma: 99
you go to college and learn how to be a kid forever. what people forget is that, if you really want to be a kid forever, you have to learn how! i'm serious, go to college, figure it out, and have fun in the process. remember what being a kid actually was: learning new things everyday and having fun.
Nov 13 2012 6:03AM
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HWW
Posts: 3084 - Karma: 3,436
To find out what you really want to do in life, unless it's skiing (which it obviously is coz you're on NS), then you need to try out lots of things. One thing you should never do, though, is quit school just because you don't like it. It will always pay off.
Nov 13 2012 7:50AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
personally, i've stumbled into college after highschool and did a course that genuinely interested me, geology, but the problem was that i truly hated school and studying and making assignments and stuff, it just wasn't something for me, my heart was somewhere else... 4 miserable years later i finally dropped out and started doing what i love, i'm now working independently as a highrope guide, skishop tech, etc. basically i do all the stuff i love and make enough money to get around. In the mean time i've started doing a shitload of courses and am aspiring to become a mountain guide, hopefully by the end of next year i'll be a national mountain instructor, in 3 years aspiring guide and in 6years a professional guide ...

it's pretty amazing, when i first tell people what i'm doing/wanting to do with my life, they're kinda sceptic but then when i tell em my story, they completely agree and support me, i seriously haven't felt this good in my skin in years!

and wtf, i got 5 job offers just this week and i don't even have a degree! had to turn them all down though since its winter and i have to ski ;)

so TLDR,
if you have a path figured out for yourself in life, don't hesitate, go for it !
i always wanted to do this but started college because i thought it'd be the 'safer' way ....

Nov 13 2012 7:57AM
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RawrRawrRob
Posts: 1841 - Karma: 685
Take a year off. think about what you wanna do and work like fucking crazy
Nov 13 2012 8:01AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51263 - Karma: 157,439
This is kind of shitty advice.


Can't cope with being an adult so go fuck off 80 grand to go to college to pass the time? That's kind of the vibe I god from this. Education is important, it's also important to have a goal in mind.


Going to college isn't just going to nail you a sick job. You have to get the training in the field you want, then work to get those jobs. A lot of people go to college and end up with jobs in completely different areas.

Also sometimes places will say, we don't care how many classes you took, how much actual experience do you have?

Nov 13 2012 8:03AM
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IMAGR8tTSkier
Posts: 10 - Karma: 3
weed helps

Nov 13 2012 10:03AM
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