what to even go to school for?

Spacecadet hit the nail on the head. Now adays any branch of the service will educate you along with your military job. They encourgage you to get a degree. Take the entrance quailifying exam for the Air Force, Navy, whatever and see what you a qualified to do. Its free and could be an eye opener.

Travis, first of all, at nineteen, you have time to try different things. Any decisions you make now aren't set in stone -- you can try several things, pick up more skills to add to what you already have, and go on to something else.

Second, it would be a very good idea to pick up one job skill that will always be needed, whether it's something you think you'd like or not. That way, you'll have something to fall back on, or perhaps to pay the bills while you get training for something you'd like better. My father gave me this advice when I was young -- he thought I ought to get secretarial training. Like you, I didn't think I wanted anything to do with office work, so I didn't follow his advice; I majored in forestry and fisheries. I've never worked in that field (that's actually a difficult field to break into, especially working for the government, as there are a lot of people wanting in and those who get in hang on for dear life!), but I HAVE been working as a secretary for almost four years and have wished many times that I'd followed Dad's advice and gotten some training back then!

Third, the most important job skills are those of character. Getting up in the morning and getting to work on time. Coming to work sober and ready to go. Putting in a full eight hours of work for eight hours of pay. Being willing to do what needs to be done without arguing that it's not in your job description. Being honest and trustworthy and loyal to your employer (that means not bad-mouthing them behind their back). Having a good attitude and being easy to get along with. These are the qualities that an employer will look for, and if you have them, you are likely to always have all the work that you need. They are also qualities that will stand you in good stead someday when you become self-employed.

And last, even though you don't want a desk job at this point in your life, keep in mind that life is an uncertain thing. It would be a really good idea to go ahead and complete the college degree and be prepared for a desk job just in case someday you need to go that route. I have two younger brothers who were much like you. Intelligent and active, neither one of them wanted to spend any more time indoors than they absolutely had to. Their first jobs were at the logging camp in Alaska where my Dad worked, and from then on they worked as truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, and mechanics. However, they are now 52 and 51 years old, and both have such bad backs from their years of hard work that they are disabled. The only work they would be able to do now would be desk work, and they don't have the training and education to get that type of work. So keep that in mind -- your body won't be young forever, and accidents happen. One of my cousins, who did the same kinds of work as my brothers, broke a bone in his neck while changing a truck tire one time -- this was twenty years ago when he was in his early thirties. Remember the prepper's mantra -- always have backups for your backups! This applies to job skills as well as to stocking up on things!

Kathleen

Your a young fella. May not want to hear it, but I'll say go ahead and get your 4 year BS or BA under your belt. You don't do it now, probably never will. You don't know what you want to do with your life? College will solve that.

You can still work with your hands, even with a BA/BS under your belt. I've had jobs that never used my "sheepskin", but I got paid a lot more than the non sheepskinned.

You want to go into business for yourself... you'll need something 'more' than the average Joe. Working in a trade is different than owning a trade, hiring employees, meeting payroll and bureaucratic overhead.

From personal experience I can attest to the fact you'll never grow hungry if: you see a problem and say I can do that for myself. Learn it, do it, get good at it, and then do it for others. I learned a sackful of trades, and have used them to my advantage during lean times.

If you pick a trade anyone can do, you'll be wrassling with them for available jobs. And, if a Guatemalan can do the same kind of work, you're SOL. Strive for the more detailed and complicated trades. Not that a 'southerner' can't do it, but most are most adept at the lesser trades.

__________________
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

We dont have anything like that here

cant handle stuff like that.. Cant afford vet school and your in debt for 10-15 years after you grad. not for me

I work a desk job in mainframe computers, never went to College, I took a 9 month computer programming school, got a job and worked my way up. Nowadays to do what I do you need a 4 year Computer science degree or a minimum of 15 years experience. Luckily I have close to 30 now. What do I tell all the young kids in the family

1) Get a college degree in something useful, like some type of engineering degree. Big bucks for those jobs fresh out of college and they go across many fields.

2) Computers. Don't go to tech school for this. Go to college and get a computer science
degree and specialize in the mainframe. The average age of a mainframer today is 55,
and the mainframes aren't going away. IBM is giving millions to colleges today for
grants to kids wanting to learn the mainframe. This field pays very well.

3) Want to work with your hands? Then 2 options.
a) Butcher. A good butcher in a rural area makes good money. Around here they are
few and far between. But the good ones, that win awards, make good money.
b) Classic car restoration. Who isn't affected by down turns in the economy? Rich
people. What do they like? Toys, and old cars and hotrods are always being made.
The guy who builds cars for me has a 5 year waiting period just to start a car.

4) The military. Figure out what you like and have them train you or make it a career.

The number one thing though in all these options, you need to enjoy it, and you need to be good at it. If you can achieve those to goals it doesn't matter what you do, you'll be successful.

Xray tech could work, if you can get accepted into the program (need good grades). You can start with the 2-year training and continue on with the 4-yr degree if you want to do more specialty work. The techs with the most mobility are the ones that can work in more than one area, like general x-ray, CT, ultrasound, interventional, cath lab, nuclear med, etc.

You won't get rich, but you can get a steady paycheck and afford to pay for your house and car. I work with a group of techs who do plenty of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor pursuits on their days off.

If you'd rather design the xray equipment than operate it, you could look into biomedical engineering. There are entry level jobs for people with bachelor's degrees, but better jobs are for those with their masters. The way medicine is these days, I suspect it's a field that is only going to grow.

No advice but my Southern born son got his four year degree said he wanted a job where he didn't get his hands dirty Worked every kind of job he could while going to college . Now has the job he wanted . When he and his wife got their starter house he sent me pictures 3,300 sq foot not counting the large garage and he is way ahead on the payments . He got this plan before Hs and stuck to it wouldn't even date any girl without a HS diploma . His wife has a degree in business management and is regenal manager for a large Co.

So get one goal and go for it don't let little things get in your way two things always needed is law enforcement officers and undertakers

My question for you, is are you reliable, punctual, trustworthy? Are you salesman minded? Having your own business is essentially selling yourself.

Either go to school for something techy, because if you dont now, on mama's dime, you wont have another chance.

OR

Leave. You keep saying, xyz, that is worthless, doesn't happen, waste of time, nobody does it around here. You are a member of a forum of 100,000 people, located all over the country, and in some other countries. There are always people on here looking for a worker, or they know someone who is. Pick up a job that way to get you into a different location. Then work at that while you check out the local options.

I advertised on here for 6 months looking for live-in farm help. We have a part timer from the area now, but it took an eternity to find someone.

HOWEVER, if you are not trustworthy, reliable, punctual, don't bother. Keep sitting at home and keep making excuses. I know you are searching for options, and I commend that, but I sense a bit of the excuse disease in there too.

Don't talk about it, BE about it!


One other thing. My mom told me once, when you can't decide what you might LIKE to do for a living, forget it, because you will get sick of it.
Don't make a career of of doing what you like, make a career out of changing what you hate.

__________________
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Licensed ARBA Registrar

I'm still trying to get a hand on the pay aspect. Two jobs I have seen mentioned (AC and Diesel) pay up to $30-40 per hour here, and your saying that is too low. I would be estatic with that pay, round here that is alot.

Since you don't like any of the options presented maybe you should get that minimum wage job and your own place. It might help you decide what you want to go to school for.

With your positive outlook and great location, I see big things in your future.

I'd have to say I agree 100% with happy@home - you've said that you'd rather work minimum wage than have a desk job. OK, go out and try to support yourself 100% on your own working minimum wage - no more living at home, no laundry at home, no meals at home with your parents/relatives/friends. You'll likely discover that almost any reasonable employment inside or outside, hands-on or not, will be very appealing. Realize you're also making statement like this at 19 when you are likely in great health. Wait several decades when and you'll again discover that some form of health insurance is of great value and again, many more occupations look appealing!

It's hard to speak in specifics, but here are some general things to consider:

1 - In general, the more education you have the better. Your attitude of "I just can't stand sitting in class" is typical of lots of young kids these days. It's common sense - if something is hard or worth while to do, not everybody will sign up to do it. However, for those that do and succeed, there is often great benefit.

2 - View a college education the appropriate way. If you love history, that's fantastic. But unless you plan on getting an advanced degree in history and going into academia or perhaps law school, it's next to useless at the four year degree level. Same goes with lots of majors like psychology, communications, etc. Stick to what folks already mentioned - computer science, mechanical, electrical, or chemical engieering, accounting (with the intent of getting your CPA).

3 - Go volunteer to work at things you think you might enjoy. Yup - do it for free. This will look great on your resume or record and if you show up on time and work hard, you'll likely get a great reference for whatever next step you decide upon. Or, propose something like, "I'll work for free for you for two weeks - if you're happy with my performance after that, perhaps you'll consider hiring me". That would knock the socks off of most businesses nowadays.

4 - Think about geographic flexibility. There are certain occupations you can do anywhere - electrician, CPA, pharmacist, etc.

5 - Think about ease of outsourcing - can't outsource the plumber!

6 - This one is specifice to engineering (my chosen profession) - if you go into engineering, get an advanced degree without stopping. In fact, this might be a general suggestion which I think Texican already mentioned - get your education now while you're young and not tied down with other responsibilities. In general, once you stop, it's really hard to get that momentum and mental fortitude up and going again. There's no way in heck I'd be able to go back now and have the degree of mental focus that I did when I was in graduate school. I used up all my mental energy then and am really glad I did so.

7 - Whatever decision you make, avoid debt like the plague. All forms of debt - house, car, personal loans, etc.

Let us know what you decide and best of luck with your decision.

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

I agree that it sounds like you may be making excuses. At 19 you shouldn't make any decisions about what you want to do for the rest of your life because that will change. Just do something now. Go to school if you want, or go out and see the world. You don't have to be tied to where you are now. I would say learn how to do as many different things as you possibly can. Save as much money as you can now before you have responsibilities like a family to take care of. Just don't waste time doing nothing, or sitting around waiting for inspiration.

Im not trying to make excuses for my self.. diesel mechanics and such make like 15-20 bucks a hour here at best.. i didnt start this to get criticized i started it to get some ideas.

I'm really not criticizing you. I want you to realize that there is a huge world out there, full of opportunities and you should avail yourself of every one of those that can help you. Maybe you found out diesel mechanics at a mine in Minnesota or Montana make huge money. Put in an application. Or you hear of a job across the country that sounds good, pack up and go. I've moved across country several times and never had a moment's regret. I would hate to sit in one place and molder because I was afraid to broaden myself. Expand your area of operations and you will have many more choices.

If you don't know what you want to do for a living don't go to school until you decide. It would be a waste of money.

Bob

With your complaints about your present situation and the poor pay for honorable work where you are it seems to me you should move somewhere far away.

Find any kind of a job in a new place and get in the habit of supporting yourself by going to work every day on time and doing your best. Once you have developed good work habits and have improved your attitude, you can start looking for your dream job or the training to get your dream job.

A full time position with a state fisheries and wildlife dept. will require at least a four year degree. The pay is not great but the job satisfaction is high.

A two year degree in some technical aspect of agriculture like horticulture, aquaculture, or animal science will prepare you to get a start.
There are huge opportunities in agriculture for people who have skills, ambition, new ideas, and a good work ethic. In agriculture, the sky is the limit for income and job satisfaction.

Plumbing is a good trade.Go for it.Good jobs and great opportunity for your own business.

Try the oil patch Look up Grey Wolf Drilling for fun also http://www.oiljobs411.com/oil-jobs.html That gives you fun adventure and a pockett full of money . When you make tool pusher you'll need a wheelbarrow for your pay check