Careers and being young

[Paladino]

I feel like we are forced to pick a career at a young age without having a very great deal of thought into it. Some people may disagree & say they know EXACTLY what they want to do, but I feel as if when you leave school you are forced to pick a college/university course and make a career out of it, even if you aren't sure & you only get so many chances at college and university before you won't get any funding(if you live in a country where it is funded by the government). Thoughts on this?

[fairmaiden]

I agree. I think people who are forced to choose what they want to be when they're quite young have a higher chance of being bored of their job once they get it and probably regret the qualifications that they got and wish they'd chosen something else.

[James Dean]

I think it's worse when your family runs a business. You pretty much have no choice, and it's almost better to just follow in their footsteps. Being the child you automatically get sucked into that environment.

So when you decide not to go with what your family wants, it's like you're disrespecting them. Hopefully an agreement can be made with both sides so that everyone is happy.

[TroyH]

I think a lot of people would agree. Lots of university students change their major in their first year. I've picked what I want to do but who knows, I could get through what will end up being 7-8 years of undergrad and law school before getting a job and finding out I don't even enjoy it or I'm no good at it...

[Karkat]

I feel like it's entirely ridiculous. At 18 (or so) you are expected to know how to:

-drive (usually)
-pay bills
-work a full time job
-be financially independent
-be independent in the sense of knowing how to take care of oneself
-be emotionally mature enough to make responsible decisions about relationships
-be investing in a future, including retirement

And more

And when does this planning start? Age 14, 15. Maybe even 16, 17. If you're lucky, maybe 12 or 13.

That's 6 years maximum to learn how to go from child to functioning member of society... Throw in the curveball of life as an adolescent, and all the ups and downs that come with it, and you've got a royal mess.

Putting a career decision on a kid- akin to asking your child who they want to marry at 11-16 years old (because think about it- it's expensive, it requires dedication and commitment, and it's insanely messy to get out of.) is asinine, at least in my opinion.

Imo, careers should be made after a period of time taken to get used to the adult world- not before you even know what "career" actually means...

[Babs]

Teenagers are often treated like children, but expected to act like adults. And then, choose a career which will affect our lives forever.
If more time to plan isn't granted, then I think at least we shouldn't be treated like children. In a sense, teenagers are still children, and it's difficult to make such a life-altering decision at such a young age. Some do know what they want to do with their lives, but it shouldn't be an expectation.

[Paladino]

Yeah I agree with you both, we are forced into it and we will end up hating the job we are in by the time we are 30 because of this, there is so many things I would LIKE to do, but realistically won't be able to, you know? I am nearly 20 and have studied 3 different things in college since I left school and I am still uncertain on which one to do! I don't want to be in a dead end job, but sometimes I don't feel like I have the potential to make something of my self, our generation is shit! My gran told me that when she was my age getting a job was so easy, they were basically handed to people!

[Miserabilia]

Maybe it depends on the region. Where I live education gives a LOT of time and preperation for future carreer choices.

[ImCoolBeans]

I agree -- there is too much emphasis and stress put on career choices at too young of an age. In high school they started pressuring us around the age of 15 about it, which is too young IMO. It's good to be aware of it, and to consider it, but shouldn't be the main concern, school-wise. As you mature your plans change, and that is the case for almost everyone. I don't think it's fair to make a 15 or 16 year d kid think that something is wrong with him/her because the person doesn't know what he/she wants to do for the rest of their life. In high school they stressed career/major choice so much but didn't actually offer much help or guidance along the way. We had one (shitty) career fair, and they let us take aptitude tests, which can be extremely impersonal and don't always correctly capture the essence of a person, and his/her skills/capabilities/dreams. I think a better way to go about career/major choosing is by starting out at a community college before moving on to a university. Not only does it give you time to settle on a major, but it familiarizes you with the college process.

[Paladino]

I agree -- there is too much emphasis and stress put on career choices at too young of an age. In high school they started pressuring us around the age of 15 about it, which is too young IMO. It's good to be aware of it, and to consider it, but shouldn't be the main concern, school-wise. As you mature your plans change, and that is the case for almost everyone. I don't think it's fair to make a 15 or 16 year d kid think that something is wrong with him/her because the person doesn't know what he/she wants to do for the rest of their life. In high school they stressed career/major choice so much but didn't actually offer much help or guidance along the way. We had one (shitty) career fair, and they let us take aptitude tests, which can be extremely impersonal and don't always correctly capture the essence of a person, and his/her skills/capabilities/dreams. I think a better way to go about career/major choosing is by starting out at a community college before moving on to a university. Not only does it give you time to settle on a major, but it familiarizes you with the college process.

See the thing with Scotland/UK. Most people ONLY go to community colleges(we don't call them that, simply college) and can either choose to go on to university & most of the time the university is close to home, only a select few move away to a different part of the country or whatever. I have been out of High School since I was 16 & have done Construction(was shit at it), Computing & Media(both on and off, if that makes sense) & now I am stuck in Computing because I made a horrible choice to drop out last year doing Media, done computing before Media. I understand you don't NEED these qualifications to get a career in Media, just an understanding of the subject which I KNOW I have, motivation & the desire to make it. I have thought if I pass this year, I may go to see someone at the Army career centre and try and get a career in Computing in the army OR try my best and get a career in Radio with quite a low qualification in Media but I know I could be a Radio producer as I have used all the programs and software they use in the professional job, albeit I haven't since March but am still familiar(Adobe Audition for editing & Synergy for presenting). Hopefully I can make it either computing but preferably Media, either one of these career paths I would be content with.

[Maverick]

Don't worry about having all the answers and plans on what to do for the rest of your life at 18. I certainly did not. Things didn't come into focus until I was around 21. Just know that you have to do at least something until you figure it all out. Just don't use uncertainty as an excuse to be unproductive. Take some classes at a CC and be a waitress or cashier. These experiences will help lead you in the right direction.

[Paladino]

Don't worry about having all the answers and plans on what to do for the rest of your life at 18. I certainly did not. Things didn't come into focus until I was around 21. Just know that you have to do at least something until you figure it all out. Just don't use uncertainty as an excuse to be unproductive. Take some classes at a CC and be a waitress or cashier. These experiences will help lead you in the right direction.

I've been thinking about it the last few months and the recent split with my girlfriend has led me to think there is nothing here for me so I am going to finish my course of doing computing at college and hopefully join the army to do communications.