Fork in the road
OffHeGoes29
Posts: 1,240
Once again, I seek the thoughts of strangers to gain a different perspective...
I did my six years in the military and met my girlfriend. I got out and followed her to Georgia where I decided to go to school full time on the GI-Bill to get my degree. WELL, things didn't work out with us and Georgia didn't fit right with me being a Yankee in all. So I moved back home to try the school thing all over again. Now I'm about to start school again in the fall and I feel like this is the sensible path to take, getting a degree, a good job, house, etc, etc. I still feel this sense of adventure to go back out and travel and experience new things, not really settling down yet, I'm 25. For me college life seems like fun for the challenge of it, but afterwards the idea of getting a "good job" seems boring. I worked on fighter aircraft when I was in, I loved the work, but hated the bullshit crap that went with it. I have no real responsibility, just my dog. One side of me says go out and fucking do it, but the other side says what are you going to do once this streak runs out at 40 or 50? I play with so many options, I really have no idea what to do. I struggle between what is the "right" thing to do, and what I "want" to do.
Any one gone through something similar? I know I won't find an answer from this post, just different perspectives.
I did my six years in the military and met my girlfriend. I got out and followed her to Georgia where I decided to go to school full time on the GI-Bill to get my degree. WELL, things didn't work out with us and Georgia didn't fit right with me being a Yankee in all. So I moved back home to try the school thing all over again. Now I'm about to start school again in the fall and I feel like this is the sensible path to take, getting a degree, a good job, house, etc, etc. I still feel this sense of adventure to go back out and travel and experience new things, not really settling down yet, I'm 25. For me college life seems like fun for the challenge of it, but afterwards the idea of getting a "good job" seems boring. I worked on fighter aircraft when I was in, I loved the work, but hated the bullshit crap that went with it. I have no real responsibility, just my dog. One side of me says go out and fucking do it, but the other side says what are you going to do once this streak runs out at 40 or 50? I play with so many options, I really have no idea what to do. I struggle between what is the "right" thing to do, and what I "want" to do.
Any one gone through something similar? I know I won't find an answer from this post, just different perspectives.
BRING BACK THE WHALE
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Finally got that "One for the Thumb"!!! Got the "Six Pack". Now we're on a "Stairway to Seven"
Some words when spoken...can't be taken back.
"Seeing a brick wall straight ahead and stepping on the gas." Eddie...Pittsburgh 6/23/06
it sounds like you are starting college, but feel like you should have more adventure first. you are only 25. there is no real time limit on education - it is HARDER to go to school when you are older, but not impossible. What were you thinking of doing instead?
I think that formal education is not a fit for everyone. btw I think that formal education may not be the best path right out of high school either. You have already lived a little, it isn't uncommon for you to not be willing to give up on a sense of adventure and action!!
Live a little...find out who you are in varying circumstances...you will appreciate your surroundings better.
Why do you feel that what is "right" isn't what you "want" ??
why aren't they the same thing? college ---->good job
>house
>wife/kids isn't always the "right" path! the path you are on (provided it doesn't inhibit another's ability to walk their own path) is the RIGHT path...right for you...ya know?
I think the fact that you are torn is telling you something...listen to your gut on this one...college will always be there, but the experiences you could possibly obtain may only be there for a moment...
so when the streak "runs out" at 40 or 50 - is that worse than being 40 or 50 and sensible but with REGRETS?
dunno, bro...I say FUCK it...do it all eat it with a big spoon...get it all over your chin!!!
go on now!!! fuckin' do it for you and for your head.
I am 32 years old...and my path has been one twisty curvy bendy little motherfucker! but there is one cool thing about it all...I don't regret NOT doing something.
I don't think you have to decide right now to go to college, get a career-type job, buy a house, and settle down. You only have to decide whether or not to go to college. You can cross the other bridges as you come to them.
Seems to me like you're in the perfect position. No responsibilities, no career, no mortgage - you're young and your whole life is ahead of you. Now's the time to think about what you really want in life (sound like you want to travel) and set yourself up to achieve it. I don't know what you plan to study, but maybe you should study something that would put you in a position to have a good career AND travel once you graduate.
Either way, college is the time to explore life and the world. Sounds like all is good for you, my friend. I wish you the best of luck - although I'm sure you won't need it!
Hail, Hail!!!
I think my perspective is a little bit different in that I feel like my opportunity for travel/adventure has decreased now that I'm out of college. To me, college presents all sorts of opportunity to travel, "find yourself", etc. that I wish I still had. Many of my friends & family have used college as a way to see the world for free. There are so many programs for exchanges, research opportunities, scholarships, etc. where you can choose whatever you want to do and someone will fund your experience. I wish I had taken advantage of these in college, but I was always tied down with a boyfriend or something. Now I'm tied down with a real job, a mortgage, and pets to care for.
Of course, there are other ways to make a living and still see the world. How about the Peace Corps? (I don't think you can take your dog though.)
Of course, I'm a little bit drunk so maybe I'm just talking out of my ass.
I LOVE the Peace Corps idea...sucks about the dog tho...
whatcha drinkin??
I'm trying to get my degree in Mechanical Engineering, but I played around with the idea of getting my degree in another language for idea of living overseas.
I don't regret anything about what I did in the past. I want to do what makes me happy, but avoid shooting myself in the foot career/moneywise down the road.
Hail, Hail!!!
You would think. Back in the day, your military experience counted and all you had to do was take a test to get your Airframe & Powerplant cert. Now they don't give a damn if you worked on an F-16 or even the fucking Millenium Falcon, they want you to go to a 25K+ two year school to learn shit you already know, just to start out at 14 dollars an hour. Not to say thats not good pay, but for that kind of money, I can go to a state school and get a degree that would pay more.
The airline industry hires and fires like its going out of style.
I'm in the Air National Guard now, I like it. Well not to get into too many details, but the people I work with aren't deploying anytime soon.
(But then, I've always thought that being a pilot would be one of the best jobs because you could go ANYWHERE pretty easily.)
A good friend of mine whom I've known for years is currently in Iraq working on military aircraft.
He was a fighter jet wrench while he was in the Air Force.
Yeah the money he is making in Iraq is good, so I can see where you're coming from on that.
Plus when you get back you can always get a job somewhere. My friend tells me that ever since leaving the Air Force, he has never had a problem finding work making more money than the average college grad.
The average college grad makes $35K/yr according to statistics. He makes close to $60K using a skill he learned in the Air Force.
He's also doing what he enjoys, which is turning a wrench. Some people are born to do that.
In my opinion, he's about as intelligent as people get. Over the years, I've derived enormously enlightening experiences one after the other from conversation with him.
He's just one of those people who can't sit down and study. On the other hand he is quite a bookworm. But studying has never really been his forte. As I mentioned...it's a matter of what people are meant to do.
If you think you have the right personality to sit there and not only crank out a college degree, but also maintain a good GPA in a subject that will pay off after it's all said and done, you will not regret making that decision. The sooner the better because it gets harder as you get older.
http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=272825
You have many opportunities in front of you... you already possess skills and experience that can carry you. You might want to look for a job in a large corporation that has education benefits that will compliment your military college fund. Take classes at night and maintain a full time job. Follow a course that will build on your current knowlege base, yet, expand to other fields (i.e. Information Technologies, Engineering, etc...).
It's all up to you... but, if it were me... I would steer clear of the life of poverty that is a college student. I'd set full-time employment as a higher priority.
Good luck, amigo.
Hail, Hail!!!
something to think about.
all
the
time
i figure if you don't...you ain't livin' right.
you make choices....see how they go...move onwards...more choices....and so it goes....
try to make choices that DO add to your life, and really, can't go too wrong there. life is for living, do what makes you happy. if it takes you on the road less traveled, well...enjoy......:)
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow