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Post Info TOPIC: Dear Abby: I am 18 and Don't Know What i Want to Be
Lady Gaga Snerd


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Dear Abby: I am 18 and Don't Know What i Want to Be
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DEAR ABBY: I am a senior in high school in Texas. Everyone has decided which college they want to go to and what they want to be. I have no clue. It is frustrating, because when adults ask what my plans for the future are and I say I don't know, they look at me like I'm stupid.

I feel 18 years isn't long enough to figure all that out. I am an introvert, and I would really like to open up a cute little cafe in New York when I am older. But every time I tell someone this is what I'd like to do, they ask how I'm going to make money at it. They're right -- I can't make a living off a coffee shop, especially with the high cost of living in New York.

I'm lost and don't know what to do. I have less than a year to figure things out, and it's starting to stress me. Please give me some advice. I need a friend. -- LOST IN TEXAS

DEAR LOST: You not only need a friend, you also need a counselor to help you find direction. If there isn't one at your school, consider discussing this with a career counselor at a nearby university or community college. Some courses in business administration would be valuable for you so you can learn the nuts and bolts about running a business and avoid common mistakes that might cause yours to fail.

Some classes in commercial cooking would also be helpful. If there isn't a trade school nearby that offers them, consider working for a year or two in the restaurant industry to see how it functions. Many of the best chefs in the world started out that way, and you will learn quickly if this is something you really want to pursue.

P.S. Being an introvert doesn't have to stop you, if you partner with someone who's a people person to work the front of the shop and teach you the art of "schmoozing."

 

http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/2014/12/22/lonely-soldier-must-reach-out-to



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Lindley


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My dd wanted to be in the medical field while she was in high school and changed her mind mid semester her first year of college and majored in business. A few years later she went back to school to become a RN. A career she loves.

I would advise this girl to get a business degree and then go into culinary school afterwards. She may not get the diner but maybe something better.

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lilyofcourse


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At 18 I wanted to be a judge.

Or a psychiatrist.

Or an Architect.

My daughter wanted to be a teacher.

Or an actress.

Or a hairdresser. (and now she is talking about teaching again)

I don't think anyone is ever 100% sure of what they want to do with the rest of their lives at 18. It's rare if they are.

My boys are bouncing between choices now.

I really don't like the "career paths" they have to chose in 9th grade now. No way a 9th grader knows what they want to do forever.

I think the best thing for a graduating senior to do is actually start at a two year college and get as much of the academic stuff down and use that time to explore options.



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Charley Harper
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She (he?) is 18. People need to back off. She needs to go to community college and take a wide range of classes to see if anything sparks her interest.

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Tignanello


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Or go to Europe and meet interesting people and do interesting things. Forget having your life in order at 18!!

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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A lot of people don't know what they want to be. Pick something and start going in some direction. Oftentimes, when you start , then that leads you down the path you were meant to go because you wind up meeting or networking or becoming exposed to something else you didn't think of, etc.

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TrudyML


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She should jump on the pole. Meet people, make money...

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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The pole?

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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Sometimes you just have to pick something and make it work. Making no decision is making a decision.

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Lexxy


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TrudyML wrote:

She should jump on the pole. Meet people, make money...

 Work her way through law school!



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Ohfour


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TrudyML wrote:

She should jump on the pole. Meet people, make money...

Diet Coke meet keyboard... 

 

 


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karl271


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I still do not know what I want to be and there is not much time left to find out. Just kind of lived my life and enjoyed what I was doing at the time....
Did envy those in high school who seemed to know exactly what they wanted to do - seems not many of them followed through, though....

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I didn't know what I wanted to do. Guidance Counselor said don't sweat it that I would be married in pregnant within a year or two. I went for SW Programming, ended up pregnant and married. confuse

Went back and earned a accounting degree and then an MBA, can't go wrong with business degrees and then you can earn a certificate in a some other topic.  Just don't listen to the Guidance Counselor.



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lilyofcourse


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I went to work.

Graduated on Thursday, went to work Monday morning. And the rest is history.



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Charley Harper
Lady Gaga Snerd


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The rest of what?

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huskerbb


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It's not sin to not know at 18 what you want to do.

HOWEVER:

A. Being an "introvert" has nothing to do with anything. Not even sure why they brought it up. It kind of makes me wonder if they don't use it as some excuse for certain things.
B. The do need to have an immediate "plan" for after high school if that is just to get a job and work for a time. Doesn't have to be a career choice, but in their case, maybe work at a Starbuck's or even a diner for awhile.

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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Yeah I didn't get the introvert thing.

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lilyofcourse


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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

The rest of what?

My life.

 

 



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Charley Harper
Lady Gaga Snerd


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So what was your career?

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lilyofcourse


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I worked. No career. I worked. I went in to where ever I was working. Did my job to the best of my ability. And then went home to my kids.

My kids were my career I guess. Work was just a way to make sure I enjoyed my kids.

I have worked in sample companies making those carpet sample boards. Doing everything from trimming to running lines, to cutting, to shipping. and everything else in between.

I have worked in retail. I have worked in fast food.

But I never had a "career path". I worked, and then went home to be with my kids.

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Charley Harper
Lady Gaga Snerd


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That's fine. But I think it is going to be to my kids advantage to train for a career.

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Tinydancer


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What I did at 18 is just what lily did. Then I decided I wanted to make more money so I went back to school and earned my degree. After that I was the boss of people who didn't know what they wanted to do...lol. Going back to school actually gave me more time with my kids and more money for all the trhings I wanted them to have in life. Including sending them to college debt free so they could have more time with their kids once they had them.

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flan327


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I still didn't know "what I wanted to be" AFTER I graduated from college.

flan

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lilyofcourse


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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

That's fine. But I think it is going to be to my kids advantage to train for a career.

I am sure it would be.

My first job I was making minimum wage. Within a year I was making $10 and hour.

Depended on the department, a person could easily make $15 an hour or more without a college education in the mills around here.

When I graduated, working in the mills paid the bills and you could live comfortably. They even have education programs to earn more money an hour. A lot of people work in them from their first job till they retire.

I am pushing my kids to get a higher education because I don't want them to have to sweat for a living. But if they are happy and can live on it, then it will be up to them.

Thankfully they each have higher goals.  



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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
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I still have no idea what I want to be and I'm pushing 30! I wish I had found a path and completed it just so I had something to fall back on. I tell my kids they don't need to know their forever carreer, they just need to at least have a fall back plan (medical billing, dental assistant, hair dresser, whatever...)

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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I know there are some people who just know early in life. But, many people do not. Or, they don't really have a strong preference either way. So, just do your best to pick a path that appeals to you. And, just because you start in one thing doesn't mean that is where you finish anyway. The road of life has lots of twists and turns.

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Tinydancer


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I wanted to be an archaeologist but there weren't a lot of openings for that position so I settled on a Business degree because after all there are a lot of businesses and if I wanted maybe even start my own.

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lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

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I want to be a princess.

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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
jlbear71


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I'm 43 and I still haven't narrowed down what I want to be. And I have changed the path I am on more than once.

I'm back in college. While I have a general idea of what I want to do when I have my degree, I have changed my mind three times what I want.

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flan327


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jlbear71 wrote:

I'm 43 and I still haven't narrowed down what I want to be. And I have changed the path I am on more than once.

I'm back in college. While I have a general idea of what I want to do when I have my degree, I have changed my mind three times what I want.

 I think that's awesome!

flan



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lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

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Or a lion tamer! That would be cool!

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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
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