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Not Sure About College.... (long post warning)

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panojibber
Posts: 3382 - Karma: 216
Alright, so I'm going off to college/university next year.

The thing that worries me, is that I'm not sure if its what I really want to do, or if its what I should be doing right now.

I have basically a few options right now.

First, there is the option of going and getting a degree. Not sure what I want that for. Can I see myself working 9-5 ever? Not really, what the fuck would I do that for? Probably not going to be supporting a family too soon, I don't really have a desire for owning really nice cars, or a big house, or a nice apartment. Its not something that interests me.

So why would I bother with a degree?

Sure, my major (physics) is something that interests me. Thats really why I'm taking it. Just to learn a bit, because I'm more or less riding the wave and going to university like everybody else. Do I actually plan on using it as a career? Not really. Maybe if I finish the degree I will. Who knows? Maybe I'll go on to get my masters/doctorate. Can I see myself working on the cutting edge of science? Not really. I think I have the ability to do it, but I don't think thats what I want to do.

So what else could I do? Why would deciding not to go to university be a good idea?

Well, for one thing I'm a pretty solid skier, I have some pretty respected instructing and coaching certification (CSIA and CSCF), and am very capable of getting more certification. I've done a year of coaching, and I think I can safely say that I was pretty popular with the kids I was coaching (it was an all mountain team), and that I was the favourite coach on the team. The head coach was a douchebag to me and all the kids, and took every opportunity to give me the absolute worst group of kids to coach. I still managed to have fun, and so did the kids. I can safely say that I could make a job out of coaching and instructing. I also know a few people at resorts and through teams that could hook me up, and I have a lot more certs and experience than your average 18 year old kid fresh out of high school.

Tons of people do the ski bum thing, and with my experience and skill, I think I can safely say I have an advantage over the average person entering that life right out of high school.

But realistically, you've always got to be thinking about the future. We all have to think about where we're going, what we're going to do 20 years down the road; its life. Can ski bumming/coaching/instructing lead anywhere? Maybe. Probably?

Head coaches make decent money. Maybe somewhere along the way I would meet the right people and get involved in the ski industry. Maybe there's a little hill somewhere that needs a decent team. Who knows? Its a gamble for sure, but so is everything. Last year, nothing saved you from the economic collapse. A degree helped you no more than your work experience bagging groceries.

Looks like solid options on both ends.... I have the option of getting a degree, I have the option of ski bumming it, and I have the option of doing the whole poor musician thing if I want to (not going to elaborate on that last one, this post is long enough as is).

So what do I do? With all these options, what is the best one for me and my life?

I honestly think the best way to answer that is through figuring out what I want to do. So many people get influenced by other people such as parents, friends, mentors, relatives, etc. They lose sight of what they actually want to do. Its easy to be convinced that you should do something by someone you respect. I think the trick to being happy in life is to not let your life get steered by other people, but instead take the reigns and do what YOU want to do. Its your life, your freedom. Sure, your parents raised you, but thats their obligation. When they had a child they agreed to raise you and release you when you became an adult. I don't think I should be obligated to do anything based on anyone else's charity - its a good way to get trapped and have other people choose what you'll do in life for you.

So then what to I want to do? I'm just going to write down everything I want to do in life off the top of my mind right here:

Play music in a band.
Ski the way I want to.
Ski all over the world.
Do something big.
Travel.
Meet tons of people.
Learn as much as possible through other people and experiences.

These are the big ones for me. Can I accomplish those through going to university? Maybe. I can definitely accomplish a few of those through doing that. But where are my priorities in that list?

Do something big.
Ski the way I want to.
Ski all over the world.
Learn as much as possible through other people and experiences.
Play music in a band.
Travel.
Meet tons of people.

So what do I do? I've got so many options, so many choices... Is university the right thing for me to do at this point in my life? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Right now, I'm starting to think its not what I should be doing at this point.

The wonderful thing about life is that there are so many options. I literally have every inch of soil, water, forest, and air on this planet at my fingertips to use to accomplish my goals. Most people would think that knowing that would make you feel great.

I'm scared of it.

I once heard a saying along the lines of "Its not our inability to act that scares us, but our incredible capacity to do great things".

I also once heard a saying "fear is failure". I often feel I should pursue the things that scare me the most - they often lead to the greatest rewards.

So where does that leave me? Where should I go? I'm leaning more and more to choosing my own freedom, and facing my fears, than taking the easy path and going through the traditional university-job-retirement path.

I could keep going, but I just want your thoughts NS.

Sparknotes: Not sure if university is right for me. PLEASE read my post if you can though, I put a lot of time into it, and maybe it will help some of you guys too.
Jun 29 2010 5:56PM
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maximiliaan
Posts: 7711 - Karma: 2,857
goddammed what a long post
didn't read it
Jun 29 2010 5:58PM
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mason-
Posts: 955 - Karma: 45
im in a similar position. i have absolutely no idea what i want to do with my life/where i want to go, and i dont have a lot of time left to decide. I know i want to go to college and thats about it. Im interested in some of the advice other people might give so im saving this in my threads
Jun 29 2010 6:01PM
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Jake...
Posts: 11976 - Karma: 296
Do what you do man not what other people tell you to do. End thread.
Jun 29 2010 6:02PM
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General_Shredgnar
Posts: 3024 - Karma: 34
First, I should just let you know that you have you're priorities in order, and you're being really thoughtful about the situation so props.

I felt the same way last year. I'm nineteen now, but I was for a while feeling pretty intent on avoiding college. What I came to realize after discussing things with my dad for a while, is that a university degree now doesn't stop you from doing anything else. Honestly it's a nice cushion to get your feet underneith yourself, get a boost in the job market, and most importantly, find and follow your passions. I feel identical to you, I'm in an arts and science program, I'm studying biology, but I don't see myself being a biologist. I'm doing it because I'm interested in the subject. I have a long life ahead of me, and I think the key element you're missing here is scale.
You don't have to be funneled into the job market. A great example is my dad. Got his undergraduate degree, graduated, got his pilots license, bought a motorcycle, drove around america for two years, worked for another year, headed to nepal and southeast asia for another year, and eventually landed up in architecture school after contemplating his fate for a very long and adventurous time. His twenties was filled with everything I could ever want, and by the time he was thirty something, he had seen the world, had most of the insane experiences youth can possibly provide, earned an undergraduate and two masters, and found his wife. He didn't start his proffessional degree till later, and you don't have to. I don't see the point of rushing into societal slavery. He's a successful Cornell professor now.
It's true that if you start you're career earlier you'll find your way up the ladder faster. But the truth is, life isn't about what society tells us success is defined by. You need to decide on your own, just make sure it's a sound decision.
There is literally nothing wrong with what you're thinking, but here's something to think about. College is an incredible time. If you're not an idiot, You learn a lot of life lessons, meet and network with a ton of people, have some of the most epic experiences, and satisfy your intellectual curiousities to your hearts content (just make sure you go to a school where you can do all that, I suggest mcgill from experience). After a year, I can say I'm glad I'm not ski bumming ,because from the people I met with, I cofounded a non profit media organization, I have friends all over the world I can visit and travel with, I'm more mature than I ever could have been without the entire experience, and I'm figuring out what I'm really passionate about in life, so when I graduate I feel ready to hit the ground running and tackle whatever I have the means to do.
A year off can be a really good idea, a lot of people do it. If you're in no rush and you're slated to have an advantage, I would say give it a shot. Although college is awesome, you don't want to regret not pursuing something as epic as getting involved in the ski industry. If I could be skiing professionally I probably would, I'm sure anyone here would agree. Spend a year around, if something clicks, then follow through, if it doesn't, then you know college is going to be great. So that's my advice.
Jun 29 2010 6:15PM
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maximiliaan
Posts: 7711 - Karma: 2,857
Ok readed it and here's my serious answer: This year was for me my first year in college, and i fucked up the whole year because i didn't liked my study, and didn't i like my study? Because i didn't thought good about choosing one. My study is industrial design and my schoolyear ended last week and ive got 5 of the 65 points.. Well i dont know you, so i recommend to think good about your choise and when youre more shure about youre thoughts ask your closest friends about it, if you ask it seriously they will give you an answer that really fits at your personality, and not like your parents will say becouse in my case they only say what they want and not what you want. Im now student, and really it is the best time of my life met alots of people( not only college sluts but aswell very good friends) and im still skiing. So my suggestion to you is do your own thing, and ask to your closest friends if youre right. BTW im dutch so thats why i probably make that much grammatical mistakes. Good luck!
Jun 29 2010 6:49PM
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skiskate
Posts: 787 - Karma: 823
I was thinking the same thing before I went to college. Im now done college and have a job that allows me to work 8 months of the year and have winter off, while making a more than stable enough wage to survive winter off of. I had no idea what type of job I would do until 2 months ago when I got the job. To be honest its not something I enjoy, but it makes me enough money to own a car, pay rent, bills etc etc. and for the next year or two Ill be able to save a shit ton of money and still ski all winter loving life. I contemplated the year off but figured it was better to get school done with early and get a job making money and then decide where I am going to go.

Id say go to school, get a degree. It DOES help in the job market, as long as it is in an actual valuable field, I have too many stupid friends in political science, and physchology working at mcdonalds cause for most people it will be useless. And enjoy the next few years in school, itll be a great time in your life. Find something that you can still do what you love to do and survive off.
Jun 29 2010 6:49PM
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Tasche
Posts: 5422 - Karma: 99
didnt read it. Get a Mechanical Engineering Degree.
Jun 29 2010 6:49PM
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*rkp*
Posts: 8198 - Karma: 257
What about going to a college or technical institute and getting a degree? You'll most likely be placed right out of school into a decent, well-paying job.

University degrees (unless they're graduate programs) are usually not a means to an end.
Jun 29 2010 7:06PM
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jstemp
Posts: 349 - Karma: 3,833
hey what school do you go to for industrial design??
Jun 29 2010 7:09PM
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maximiliaan
Posts: 7711 - Karma: 2,857
Hogeschool rotterdam; its in the netherlands
Jun 29 2010 7:13PM
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JakeAssBeatClap
Posts: 6673 - Karma: 2,537
im tossin this out get your degree then ski bum or ski whilst getting a degree youre going to really enjoy having that security when you realize its tough getting a job without a college education. But im also quite the fan of doing whatever makes you happiest so if ski bumming is what will make you happy then dude do that and youll never look back . good luck on the choice bro do whats right for you not anyone else
Jun 29 2010 7:28PM
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DANETRON
Posts: 6671 - Karma: 137

In the end do what you and only you want to do. You are 18 im guessing and you wont get the chance to live the way you can live at this age. You can always go back to school if its something you decide you need to do.

I have been where you are and I made alot of decisions I regret. Not doing WHAT I WANTED was one of them

Jun 29 2010 7:39PM
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slash22
Posts: 94 - Karma: 5
get a degree, its always nice to have something to fall back on. And if your someday wanna have a family or such it would be a lot easier to support them with a degree
Jun 29 2010 7:44PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 370
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Jun 29 2010 7:47PM
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Ski..4..Life
Posts: 1347 - Karma: 97
I'll tell you what im doing.

Going to uni and getting a degree in tourism management, just finished first year and hoping to do semester abroads in 3rd year, preferably Switzerland and Sweden.

Then once i graduate i'll do whatever i want, most likely just travel around and lose all my money, meet intersting people, and see amazing things. I will only be 22-23 when i start which is very young.

The whole reason i am going to uni is so i have a fallback option if the worst should happen (knock on wood) and i would be unable to do what i want.

plus at somepoint when im older ill get a job to support a family, preferably in the tourism industry, so the degree will help.

hope that gave you something to think about.
Jun 29 2010 7:49PM
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