What to do when I grow up?

[Fireball]

Hey guys.



I've been pretty bored lately, and I've been thinking what I wanted to be when I grow up. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I'm still not sure. I was thinking about becoming a panhandler for the rest of my life, but it seems like a lazy way to get money. About a year and a half ago, I was in China for a two week field trip. I begged for money with my harmonica, and got some from a little boy, and some from his mother, and that was it. So, this really turned me off from that. Then, I thought about becoming an MMA fighter for my career. My father said I only wanted to do this because he thinks I'm violent. Every thing else in life seems boring, but I know I have to get a job doing something. I have a little more than a year and a half till I'm 18. I know many people change their majors quite a bit, but I'm just not sure. Any advice? Thanks.

Out of curiosity, how do you stand out from others? What intellectual, social, and cultural interests do you have? What is your definition of a meaningful/successful career and life?  Perhaps considering these questions might illuminate some career paths that didn't seem obvious at first, but nevertheless, they may be interesting to you.

Well, thanks for your thread, and I hope that you will find something that brings fulfillment and happiness to you.

You know, Kernel, if there were only a few hundred more of you on the internet, it just might become a place for rational discourse.

[SteelCurtain]

Hey guys.



I've been pretty bored lately, and I've been thinking what I wanted to be when I grow up. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I'm still not sure. I was thinking about becoming a panhandler for the rest of my life, but it seems like a lazy way to get money. About a year and a half ago, I was in China for a two week field trip. I begged for money with my harmonica, and got some from a little boy, and some from his mother, and that was it. So, this really turned me off from that. Then, I thought about becoming an MMA fighter for my career. My father said I only wanted to do this because he thinks I'm violent. Every thing else in life seems boring, but I know I have to get a job doing something. I have a little more than a year and a half till I'm 18. I know many people change their majors quite a bit, but I'm just not sure. Any advice? Thanks.

Do you like computers?

There is only one futureproof job field. IT. Be a software developer, or a graphic designer, or a cybersecurity expert, or a web developer, or a database manager. There are many many many jobs in these fields that go unfilled. And the work is rewarding, creative, logical, problem solving intensive, and (at least to me) fun.

[The Valkyrie]

Hey guys.



I've been pretty bored lately, and I've been thinking what I wanted to be when I grow up. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I'm still not sure. I was thinking about becoming a panhandler for the rest of my life, but it seems like a lazy way to get money. About a year and a half ago, I was in China for a two week field trip. I begged for money with my harmonica, and got some from a little boy, and some from his mother, and that was it. So, this really turned me off from that. Then, I thought about becoming an MMA fighter for my career. My father said I only wanted to do this because he thinks I'm violent. Every thing else in life seems boring, but I know I have to get a job doing something. I have a little more than a year and a half till I'm 18. I know many people change their majors quite a bit, but I'm just not sure. Any advice? Thanks.

Do you like computers?

There is only one futureproof job field. IT. Be a software developer, or a graphic designer, or a cybersecurity expert, or a web developer, or a database manager. There are many many many jobs in these fields that go unfilled. And the work is rewarding, creative, logical, problem solving intensive, and (at least to me) fun.

Medicine.

Just saying.

[Crossless2.0]

Do you like computers?

There is only one futureproof job field. IT. Be a software developer, or a graphic designer, or a cybersecurity expert, or a web developer, or a database manager. There are many many many jobs in these fields that go unfilled. And the work is rewarding, creative, logical, problem solving intensive, and (at least to me) fun.

Medicine.

Just saying.

If we're playing the 'sure thing' game, mortician.

Or pimp.

[Astreja]

The advantage of medicine over IT is that knowledge changes in a more incremental and gradual way. You're not going to walk into the office one Monday morning and hear people talking about Patient 3.5 not being backwards-compatible with Hospital 3.0.

In medicine, unless you're in a behind-the-scenes support position you'll need good, solid people skills.

Both good choices, though. I've been in IT and now I'm in medicine.

[ignoramus]

Both good choices, though.  I've been in IT and now I'm in medicine.

{iggy desperately wracks his brain to try to include both career paths into some sort of virus joke - still under construction, sorry}

[Godscreated]

Hey guys.



I've been pretty bored lately, and I've been thinking what I wanted to be when I grow up. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I'm still not sure. I was thinking about becoming a panhandler for the rest of my life, but it seems like a lazy way to get money. About a year and a half ago, I was in China for a two week field trip. I begged for money with my harmonica, and got some from a little boy, and some from his mother, and that was it. So, this really turned me off from that. Then, I thought about becoming an MMA fighter for my career. My father said I only wanted to do this because he thinks I'm violent. Every thing else in life seems boring, but I know I have to get a job doing something. I have a little more than a year and a half till I'm 18. I know many people change their majors quite a bit, but I'm just not sure. Any advice? Thanks.

You ever considered doing something with your hands, I like woodworking and for a living was a heat and air technician, both of which were fulfilling. With wood working you can see your accomplishments grow before your eyes and there are great schools all across this country that teach you from the basics to building furniture and there's good money in it. too. I've seen pieces sale for over $300,000, it does take a good amount of time to build a piece like that. One thing you need to be mechanically inclined and fairly good with different maths. Good luck with your future.

GC

[KevinM1]

Hey guys.



I've been pretty bored lately, and I've been thinking what I wanted to be when I grow up. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I'm still not sure. I was thinking about becoming a panhandler for the rest of my life, but it seems like a lazy way to get money. About a year and a half ago, I was in China for a two week field trip. I begged for money with my harmonica, and got some from a little boy, and some from his mother, and that was it. So, this really turned me off from that. Then, I thought about becoming an MMA fighter for my career. My father said I only wanted to do this because he thinks I'm violent. Every thing else in life seems boring, but I know I have to get a job doing something. I have a little more than a year and a half till I'm 18. I know many people change their majors quite a bit, but I'm just not sure. Any advice? Thanks.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of school? What are your grades like? Have you bothered to try something out of your seemingly violent, harmonica-playing comfort zone?

I mean, there's a gazilion things you could potentially do, from being a ditch digger to helping Elon Musk build rockets. Without knowing what you've tried and how you perform, we can't give you a proper answer.

[Losty]

You really considered becoming a panhandler as a career?

[Fireball]

Hey guys.



I've been pretty bored lately, and I've been thinking what I wanted to be when I grow up. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I'm still not sure. I was thinking about becoming a panhandler for the rest of my life, but it seems like a lazy way to get money. About a year and a half ago, I was in China for a two week field trip. I begged for money with my harmonica, and got some from a little boy, and some from his mother, and that was it. So, this really turned me off from that. Then, I thought about becoming an MMA fighter for my career. My father said I only wanted to do this because he thinks I'm violent. Every thing else in life seems boring, but I know I have to get a job doing something. I have a little more than a year and a half till I'm 18. I know many people change their majors quite a bit, but I'm just not sure. Any advice? Thanks.

My youngest brother knows a guy who panhandled in Belmont Shores, CA. He was in college (since graduated) and made big money panhandling. His record was $4k in one week, around xmas. He made his way through college as an acting major, and played the poor aspiring actor to the people. He has made enough in one day to pay a semester's tuition. Here in California, I commuted long distance to work (anywhere from 30 to 50+ miles one way, depending on the job) for decades. Any time I see a person panhandling at an off ramp, I make a quick surveil of the area, and always spot a high dollar many-speed bicycle chained to the fence. Every time. Ones that cost much more than my Raleigh multi-speed bike, complete with disc brakes. There's gold there, if you can stomach it.