Well damnit, I want to be a mechanic (Page 2 of 2)

You know I bet if all of us bug enthusiasts put our occupations in a list it would be all over the place. I wonder what percentage are actually in an automotive trade?

Bottom line.  At any point in life if you want to embark on a different career path and even if you want to start at the bottom and work your way up, that piece of paper will give you an edge.   It doesn't have to be remotely connected with what you want to do, just because you showed the perseverence to stick out the 4 years and get it shows that you have qualities that are needed to be successful at anything, particularly something you're passionate about. 

Bearing in mind that most of their exposure to the applicants occurs on paper, given two applicants for any position, one with the extra piece of paper a college degree implies and one without, who do you think they'll choose? 

Circumstances change so quickly in life.  Even if you take a year off, M&D might not be so willing to pony up later.  Grab it while you can.

Just to make you doubt yourself a little more... My vote is to go and try to achieve what you WANT to do, not second guess your intentions and abilities based on other people's fear.

If you're young and motivated, I say try and make it your own way. Odds are if your parents are willing to help you out now, they'll still be willing to help you out a year or two from now if you cant make a go of the mechanic thing.  (In my experience, parents are even MORE willing to help if you come crawling back and admit that they were 'right' about something

You can ALWAYS go back to college later in life.  Theres two schools of thought, obviously...

My brother started sweeping floors in a machine shop, and a few years later he's ready to write his final machinist exam.  He took a few months off, here and there, to get the schooling he needed just to get papers.  But in the meantime he was learning hands-on in the field that he enjoys.  I had a friend who spent two years of full-time college instruction to get to the exact same papers, and then a few years of apprenticeship, and now he's unemployed.

...

People are most often motivated out of fear. Fear of regret is the biggest motivator of "life changes."  Most of us stay in jobs because there is no HOPE of more money for less stress.  We fear that we'll regret leaving the job and making our lives even worse.  So we stay where we are because we aren't willing to risk what we've already got, which tends to be less than we wanted anyway.  Sure its a risk, but the rewards of BELIEVING IN YOURSELF can be much greater.

The fact is, you're young and you've got nothing holding you back right now. Spending a few more years in school is an option, but is that going to bore the pants off you while you learn stuff you'll never use in the real world?

I love the guys on this board and they obviously speak from experience. BUT ... determination and INTENT is what will move a mountain, not the guy standing back saying "you better not try cause the odds are against you"

If you're avoiding school because its hard work and you're feeling lazy, take that into consideration. If you're avoiding school cause you have a drive to be something and school will hold you back, take that into consideration too.  Go with the motivation thats POSITIVE, not based on fear.

Its obviously not going to be black and white... but in the end, I think a happy life is usually NOT the one where you made the most money, its the one where you fullfilled your potential.

If all else fails, DO BOTH.  I'm sure you can get a job doing menial shop labour part time whlie you take that business degree or whatever you decide to 'learn.'   

Thats my two cents, still being a computer programmer who wishes to be baking in a sand cubicle under the hot mexican sun and a superbeetle.

Yes...you can always go back to school later in life...but statistically...very very very few people do it or can do it!...why:

- one of the reasons why people go to college in the first place is to guide their career & career path from the age of 22 onwards.

- when you are 40 years old, and have been working as an air-cooled VW mechanic for 20 years (keeping with the theme of this thread)...and when you have a mortgage payment, 2 car payments, a wife, 3 children at home, and one of them ready to start college...it's pretty tough financially for dad to quit his job, and go back to college.

-  on the other hand, if dad keeps his day job, and goes to college at night...mom & the 3 kids start to get real upset with dad since he is never around (work during the day & school at night)...plus going to college at night turns a 4-year degree into an 8-10 year degree.  Plus...it is REAL HARD to go to college at night...and study enough to get good grades...when you are working 8-10 hours/day at a very physically demanding job such as an auto mechanic!

- finally...if dad survives all of these hardships, and eventually gets his degree...do you have any idea how hard it will be for him to get a job!  Very few employers want to hire a 45-50 year-old guy for an entry level job, when it's much more "normal" to hire a 22 year-old straight out of college.

- Nick

Last edited by Bug In My Nose (2007-10-10 14:43:49)

I hope that it is not too much of a downer!  Just real life at it's best!  ; )  If you want a house, cars, wife, kids...you give up some flexibility regarding going back to school.

I've known plenty of people on both sides of the discussion (going back to school at an older age, say 35+).  If the wife & kids are flexible it makes it easier...or if you are not too worn out at the end of the day to go to school at night...then it can be done.  It's just tough to do for the years & years that it will take to complete the degree.

The other hard part is getting hired for an entry level job with the degree with a new company when you are 35+.    If you already work for a good company, and the degree will allow you more advancement within the company...then you are good to go!

- Nick

p.s.  By the way...I'm a perfect example of not fitting the going to college mold.  I spent 6 years in the military after high school.  Started college when I was 23, graduated at 27.  Worked for 8 years.  Then went back to college for a Master's degree at 35, graduated that program at 37.  But in both cases, I didn't have a wife, kids, or house payment...and I did the college thing full-time both times during the day...don't think I would have survived the work a full time job during the day, and classes at night route.

Last edited by Bug In My Nose (2007-10-11 16:59:04)