what to even go to school for?

A friend of mine has a 19 yr old son who is going to Forestry school,he loves it and spent all summer hiking national forests.

You said you might like working with engines.What about ships engines?You could join the Merchant Marines apprentiship program (it`s not the military) and be paid WELL to travel the world.

http://www.seafarers.org/phc/uafaq.xml

Or you could join the military they will pay you and you`ll learn a trade and like others have said a good pension after 20 years.

Good luck!

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Sometimes a little criticism is necessary to help someone wake up and smell the coffee, so to speak.

I can't believe at 19 years old you complain about 15$ an hour as a mechanic!

I had a baby when I was 19 years old, and got married when I was 31. The means from her birth to 12 years old, I was a single mother. Me and her with an occasional worthless boyfriend. I SUPPORTED US, on most of the time, around 8 bucks an hour. At some point I bought a house, and twice bought one year old vehicles. Yes, we struggled, and struggled, but we did ok.
If I would have made 15$ an hour we would have been living a life of luxury.
The year before I got married (2008) I was only making $10.75, I think. I had a trailer and 3 acres, and they were mine.

15$ an hour at 19 years old is rich. Stop complaining and take it and run, or leave and start over somewhere else.
Its only money. It comes and goes. Big deal.

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Why dont you apply for the fire department?
My dad started as a volunteer firefighter when he was about your age, and got on full time after a few years. He is 56. He retired 3 years ago, after working 4 years longer than than he had to (he retired as a deputy chief).

His career was very fulfilling, the pay was eventually high. We had a nice house, there were 3 of us kids, and we went to private school. He and my step mom travel permenantly now and they are not hurting for money (of course he invested wisely over the years).

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To see what is required to be game warden or such, for gov't work, check out the "USA Jobs" website. There are thousands of jobs listed, with what is required and where they are. It's a bit shocking, but very educational.

Boy do I agree with you on everything you said.
15 bucks and at 19 years old. Wow wish I had such a deal when I was 19.
I left a job to retire because of health issues and was making 15 bucks an hour and that IS good pay in my area, and I am sure not even close to 19.
And if I was 10 and making 15 bucks an hour, I would be called doing quite well and be driving a new car.

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How about learning a trade of some sort, keep it in the two year range so you don't feel like you are dying, and then use that "trade job" as a way to support yourself, while you try out as many other hobbies or interests as you can. Hopefully you could find something while joining hobby groups more geared towards your interests that you would like to work at.


One of the reasons I became a nurse was that I could work 12 hour shifts and be done with my work week in 3 days, that allowed more time for being at home and pursuing my interests, gardening, sewing, and being with my family. At one point I even worked two 16 hour shifts a week, just to be at home more. If I didn't have to make a regular wage each week I would work for a nursery because I like growing things. Keep in mind health insurance is expensive when you are self employed. When my dh was laid off, we were able to pick up his insurance, for the two of us it was 960 dollars a month. That was not within our means.

Our farrier has way more business than he can handle and turns it away quite regularly. He makes around 60,000/yr and works not quite full-time. He went to school 3 months to learn his trade.
Our (almost) 19 yo daughter attends a very good technical college majoring in Wildlife Management. She won't have any trouble finding a job upon graduation.
Four year college degrees are not worth nearly as much as they used to be, unless they are in specialized fields. College tuition is so high and so many are graduating with several 10's of thousands in school loans and can't find a job.
Nowadays, I think a 2 year technical college is your best bet.

Get out and get some life experience. Water treatment and wastewater treatment operators are in demand. We are all getting older. New technology and state regulations are calling for more operators all the time. A 2 year degree in water/wastewater technology is a good start. Many community colleges will have a part time job available the second year and many systems will hire that person. 21 is a little young but if you show good skills and a desire to jump in and do what needs to be done you will have a job. I will need 1 operator this next November and another in a couple years....James

Have you ever taken an aptitude test? Because honestly if you don't have a talent for something you will be miserable in your job. Most colleges have tests that help you determine what areas you should look into. Start with what you are naturally inclined to, and don't be afraid to change. At 19 you may set out in one direction only to find out you really want to go in another direction.