Positive And Life-affirming Advice To Hs And College Youth

Speaking from my own experience and that of others I know, here's the advice I give to youth who are interested.

1. Decide what field you want to get into. (You can change your mind at any time, but start somewhere!)
2. Let's say you want to get into aerospace. Get a job working for an aerospace company. ANY job for an aerospace company -- night custodian? File clerk? Data entry? This will get your foot in the door, you will get to know real people who really work in aerospace (or whatever your chosen field is), and you will find out about other jobs. Don't get a job bagging groceries or flipping burgers unless you want to get into the food industry.
3. Go to college part time, and pay your way with the jobs you get in your field.
4. Don't get loans. If it takes you 10 years to get your degree, so what?
5. Don't take volunteer jobs in your field. Get a paid job, no matter what kind of job it is.
6. If you hate your boss, change companies or departments. Don't think you have to put up with abuse.
7. People -- like me -- who got a four year degree and did not do these things are unlikely to get a job in their field. We are told: "You are overqualified, and have no experience." Don't believe it that "Get your degree, then you can get a good job." That's just one big lie. Colleges want you to believe that so that the people who work their can keep THEIR jobs.
8. There are plenty of people working at good, satisfying, high paid jobs who worked their way up within the company, and never finished their college degrees.
9. There are a lot of very happy people who are self employed. I was one of these. I do not work well for a "boss." I had two successful service businesses, where I got plenty of compliments for my work, and plenty of work. I did the same quality of work when I worked for a company, and got mostly criticism.
10. If you do work for an organization, find a boss who gives more positive feedback than s/he gives negative feedback.
11. A few fortunate people go to colleges that have solid, effective placement offices. My ex-brother in law went to one of these schools. His college's department places the students in summer jobs with the Federal government, in their own field. It was a hard field to get into, but these grads went right to work for the government when they finished their Master's Degrees.
12. If you want to teach public school, start out as a teaching assistant to find out if the school environment is what you really want. Public school teaching is one of the hardest, most stressful, and longest-hours jobs there is. I speak from personal experience.

 

Assuming that the young man or lady is of the “leaving home” age, the parental statement of, “ I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it” should alas be bid farewell and replaced with:

1. Even though you think you know it all, there is still a lot to learn which you will find out in the upcoming minutes.
2. You have a job, a car and a future to look to.
3. In that very near future you will probably need a start-up apartment, and more education so you can get a better job because the apartment costs money as does the gas for your car that you can’t seem to fill up.
4. Thrift shops are great places to find designer clothes and shoes because I won’t be paying $150.00 a pop for them any longer.
5. Contrary to popular belief, even though they are cheap, Raman Noodles are not healthy so you might want to think about getting a job at a restaurant.
6. Yes, until you find suitable living quarters, you can still live here for $250.00 a month which will include breakfast and dinner. You know where the wash machine and dryer is and they will be made available for you to use.
No other services are provided and you have 6 months to get you life going so I can turn your present living quarters into the sewing room your mom always wanted.
7. No, coming home after you get tossed out of college, lose your job or after a breakup is not an option.
Join the military or tough it out because either way, it helps build character, a work ethic and you will also find that there are a heckova lot of things you really didn’t know.

 

I'm dropping out of this forum. The comment "Even though you think you know it all" is another put down, and I don't like put downs of young people.

 

And which 14-18 year old does not believe they know everything about life?
I did and so did every single kid that surrounded me both in the military and out. There is a possibility that you knew that there was so much more to learn and went about your way to learn it but it is my belief based on life experiences that you would be in the minority.

There was no "put down" intended but if that's what you wish to read into it, so be it.

 

I have to chuckle... how many young ones in this day in age would even give one iota about any of the above statements?
All true and very well put..but unless you could transfusion into their cell phones or games... just say'en

 

As far as I can see, something I've missed produced this response (above).

Can someone lead me to it? I fail to understand.
Frank

 

If you don't like the truth, what can we say. Bye?

 

When a young person asks me about joining the military, I say to them:

Just remember, there is a word called "discipline" and any part of the military prides itself in teaching that. They also pride themselves in making you a Soldier, Airman or Sailor...…..so, be ready for that. The Marines and Army will teach you "kill or be killed right off, whereas the Air Force, Coast Guard and Navy don't, unless you go into the Special Forces of these. You think you're parents were tough, you have no idea what the word "tough" is, until you go to Boot Camp. Once enlisted, you can't call home and say "mom, dad, come and get me, I don't like this."

So, folks, did I cover it?

 

Are you saying that today's youth isn't fit for the military? I'm sure they know what they're getting in to...most make it, some might not...just like when you were young.

My grandson wants to be a Navy Seal. My daughter and I hope he won't make it but he probably would.

Anyway, they want him to finish college and then he can decide.

 

Nope, not saying they aren't fit at all, but some really don't know what they would be getting into. I enlisted in the Navy before I even graduated out of high school, because I knew the Draft would be right on me after graduation. I was almost right. My folks got my Draft Notice when I was still in Basic Training for the Navy. If the Navy would've released me, the Army sure would've picked me up. Back the, during Vietnam, the Army Draft didn't really care what health condition you were in, unless it was a really, really serious condition.

I didn't know anything about the Navy, other than my real father had been a Seabee in it. I wasn't bothered being on the water, since I went with my cousins and their dad on his ski boat sometimes. I spent most of my Navy career on the water.

Being a Navy Seal is tough training! A person is a true "fighter" as a Seal. The person learns about firearms, martial arts and so on. It's like being a Green Beret in the Army.

Now, if he has a college degree, there's a good chance that he could become a Navy Officer. I talked to one guy one done just that, from college to Annapolis.

 

He wants yo be a Seal. Has for a long time. Works at the physical part constantly....maybe too much.

He's talked to some people already, I'm sure he knows what he's getting into...we just don't want him going that route but it's his choice in the end.

A friend of the family's son just graduated from West Point....he's a few years older than my grandson, lives in their neighborhood...or did.

He says it's brutal and he's burnt out but still positive about it.

 

My daughter just told me the other day that he ordered some vest on Amazon that you fill with weights that stimulates wearing all your gear in battle etc.

Told him to come and use it in Fresno so he'll feel what's it's like in weather that's similar to places that our military go.