Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

(Note: this is an edited repost of a post I made in the "Occupy Wallstreet, one year later" thread. I thought it might make for an interesting discussion of its own.)


So, I'm a highschool senior this year, and I've been weighing my options for the future, and getting more and more depressed. I can really only
5 options for myself.

1: I can go to community college to get my electives done and then finish my degree at a 4-year university, and risk having the uni. not accepting my com. college credits.

2: I could go to community college and attempt to get a job while I'm at it. Maybe by working really hard, I can start climbing the ladder and getting promotions; I do know some people who got menial jobs at UPS/McDonald's/Target and have since become regional managers. However, there are just too many variables for this option to be really viable.

3: I can go to a university for the full 4 years and end up with crap tons of debt in a stagnant/shrinking economy.

4: I could join the military, but I'm a pacifist and don't approve of most of the military actions that the US has engaged in in the past 50-odd years.

5: Suicide.

When I think about it, these are really the only options facing most people my age and from my background. Jobs paying more than minimum wage require a Bachelors degree, meaning that the market is over-saturated with these degrees, and thus a Bachelors degree is now worth less than what a diploma used to be worth. To get a Bachelors degree, I will have to go into debt as I don't have rich parents-quite the opposite, I'm from a family that can barely afford a $75 printer. Not a single politician really cares about the higher-ed. dilemma, although they are eager to use it to get votes.

Quite frankly, the class of 2013 is 100% screwed.


_Tim?

6. Wait until you get a bit older and things start to make a lot more sense...seriously...you're in high school, there's a lot more to look forward to in life than your employment options!

4: I could join the military, but I'm a pacifist and don't approve of most of the military actions that the US has engaged in in the past 50-odd years

Just curious. You never ever swung back at anyone in a fight?

The next generation always looked more screwed then the last, you'll find something. If not, try another country.

 Some_Call_Me_Tim? wrote:
(Note: this is an edited repost of a post I made in the "Occupy Wallstreet, one year later" thread. I thought it might make for an interesting discussion of its own.)


So, I'm a highschool senior this year, and I've been weighing my options for the future, and getting more and more depressed. I can really only
5 options for myself.

1: I can go to community college to get my electives done and then finish my degree at a 4-year university, and risk having the uni. not accepting my com. college credits.

2: I could go to community college and attempt to get a job while I'm at it. Maybe by working really hard, I can start climbing the ladder and getting promotions; I do know some people who got menial jobs at UPS/McDonald's/Target and have since become regional managers. However, there are just too many variables for this option to be really viable.

3: I can go to a university for the full 4 years and end up with crap tons of debt in a stagnant/shrinking economy.

4: I could join the military, but I'm a pacifist and don't approve of most of the military actions that the US has engaged in in the past 50-odd years.

5: Suicide.

When I think about it, these are really the only options facing most people my age and from my background. Jobs paying more than minimum wage require a Bachelors degree, meaning that the market is over-saturated with these degrees, and thus a Bachelors degree is now worth less than what a diploma used to be worth. To get a Bachelors degree, I will have to go into debt as I don't have rich parents-quite the opposite, I'm from a family that can barely afford a $75 printer. Not a single politician really cares about the higher-ed. dilemma, although they are eager to use it to get votes.

Quite frankly, the class of 2013 is 100% screwed.


_Tim?

Yeah, I'm one class behind you. Just graduated last May. I honestly can't think of anything to do besides those. Nothing worthwhile anyway. I chose the military, because it seems like the best option for me personally. I don't know what I'm doing afterwards, and I really don't care right now.

Funny you mention suicide. Unsurprisingly, this is probably the least oft walked path, although even I sometimes contemplate it. I'm usually not a very suicidal person, or anything like that, but I feel like I'm at that point in my life where it goes through everyone's head. I think my life would be complete if I took a trip to Japan, loafed around for a week doing touristy things, and then finished it off by slitting my wrists in Aokigahara,or something else that leaves a nice corpse.

However suicidal I might get, I'm not permitted to end my life unless it's a direct order from my CO, though...

However suicidal I might get, I'm not permitted to end my life unless it's a direct order from my CO, though...

If I ever hear my CO give that order I will become UNHINGED

I am the class of 2013 I feel your pain.
We got royally screwed.

Can join the French Foriegn Legion and commit seven years and be a french citizen afterwards

 Jihadin wrote:
Can join the French Foriegn Legion and commit seven years and be a french citizen afterwards

Or I could run back to Australia, I am still a Citizen. (looks australia. Looks at air fare tickets.) DANG IT!

 Some_Call_Me_Tim? wrote:
(Note: this is an edited repost of a post I made in the "Occupy Wallstreet, one year later" thread. I thought it might make for an interesting discussion of its own.)


So, I'm a highschool senior this year, and I've been weighing my options for the future, and getting more and more depressed. I can really only
5 options for myself.

1: I can go to community college to get my electives done and then finish my degree at a 4-year university, and risk having the uni. not accepting my com. college credits.

2: I could go to community college and attempt to get a job while I'm at it. Maybe by working really hard, I can start climbing the ladder and getting promotions; I do know some people who got menial jobs at UPS/McDonald's/Target and have since become regional managers. However, there are just too many variables for this option to be really viable.

3: I can go to a university for the full 4 years and end up with crap tons of debt in a stagnant/shrinking economy.

4: I could join the military, but I'm a pacifist and don't approve of most of the military actions that the US has engaged in in the past 50-odd years.

5: Suicide.

When I think about it, these are really the only options facing most people my age and from my background. Jobs paying more than minimum wage require a Bachelors degree, meaning that the market is over-saturated with these degrees, and thus a Bachelors degree is now worth less than what a diploma used to be worth. To get a Bachelors degree, I will have to go into debt as I don't have rich parents-quite the opposite, I'm from a family that can barely afford a $75 printer. Not a single politician really cares about the higher-ed. dilemma, although they are eager to use it to get votes.

Quite frankly, the class of 2013 is 100% screwed.


_Tim?

Join the peace corp.: Change of scenery, worthwhile work, and you might meet an exotic lady( or man if thats your thing).

Getting out into the world might change your perspective a bit as well...

I rather get paid to see the world at the government expense

I was feeling in a similar manner back when I graduated in 2010, except without the suicide bit. Suicide isn't a option just because the job market is... well nicely put, rough.

You're still young and still have time to figure this stuff out.

I went to working in Fast Food, and eventually my current retail job, because not only could I not afford college, but I still didn't know what I wanted to do with my life and I didn't want to go 130K in debt to learn how to weave baskets or something stupid. Only recently have I found what I think might be the career for me, almost three years later.

I still live with my parents, but I've spent the past 2-3 years thinking about what it was I was meant to do. What my Niche was. Now I am studying hard in my field, while saving up that last bit of scratch I need for the college education. I'm studying hard now so when I do start, I can have a good chance to get to and stay in the top 5% of my class, because college teachers are also(from what I've heard from others) Head Hunters. You do good enough in college, and in theory you'll be rocking onto a decent job.


But after High School, I had the same problem. Didn't get a job until about 3-4 months after high school, and I wasn't just slacking off. I was putting in applications everywhere. And when I finally started to pursue the Career I though was for me outside of all of the work I did towards that goal in High School, I couldn't make it because of my vision problems. So I was lost and just worked in Fast Food until I found my new career path.


What I'm trying to say( and probably not doing the best of jobs at it. ) is this: You have plenty of time to figure that all out. Maybe after these next few months, you'll feel strongly enough about your career of choice that you think it's worth going into debt temporally, maybe you'll not know what to do and just save up money for when you figure that out. But stressing out about how you're screwed will do nothing.

 Jihadin wrote:
I rather get paid to see the world at the government expense

Likewise

Also, from what I've heard, the Peace Corps is really selective and are primarily taking only college people. You'd think they'd accept everyone, but I guess not. Even charity requires education!

Or you can look into trades instead of college. Seriously. There will ALWAYS be a call for skilled labor.

Painters, plumbers, construction etc. Hell, you may even wind up as a reality show! :O

Newsweek printed a somewhat controversial article a while back discussing the very problems the OT describes:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/07/15/are-millennials-the-screwed-generation.html

It doesn't offer any real answers (and I'm not sure any exist), but it's an interesting perspective.

being a plumber or a janitor (anything like that) at least in my experience repels women like the plague
but its either work in a grocery store talking to idiots making no money and have shallow friends
or be alone working as a janitor and having my own house


think I'll pick the house

High end weilder also in demand. These guy do the pipes in nuclear plants.

 Surtur wrote:
Painters, plumbers, construction etc. Hell, you may even wind up as a reality show! :O

feth that, get welding certificates. That gak pays GOOD, especially if you're willing to do some traveling.

Espacially soft metal weld. Those are always in demand and its insane the amount their paid if they travel to accomplish the work.

Everyone always says gak like "Oh no, the economy is bad, I'll never get a job, boo hoo hoo."

BS. The job market isn't bad in every field. A computer science degree from a good college basically guarantees you a job, as long as you don't try to pigeon hole yourself into a field like video games. I only have a partial degree at the moment, but I still make enough at my current job to pay off my loans, support myself, and save a couple hundred a month on top of that. When I finally finish my degree, my salary will jump at least another 10k.

100k in debt might seem like a lot of money for a degree. And you know what, it is. However, consider that it will cost you around $12,000 a year for like 10-15 years to pay it off. You can live pretty comfortably on like $30,000 a year, depending on where you live (especially if you have a roommate). Pretty much ANY job requiring a college degree pays AT LEAST $42,000 a year, many of them much higher.

You shouldn't worry about paying back your loans, unless you make a seriously stupid college degree choice like pretty much any degree in liberal arts.

Given your options I would vote for #2.

1. Assumes that a 4-year degree is the most awesome thing in the world.
3. Again assumes the same and you are taking a bigger debt load.
4. Given your feelings this one is out.
5. A non-starter.

From experience, employers want a 22 year old employee with a PhD and at least 10 years experience in a given field. The big thing is find something you are passionate about. Find someone in that field to mentor you. (Find out what it takes and what you need to get into it.)

As long as you don't pick an obtuse field and you are willing to relocate, the jobs are there.

If i is possible, I rate the job experience related to the field more important than the degree. The degree helps to open the door and maybe keeps your ceiling in the field higher but experience and youth kicks in the door in your favor. You can always approach the degree part-time or even on-line.

A 4 year degree is nice, but unless you have an Ivy League degree, you are a dime a dozen to an employer. Experience and a degree will win out.

Orrrr
1A you go to a community college where you know the 4 year university of your choice will accept the credits. Save money, get the degree you want. Then leave the country and move to a solid economy? Or let the ups and downs of the American economy pick up. Then you find a good job here and work your butt off so your wanted by everyone you ever work for. Or start your own business and make money your own way. Seriously your in high school like others have said. Calm down relax and realize only 1 thing can make you happy. Working your hardest doing what you want to do. If you do that you'll be fine.

Don't suggest #5! The walls have ears!

 CT GAMER wrote:


Join the peace corp.: Change of scenery, worthwhile work, and you might meet an exotic lady( or man if thats your thing).

Need a desired college degree these days. They especially want teachers: "All education positions require at least a bachelor's degree and a minimum GPA of 2.5."

You know what. Be a chaplain asst. in the National Guard. Its one weekend a month, two weeks a year, get the Post 9/11 GI Bill which is SWEET!, and additional income from drill and additional money benefit from the NG. You just have to swallow your view on the US military in general though. Time you become "eligible" to deploy we be in 2014 and winding down operation in Afghanistan. If there's no slots for a chaplain asst. pick some thing else up. There's no madatory "you need to cut your teeth in the combat arms" situation. Explore all options and don't let your personnel view close them off. Because you never KNOW whats avaible till you look. Its really on you.

I really don't think it's as bad as it looks from where you stand. That you even have a chance of going to college is an opportunity many people your age do not have - you're already privileged right now, keep that in mind. You may not get your dream job, but as others have pointed out, there is always a demand for skilled labour. Somewhere, at least. Stay mobile.

If it really looks that grim to you that you're even listing suicide as an option just because of job perspectives, leave the country. I emigrated from Germany to Ireland 5 years back with nothing but two bags and a hundred Euros after a headhunter offered me a position in the entertainment industry, leaving my crappy low-paid IT apprenticeship behind. I never looked back - except when I'm thinking "wow, good that you picked this option".

If you are a pacifist I would say option five.

 Shredsmore wrote:
If you are a pacifist I would say option five.

Just not in a violent manner... like try to drown in goose feathers or something.



Don't just go to a university for the sake of going if you don't have a plan then you'll likely either drop out or graduate with a usless degree that you only chose because it was the easiest.

Get a plan.

Figure out how you want to make a living in your life, and be very specific. "I want to be a math teacher/head nurse/welder" take a good look at every profession that interests you to see if it'll work out. If it looks like it's going to then make it happen.

I would not want to be a high school senior right now. Not because things are hopeless, although they are grim. But because nothing will be easy.

Twenty, even ten years ago, you could get a four year degree, or good vocational training, and be reasonably assured of a job. Now... they're the new high school diploma.

Unless you are academically inclined, highly intellectual, or are damn sure about what you want to study, I'd put off university. Take classes at the community college, work part time, figure out what you want.

More than anything, nobody should go to college unless they have a plan. A generic BA from Directional State simply isn't worth much.

As for your options, I'd say go with #3. Work, take classes, explore, but avoid debt. Keep your options open, and take opportunities when they arise.

So few people have their life figured out by 18 that it's almost criminal that we expect it.