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I'm kind of going through a weird phase in life atm originally I thought I wanted to be a sociology major with BA degree but now I'm not liking it so much as I hate writing but like the subject. I recently took a film course which has inspired me to go further with film related stuff but trades also

seems like good option as there's a lot of good paying trades jobs that are in high demand but I've never done anything trades related. I don't know what to do...

Have you thought about taking some time off school and doing some sort of work or volunteer program? I'm sure there has to be something where you could apprentice for a trade for a while. You could also look at something like Americorps, which will let you travel somewhere, help people, and give you education credit that could be put towards trade school or paying off student loans. Not sure if they have much trade related work, its mostly conservation and social work.

Also, how far are you from getting the degree? If you're close you may want to at least finish it so you have a degree in something. Even if you're applying for a welder position, if you have a college degree it shows you're at least willing to put in the effort for something, even if its not related to what you're applying for.

I'm kind of in a weird spot too so that's all the advice I can really give. I ended up dropping out, working nonstop for 3 years, and then moved all the way to Minnesota to do conservation work because I just needed some time to get my head on straight. So take what I say with a grain of salt I guess

Shhh, Dont Mention Sociology or the Dakkanites will come and mock you

I actually get what you mean. I'm doing a joint honours and frankly one part of my course has just lost any kind of interest I once had for it.
However, the other part of my course has become far more interesting to me than it was before.

Honestly, in between courses, check out various trades organizations and see if they are willing to do short term "apprenticeships" or training. This way, you can get that exposure/experience in welding, cabinet building, construction, etc. to get a broader picture of you as a person.

I'm with MrMoustaffa, if you're well on your way to a degree, I wouldn't drop it (perhaps if you're not THAT far in, you can change majors), which is why Im suggesting you explore different avenues in between classes or school. Is Kamloops near the ocean? If so, you may want to check out commercial fishing. My dad did that for awhile, and he absolutely loved it (till his boat pulled a shark up in the nets)

 Cheesecat wrote:
I'm kind of going through a weird phase in life atm originally I thought I wanted to be a sociology major with BA degree but now I'm not liking it so much as I hate writing but like the subject. I recently took a film course which has inspired me to go further with film related stuff but trades also

seems like good option as there's a lot of good paying trades jobs that are in high demand but I've never done anything trades related. I don't know what to do...

You say like the subject. What do you like about it? maybe thats where your head is really at.

Much of the grunt level film business has moved out of Hollywood. Its not steady.

Step one cheese, is relax, and realise that everyone has been in your position before.

step two, is just to take the time and figure out what you really want in life.

do you want a job based soley on how much it pays? how much you enjoy it? you probably want a balance of that, but keep in mind, if you always try to get the job you IMAGINE, you might turn down real opportunites that make you compromise a bit on somthing.

trades are great jobs, thats how I put myself through school. It pays the bills, gives you skills, and is a great fall back if your degree in a "softer" area doesnt quite pan out with the job opportunities.

I remember when I was your age, I had taken a year off after High school to travel, save up $ and figure stuff out. Lots of people told me not to, for various reasons like "youll fall behind, youll forget how to do school, ect" but I feel like actually getting everything straight in my head about who I was, and what I wanted, gave me much more of a head start then all the people who rushed into post secondary simply because they were pressured to, or thought its was simply a given thing to do. Lots of those people dropped out, and still dont know what they want to do. Lots of those people graduated, and still dont know what they want to do.

Know who you are, what you want, where you want to go, and you will figure out how to get there with time/determination.


The single best piece of advice I can give you is this:

Do not stay in your comfort zone, be willing and earnest to forces yourself to expand it and be able to jump into new and different situations, even if they are rediculously hard/strage/ect

You could also do film as a hobby or a side job.

I don't really have a career in live sound anymore, but I still plan on doing it on the side as a "hobby" of sorts. You could try working freelance and just do it as something fun on the weekends or working with friends.

I knew a guy who made really funny movies all the time as a hobby and he loved it. He could do exactly what he wanted and then he would invite friends over to watch them. He never had time to work full time in film so that was his way of filling that desire.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Shhh, Dont Mention Sociology or the Dakkanites will come and mock you

If it makes you feel any better, hot, when I was teaching I advised my students to stay away from education as well

Well we all know you think no one should go to college and everyone should go be a plumber or electirician, so that makes sense.

If you are close to graduating, then finish up. "A Degree" even in an unrelated or functionally worthless field (not saying sociology is functionally worthless) is still a degree and lots of jobs don't require a degree in the field, just a degree.

If you are not close (more than 2 years) you might want to see what you can do in regards to compiling your general studies coursework into an AA and cut your losses. The nice thing about at least compiling into an AA is you at least have something to show for your work, it is a degree and if you 'take a break' you are not that person who 'took a break' for 10 years.

I guess it also depends on your debt situation. Second you stop school, most college loans are 'due' so stopping school with no income is suicide unless you have a way to pay the loans or simply plan to default on them. It does kill a lot of the freedom when you have a noose around your neck the second you step out of school.

I think there is value in taking time off, entering a workforce or volunteering. You can't know what you want to do until you know what you don't want to do. You would be surprised how many friends I have who seem to be making a living doing what they love. People seemed pre-occupied with salaries and must make X$ a year or else I will be poor... People get by every day.

Cheesecat wrote:I'm kind of going through a weird phase in life atm originally I thought I wanted to be a sociology major with BA degree but now I'm not liking it so much as I hate writing but like the subject. I recently took a film course which has inspired me to go further with film related stuff but trades also

seems like good option as there's a lot of good paying trades jobs that are in high demand but I've never done anything trades related. I don't know what to do...

hotsauceman1 wrote:Shhh, Dont Mention Sociology or the Dakkanites will come and mock you

You should stick with sociology so that we have someone to mock other than poor hotsauce.

It's the perfect time of year for this Cheesecat.
1. Own a hardhat and CSA steel toe boots ~$100 investment.
2. Contact every contractor in your area, say you are looking for labour work, be confident and direct, be ready to work immediately. You could also try the temporary labour places but you have to be careful not to get exploited and it's harder to stand out as a great worker.
3. ???*
4. Profit!!!




*in this case ??? means show up on time, and work hard with a positive attitude. Young guys that do those four things are in high demand and short supply.

Labour for the summer, talk to the different journeymen trades. See if you like it. Worst case, youbdon't really enjoy it, but you get a tan and a workout while earning pretty decent money.

I'd quit my job for manual labor in a heartbeat if it would pay me as much.

nkelsch wrote:
If you are close to graduating, then finish up. "A Degree" even in an unrelated or functionally worthless field (not saying sociology is functionally worthless) is still a degree and lots of jobs don't require a degree in the field, just a degree.

If you are not close (more than 2 years) you might want to see what you can do in regards to compiling your general studies coursework into an AA and cut your losses. The nice thing about at least compiling into an AA is you at least have something to show for your work, it is a degree and if you 'take a break' you are not that person who 'took a break' for 10 years.

I guess it also depends on your debt situation. Second you stop school, most college loans are 'due' so stopping school with no income is suicide unless you have a way to pay the loans or simply plan to default on them. It does kill a lot of the freedom when you have a noose around your neck the second you step out of school.

I think there is value in taking time off, entering a workforce or volunteering. You can't know what you want to do until you know what you don't want to do. You would be surprised how many friends I have who seem to be making a living doing what they love. People seemed pre-occupied with salaries and must make X$ a year or else I will be poor... People get by every day.

If you can get into a program like Americorps, they'll allow you to put your loans on hold for the extent of the program. I didn't do it because my loan payment was microscopic, but for others this could be a big deal.

I'm sure other programs have an option like this as well.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Well we all know you think no one should go to college and everyone should go be a plumber or electirician, so that makes sense.

At no time have I EVER said anything remotely like that.

Believing too many people are going to traditional college when some should be learning vocations, trades or taking apprenticeships is a far cry from "no one should go to college and everyone should be a plumber or electrician."

Education is a noble, worthwhile pursuit. Just not when the market is flooded with unemployed new teachers and the funding for schools continues to diminish.

Join the Mobile Infantry to impress girls. Would you like to know more?

People shouldn't go to college because its just the next thing to do. It should never be a default. That it has become the default for high school graduates is hurting students at all levels.

I'm glad I went to college. I've worked for a living, it sucks. I'd rather sit in a nice office and process paperwork. But plenty of people, like my brother, feel the opposite.

feeder wrote:
It's the perfect time of year for this Cheesecat.
1. Own a hardhat and CSA steel toe boots ~$100 investment.
.

I think I would die laughing if I saw his yearly picture in that thread whose name I can't remember, but in steel boots and a hardhat. My god, the image.

 MrDwhitey wrote:

feeder wrote:
It's the perfect time of year for this Cheesecat.
1. Own a hardhat and CSA steel toe boots ~$100 investment.
.

I think I would die laughing if I saw his yearly picture in that thread whose name I can't remember, but in steel boots and a hardhat. My god, the image.

It only takes a summer to turn a green, clean kid into a man. Its... not a pretty process.

It only takes a summer to turn a green, clean kid into a man. Its... not a pretty process.

There's a Deliverance joke here somewhere.

Its ok to be clueless. Its somewhat disconcerting to come across youngins who aren't (like my Boy. He's almost scary).

Thats why counsel is:
1. Never do anything to yourself thats permanent. No tats/piercings/babies/fun lunch dates in front a judge, etc.

2. Get a degree. Thats either a university degree or a technical degree. Don't waste it it, but if you're not the most certain go general. You can fix that in grad school as long as you're decent in math.

Alternatively if you feel the call of trades get a technical degree there. Get experience and apprenticed to quality masters.

Here's the thing though, college/university isn't for everyone.
There are lots of people going on to tertiary education who come out with a degree they can't do anything with and a load of debt.
The converse of this is, not everyone is cut out for a job contracting.
My Wife used to work in a University, in wider access.
She has a few degrees herself, from a very good university, and is a qualified teacher to boot, she regularly had students who went to uni because their parents expected them to or they had no idea what they wanted to do and this let them put off the decision for another four years.

The thing about finishing a degree is that it shows you can finish a degree.

You know BA degrees are underpowered, right? I'd go with a WS Biker degree

Ok, seriously now. Everyone hates the writing side of degrees (this coming from an English/CW student). If you're really considering change, I'd either swap to a new degree if it's early enough, or ride out what's left. After all, it's better to have a degree and not need it than it is to be punked by the guy that did get one.

I don't know what the deal is in Canada, but in the UK the pay for apprentices is appalling... you can't live off it, that's for sure. If you go the trade route with an apprenticeship, seriously do the maths on whether it's gonna be enough for you to live off.

On the film side, you could always become a Youtube celebrity...

@Liquid

From friends in apprentice work (best example is a guy doing eletrical for industrial applications, used to work on wind turbines) he made enough to live on his own. Wasn't wealthy by any stretch, but he had a nice truck and could go out with friends when he wanted.

@Cheese

Don't be afraid to switch your major. Now, ideally make that decision in your first year, or no later than 1st semester 2nd year (that's what I did, dropped Chemistry for a BA in Military and Strategic Studies) and ride out that new program. Either way, as others have mentioned, finishing a degree is a good step, but use your time in school making connections and finding places to volunteer/work in your desired field or just to figure out where you want to go.

A Canadian apprentice's pay will vary by employer and even job site, but when I did mine in the residential sector (typically lesser paid than commercial) I started at just under twice minimum wage and finished at 2.5 times that.

Sounds like a far better rap than here... think my sister is on something like 1/2 minimum wage. Has to run a part time job to make it work.

UK apprentices make less than if they worked at McDonald's?

That's nuts man, no wonder there is a perception the Poles make better tradesmen over there. If I made less money than a fry cook whilst learning a trade I'd be livid. Actually I'd just go be a fry cook.

The UK apprentice minimum wage is £2.68 for apprentices under 19 or those in the first year of level 2 or 3 apprenticeships, compared to the national minimum wage of £6.38 for ages 21+, £5.03 for ages 18-20, and £3.72 for ages 17 and under.