pitboss

I did one year of college after HIgh School. I hated it and could not figure out why the hell I even bothered. I knew that I wanted more education, but the timing was totally off and I was not interested at all. I worked as a roofer and then in a warehouse job or two - just kind of going through the days of the weeks of the months of the years - not getting anywhere, but not falling behind, so to speak. After 4 years, I decided to go back to school and realized that loans were not something I wanted to add to my life for my BA. I joined the Military (this is not a recommendation to anyone - this is a choice you must make yourself, and there are other options out there to consider) and 4 years later, I had my school paid for - including tuition, books, and living arrangements (IL and the GI Bill covered me for the first two years). Well, here comes boredom again and I decided to go teach English in South Korea for a year. When I returned to the US, I finished up my BA at Colorado University (had a bit of Govt money left over, the rest was out of pocket). In 1999, I moved back to Chicago and finally received my diploma (had to pass a comprehensive exam that covered six books and two in-class essay test I had four hours to complete) in 2000. What a ****ing journey. But I would not change a damn thing. I look at all my high school classmates and think one thing:

Thank god I did it differently.

It is all about what suits your personality, but also making sure you are not falling behind in reaching the goal you set for yourself. Remember to enjoy yourself along the way too - there is anough bull**** to wade through and there is no reason to add to it with your own frustrations, etc. Keep your goal in mind and remember that when you finally reach it, there is time to set another, and so on and so on...it is the journey.

good luck, noremedy. it may take some time to figure out your goal. once you do, rethink it to be sure of it. and then realize that you will probably change it again along the way. life is like that at times.

be flexible
have fun

doofo

+1

TheBrick

I say go with the night school thing. Even though you will be doing the same job you will be on the road to something different, you will have a plan and that will help you feel better, as you will no longer be working in a job you don't like for no reason. YOu will be working in a job you don't like to pay your way though school and start on something you do like. It will be hard but any thing that is worth doing is hard. Maybe take a few weeks off work if possible go on holiday and have a think creat a plan. YOu will feel better.

deathhare

Youre about the 900 millionth guy that didnt want to stick with what their dad did or work in the family business. Im one of those guys too. My brother didnt escape like i did and now he runs the family business. My dad is dead. I think my brother is happy but has often been jealous that ive seen the US and lived abroad. He's never left America and never lived outside of Tennessee. He does have a nice house and a good income. It doesnt bother me at all. I have no regrets.

Im starting grad school this year. My goal after finishing is to get the **** of America permanently. That may change before the 2 years is up.

goodall

I'm a transportation engineer, and my wife is a graphic designer/painter. We both went to school and worked in VA, so I've got some insights here. A few options:

1) Graphic design school: do community college and then transfer to JMU. 65% women there, all hot, they will be hitting on you not the other way around. Graphic design degree, then work in the DC region. Plenty of work up there.

2) Engineering school: Study civil engineering at ODU, then do the VDOT Scholar Intern Program as soon as you can apply. You get $7000/year scholarship and a guaranteed job with VDOT when you graduate. Starting salary will be around $50,000. If you don't like VDOT, there are plenty of other jobs, both private sector and public sector. Work in and around DC, make good money. Plus it's kind of like paving, which you already know.

3) Business school. I only suggest this because you may be able to convince your family to finance this option, if they assume you'll come back to work for them.

4) Sales. Sales is like the one industry where you can make ridiculous money and education doesn't mean crap. I used to work with time share sales guys at Massanutten ski resort. They'll take anyone to start out on a trial basis. If you can sell, you start making big bucks quick, like six-figures. High stress though, you're paid totally on commission. Real estate could be an option too, they don't care if you've been to college.

kemmer

+1

I did part time door to door sales when I was in school and made as much (per hour anyway) as I do now working as a software engineer. It's pretty fun, but you have to be confident and not let failure/rejection get you down. I keep thinking about going back to sales, this salaried 9-"whenever we decide" business is getting me down.

If you don't want to do sales and you don't want to go to school your options are pretty much be poor or learn a trade. It sounds like you have a family business/trade to work with and you really should stick to it uless you want to be poor. I suppose you could learn a different trade, but all the hard work is done for you if you stick with the family biz.

Fegos

No matter where you go, there you are.
If you are unhappy, look to yourself, not your situation. If you choose the right 'tude, you can be happy at an insurance seminar.