I have no idea what career to choose...

[The BMW Guy]

I know most of you have been in my shoes before, high school senior facing the reality of post-secondary education, so maybe you guys can help me out a little bit.

I'm close to graduating and going to university but unlike most of my classmates, I don't know what I want to take. I'm not sure what I should choose for a future career.
I've recently had several appointments with my school counselors but they were of little help. I am still undecided as to what I am taking.

I think the problem with not knowing what to do, is that I don't know whats out there.

Hope some of you on here can help me out, I'm extremely frustrated and slightly frightened that I have no planned future ahead of me.
I know there are a lot of successful beyonders on here as well, I'd like to hear what you do for a living. Might give me some inspiration.

[97acura]

Analyst for a large resource company in town.

First off, if you are just graduating, I wouldn't worry about "not having a future". You are young. If you are unsure, why not take a year off? Personally, I think there are far too many young people who have no idea what they want to do with their lives, and they rush into post secondary, and wind up with some bullshit degree.

You should consider working abroad, traveling, and meeting different people if you are unsure. My 2c. Good luck

[Seanith]

How well you do in school, and what subjects in particular might be useful information.

[2Valve0]

What are your grades like? and what courses you graduating with? Post-seconadary as in sait? or as in university? Looking to stay in calgary or travel somewhere?

[The BMW Guy]

Originally posted by 97acura
Analyst for a large resource company in town.

First off, if you are just graduating, I wouldn't worry about "not having a future". You are young. If you are unsure, why not take a year off? Personally, I think there are far too many young people who have no idea what they want to do with their lives, and they rush into post secondary, and wind up with some bullshit degree.

You should consider working abroad, traveling, and meeting different people if you are unsure. My 2c. Good luck

I was thinking about that. Talked to my mother about it as well and she was okay with it if I gained new experience. Definately a good idea

Originally posted by Seanith
How well you do in school, and what subjects in particular might be useful information.

Oh yes, sorry it was a rushed post. Didn't bother thinking about posting what I'm good at...

School grades, I'm over 80% in everything (damn english and physics are holding me back).

I'm good in pretty much everything else. Biology, Chemistry, Math, Social.
Biology is probably my most favourite subject. Human body in particular. I have always and still am intrigued by the human body and how sophisticated it is.

Perhaps I should do something in the medical field...but schooling is harsh and competitive, not sure if I'd make it. But its a start.

I also like working with computers. More specifically, video editing and the such. Its a fun hobby, not sure if I could make a career out of it...just thought I'd throw that in as its one of my passions.

I do lots of sports as well, great fun and good way to socialise/keep active.

Originally posted by 2Valve0
What are your grades like? and what courses you graduating with? Post-seconadary as in sait? or as in university? Looking to stay in calgary or travel somewhere?

Graduating with almost every major course. All sciences, (Bio, Chem, Physics) and English, Social, Math.

Post-secondary as in university. Stay in Calgary or travel...doesn't matter. Either one is good for me.

[kaput]

.

[statick]

I would certainly suggest taking a year off, if you are unsure about what to do. It will help you in looking at things from a different perspective. You should certainly make use of the time you take off, though. Pursue different volunteering opportunities, do things that push you out of your comfort zone and all the while, do what you can to learn things about yourself.

[Jlude]

Don't get down on yourself cause you're not sure what you want to do for the rest of your life, most of your friends who DO know, really don't, they just think they do, or they're taking a career path for the money, which isn't gonna last forever, because money isn't everything.

Taking a year off isn't a bad idea either, work, get some work experience, try to get jobs in the industry in which you might be interested in.

[beyond_ban]

lol @ "The BMW Guy"

[scat19]

Originally posted by kaput
Just be careful what you decide or you'll be 22 with a massive pile of debt and still no future.

Haha. I'm in this boat right now. Took a year off, turned into 4.

Still not sure what I want to go back to school for. Don't really have too much debt tho.

[spike98]

One of the best decisions in my life was to take time off right after highschool. I was in the EXACT same boat as yourself. I worked the oil patch for a year and gain some valuable work ethic while making some good money.

I had orginally intended on following the path of my father, as a welder. Work along side them in the field showed me that i really didnt want to do that at all.

Unfortunatly i had not completely set myself on what i wanted to do after the year and enrolled in engineering because i still felt pressured by myself to have a course for my life. I took a year and hated it. A LOT!

Now $10k in debt i thought the world was going to chew me and spit me out because i still wanted something else for my career. I decided to just get a job and deal with it.

I worked at a company that specialized in the service of post drilling well-site completion equipment and from there i found an aspect of that industry that i really liked. So i persued it and took the schooling i had to take and worked very hard. Now 7 years after graduation i am enjoying a very sucessfull and well paid career.

My advice would be to dont jump in with both feet. Get any traveling done and out of the way while KD and wieners are still appealing. Then get out in the workforce and explore as many jobs as you would think you would like.

Its like buying a car, no one would buy a car without test driving it right?

[Dumbass17]

no matter what job in life you get, you'll always be unhappy

haha

[Rat Fink]

.

[JfuckinC]

Originally posted by Dumbass17
no matter what job in life you get, you'll always be unhappy

haha

god, so true. It's all about finding the most bearable job lol
So sad

[sxtasy]

Originally posted by Rat Fink
Every day I thought of different ways I could kill myself with stationary.

too funny

OP I think a lot of people struggle with the same thing. Even when you do find a job where you make good money, you will probably still think of other things you would like to do.

My suggestion, stay versatile, don't corner yourself into an industry where if the industry fails, you are out of work. I'm one whom thinks that job "security" is bs, perhaps consider starting your own business if that kinda thing is for you. For me its a motivator, because everything I personally do determines my success. If I don't have work, well then I have to go and find it. It keeps things exciting, as opposed to finding ways to kill myself with office stationary lol.

[R-Audi]

My advice:

I would take a year off after HS, work for 6 months, save up then go travelling. Get a buddy that is committed and go to Europe or AUS etc for ~3+ months. You will learn way more and mature then bumming around the city for a year. Great learning experience plus you get to see what the world has to offer!

After that.. if you are interested in going to Uni (or something similiar) get out of Calgary. Nothing against Calgary schools (I wont even touch that subject) but again you will learn a lot more and mature WAY more living away from home, and starting something completely new. Even if its as close as Edmonton, Red Deer or Lethbridge. For the most part, once you have a degree no one will care where it came from. THere are a few schools that have a bit more umph behind them (McGill, Western, Queens) but for the most part they are all the same.

Unless you know exactly what you want to do.. start with something general. Take a few courses of everything, and go form there. Its easier said then done.. but that should provide a good starting point for anyone. You certainly learn which courses you hate pretty quickly!

GL!

[Jlude]

And don't listen to what some of the guys above said about you're gonna always be unhappy, they just think that because they and the friends they have are unhappy with their work, that everyone else is. You can certainly find a job that you love.

[spike98]

Originally posted by Jlude
And don't listen to what some of the guys above said about you're gonna always be unhappy, they just think that because they and the friends they have are unhappy with their work, that everyone else is. You can certainly find a job that you love.

My uncle always told me the key to happiness in the workplace is to not find a job, but to find a hobby and get paid for it.

[eg_eric]

Originally posted by spike98



My uncle always told me the key to happiness in the workplace is to not find a job, but to find a hobby and get paid for it.

And this is why I am a Web Developer.

[masoncgy]

Originally posted by The BMW Guy
I'm close to graduating and going to university but unlike most of my classmates, I don't know what I want to take. I'm not sure what I should choose for a future career.

Word of advice. Don't bother with post-secondary until you know what you want to do. It's a waste of time & money. You're better off checking out the employment opportunities out there and feeling your way out... you're gaining valuable experience and a better understanding of what you enjoy and what you don't like.

Originally posted by The BMW Guy
I think the problem with not knowing what to do, is that I don't know whats out there.

That's why I advise you to start off in the world of employment... take on a job, try it out, see what you like... then, move on to the next one... you will find your way.

Originally posted by The BMW Guy
Hope some of you on here can help me out, I'm extremely frustrated and slightly frightened that I have no planned future ahead of me.

Trust me, there are not very many of us who truly know what we want to do when we 'grow up'... it's a fact. Look at how many times we are expected to change our careers in our working lifetime... several times!

What is enjoyable at age 19 is not always enjoyable at age 25 and so on...

Originally posted by The BMW Guy
I know there are a lot of successful beyonders on here as well, I'd like to hear what you do for a living. Might give me some inspiration.

When I first got into the work force, at age 13, I worked in the restaurants... doing various tasks... moving between 3 difference places until I found one that best suited my interests (at the time)...

I ended up staying at that restaurant for 6 years... and I was running the place when I quit and moved on... experience that was so valuable later on...

Moved to Calgary when I was 20... didn't go back to the restaurants... so I tried my hand at sales... and it was awesome, but I didn't exactly enjoy the company I worked for... so I moved on...

Worked for WestJet for awhile... cabin crew... gave it a try... didn't like it that much, being away from home for long periods is something I realized I didn't enjoy... so I left...

Then I started working in a call centre... and flourished... to the point that after a couple years, I was in senior management and making a ton of cash... and I was immensely successful. You see, it was all of the experience that I had gained in all of my other jobs that boosted me up... and resulted in a tremendous amount of success...

However... I grew tired of that line of work... and left to work for a new home builder here in Calgary, to broaden the horizon a bit... and I loved it... except after awhile, I simply got tired of the office scene... and, you guessed it... I moved on!

Now... I sell welding equipment, consumables & industrial gases in addition to having my own painting business... both are extremely lucrative... and I feel satisfied with my life and where I am at.

Next summer, I move back to BC and incorporate my painting business and move into that field full-time... and I can't wait... it's EXACTLY what I want to do... well, at this time anyway!

Sooo... in the end of all of this... just remember... only you know what you enjoy... what makes you happy... just don't be afraid to try new things... and don't be afraid to fail...

...and relax a bit, life is far too short!