What did you do after high school?

[Red Rocker]

Originally Posted by camaroitalia

What did everyone major in college and where are you at now?

Started off in Engineering, switched to Accounting and Management two years in. Twenty plus years since graduating with my BS, I now have my MBA in Finance, Operations Management and Marketing and I am a CPA. Spent a few years in public accounting before switching to the corporate side. Have been a Finance Executive (CFO/Controller/Director of Finance) for the past 16 years for private companies.

Probably more than you wanted to know.

[Big Brunsy]

Got my girlfriend pregnant so I continued to work at the job I had all thru highschool. Eventually moved to a full time job at a Dairy, and have since moved into the Maintenance Dept. I can honestly say I'm making 1.5x - 2x as much now as if I had went to college and got a job elsewhere around here.

[y2k king]

went in the marines for four years active.
wound up workin as an electronic tech at the va in bay pines fl.
retired seven years ago.

[BlissStreet]

BS in Forestry from UMass, then started cooking-AA in Culinary Arts-opened 3 restaurants, did a one year apprenticeship in photography-went freelance.

And that is the insanely short version. I also picked up a BA in Hellenistic Religions somewhere along the line.

[infernoinandout]

6 yrs navy, got out 5 years specialty steel plant, started own party rental business 15yrs ago. work 7-8 months a year and make six figures.

[xx_ED_xx]

The miltary isnt for everyone but with this economy I would suggest it. I worked as a mechanic and other odds jobs the last 18 years, and joined the US Army last year. I must say wish I joined some branch of miltary sooner but oh well

[CamaroCowboy]

I joined the Army. Traveled all around the world, visited 14 different countries and saw some wonderous landmarks, castles, etc. Spent 12.5 years Enlisted then got out and now attend night school (at the military expense) and work for a Government Contractor at FT. Hood, TX

[RocketCutlass]

Went to college like the parents wanted, didn't really go to class lol. Got a well paying job by chance and didn't go back to school. Grew tired of not going anywhere with my job, it paid well but it was boring and I wasn't about to get promoted since I was the best at what I did and they wanted to keep me there. Now I'm a U.S. Marine and I love it. So I did everything after high school, partied, college, work, military. The military is what makes me happy, you just gotta figure it out. You have plenty of time to do so. I enlisted at 25, yeah I caught hell for it and I have people who out rank me that are younger then me who tell me what to do, but the good out weighs the bad.

[kbui]

College. Put in 5 tough years for a MS in Mechanical Engineering and has been enjoying 25 years of engineering work. Have my own engineering consulting service now. What ever you do, find something you will like to do because 40-50 years is a long time to suffer in a job/career that you can't get yourself out of the bed to go to work in the morning.

[SlingShot]

I suggest if your going to go to school, pick something you will enjoy not just something for the money. If you really want to decide what to do for a living, pick something you enjoy so much you would do it for free.

Myself I always enjoyed working with my hands. Straight out of High School I became a lineman at Biship Airport in Flint ... From there I got married and got a job indoors at a shop in Madison Heights as a Millwright / Toolmaker and built production welding machines for the Big 3 and spent a lot of time in just about every auto factory in Detroit. After 25 years I moved on and went back to school in 1990 and got a degree in Computer Science, did that for 10 years and am now happily retired ....

[SlingShot]

I suggest if your going to go to school, pick something you will enjoy not just something for the money. If you really want to decide what to do for a living, pick something you enjoy so much you would do it for free.

Myself I always enjoyed working with my hands. Straight out of High School I became a lineman at Biship Airport in Flint ... From there I got married and got a job indoors at a shop in Madison Heights as a Millwright / Toolmaker and built production welding machines for the Big 3 and spent a lot of time in just about every auto factory in Detroit. After 25 years I moved on and went back to school in 1990 and got a degree in Computer Science, did that for 10 years and am now happily retired ....



Edit: WOW ... Posted twice, first time must have been in a middle of a topic move ...

[Dreamer2430]

I was a math and science guy all through high school. So, I chose to continue with courses in those genres because I knew I would do well. I ended up in engineering and haven't looked back. I work for a gold mine, literally. Gold is at an all time high right now (over $1400 per ounce), so the industry is good. I suggest that you think about the courses that you're interested in or that you do well in and see what career options and colleges that might lead you to.

[sparky78]

After high school I got a job as a labourer on the railroad to get my foot in the door. Quit that getting as high as a crane man and moved to greener pastures. Now I have a ticket in Electrical working for a company in the oil sands making roughly 4X-5X as much as I would have if I stayed with the railroad as a labourer.

[TROndrey]

Marist College - Poughkeepsie, NY
Information Technology

My best advice is get a college degree. It doesn't mean your stuck doing that for the rest of your life but just having a degree puts you on top of everyone who doesn't. That said, college isn't for everyone. Some people just aren't comfortable in an academic environment. Myself? I pushed through it and almost failed out but graduated and currently work for the IT Department at Marist. I excel at my job because I can put my knowledge/skills into practice better than academically. My goal is to become a CIO and I like to think that I'm well on my way, its my practical knowledge and acquaintances that will get me there...not my grade point average!

Best of luck to you, whatever choices you make will be the right ones because right or wrong you will learn and grow.