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oceanotaku

You're worried about this at 16? ... When I was 16 all I was worried about was when I was going to get laid next. ^_^

Seriously, I'm 25 now and I JUST figured out what I wanted to do with my life a couple of months ago and have begun working towards that. You have TONS of time to figure it out so do what you enjoy and eventually you're going to find that one thing that you just love and find that you don't lose interest in it. Don't stress about it and it will likely come to you naturally as you go through life.

 

RookieSmoker

Why not look into a junior college? Or scholarships to cut back on the costs. After high school I went straight to my local junior college, though I slacked off a lot my first year, I realized what job I thought I'd enjoy the most AND make good enough money, as well as got to enjoy my time. I hated high school at the time, and I was in the same situation as you, but I just finished my second year, I have 42 units, I'm transferring with 70 at the end of Spring 09, and I'll be graduating class of 2011. You don't need to go to college, but money shouldn't be a reason for not going. My classes have cost a total of $1200 for 2 years, books probably came around $1000, and parking permits $160, so I've only spent $2,360 for 2 years of schooling and this next year will probably be about $1100, so costs shouldn't be the problem.
My advice is apply to many schools you WANT to go to, and apply for as many scholarships and grants you can, and get into college. As long as you keep an open mind, there are so many tools that college will give you, it's really worth it, and this is coming for a guy who had absolutely no desire to go to school after high school, nor any desire to actually finish high school.

carlover_36

Imagine that, 16 and aint sure of what your gonna be doing when your 45. Just be a kid, enjoy life. Most definatley go to College, take every oppurtunity that comes your way. I'm 45, still aint quite sure what I want to do with my life.

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Stay Stoned

Merry-juana

I do not know many spots in other places of the world.
But for the shark thing, I live in Mossel Bay, South Africa, and people travel from all around the world just to come and study the great white sharks on our shores, and the weard thing is, there hasn't been a single shark attack on a surfer in the history of the place. The only "attacks" that happen is sightings by tourists, and the tourists think it was attacking them.
An interesting statistic is that more people die from eating shark than being eaten by sharks. Also, more people die from a coconut falling on their heads than being eaten by sharks. You are more likely to die walking down the street, tripping, and falling on your head.
And weardly, all my phases get started the same way.

My advice is still, take a year or two off, and live a little, find yourself. For all you know, you might want to become a surf bum... (Although it might be tempting, still finish collage even if you want to becoming one, keep you options open.) If you take two years off (which is quite desireable.) you can learn to surf, and then travel the world the next year, or learn to surf at some of the best beginner spots. Also read a little about travelling on a budget.

Zeked

I have to agree with what others have already said in that if you are 16 and this thought is crossing your mind you are already a bit ahead of the game.

Sadly, you have already said that you can't take a year off before college. This would have been my first piece of advice. I really do wish that I had done so myself. Just the same, somebody else mentioned JuCo. Whether it is JuCo or a regular 4 year school, there is nothing wrong with starting out before you are sure of what you want to do. Remember that there are enough classes that everybody HAS to take to be able to fill at least a full first year of college while you are trying to decide which direction you want to go. (These are things like your basic math and english classes, your freshman mandated classes, a bit of this and a bit of that. Classes that, as I said, everyone has to take anyway.) So, that might be an option. Just tell your advisor that you aren't sure of just what you want to do but that you would like to take your mandatory courses during your first year.

As a 29 year old guy that just started his career last year, I can tell you that you don't have a whole hell of a lot to worry about right now. I will give you this one piece of advice and beg that you heed it; take out as few loans and as small an amount on your loans as humanly possible, should you need them. I am buried under 7 years of school worth of max loans for each semster. All i could see at the time was the extra money i was getting. Now I am paying like hell for it with these student loans that are going to last until i am about 60.

 

feedyourhead

OP, i'm 21 years old, a soon-to-be senior in college, double majoring in finance and risk management/insurance, declaring a minor in economics in the fall, and i just figured out LAST WEEK what career goals i had in mind specifically. because of it, i'll be in undergrad for an extra year. it's really good that you're concerned about your future right now, but you don't have to sweat knowing exactly what you want to do so much. you have plenty of time to get it all straightened out -- hell, that's what college is for.

get your GPA as high as you can now, try and get some scholarships if you're worried about money, look up some loan options, and just worry about getting to college (if that's what you're trying to do) and trust me -- everything else will fall into place.

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Merry-juana

I still say, take a year off, it is something you will probably never be able to do again, EVER. The rest of your life is going to be WORK WORK WORK WORK WORK, TAKE A YEAR OFF, I do not care how much your mother is working, TAKE A YEAR OFF!!!!!!

feedyourhead

most people who take a year off before going to school so they can work to earn money to do so. are you in college? college is the only time in your life that you can fuck off, drink as much as you want, and basically get to be an 'adult' without having all of the adult responsibilities. college is way different from high school, it's not just work -- it's a lot of fun and games. he may never be able to take a year off again, but college is also an experience that he'll only have once. college is one of the greatest times of your life if you make it.

-- Tom Petty

sterbo

Of course,
but there is nothing in this world, I repeat nothing,
that stands up to a year or two of surfing...

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feedyourhead

my point is that if he doesn't have the money to go to college now, where is he going to get i after he is done surfing and goofing off for a year? chances are he'd have to work, probably more than he would if he had gone to college right after HS. that's something that merry-juana seems to be favor of him not doing during that time, to somehow 'prepare' for college -- arguably one of the best and most care-free times in many people's lives.