what should i do?

Question

if you are a good student, you feel like society says you have to go to college, i am in this situation

i want to look into trades possibly from a technical school but everyone is assuming i'm going to a 4 year university and i feel like i'll let them down because most people in my extended family went to 4 year colleges (one went to a 2 year and one didn't go)

i know you can make a lot of money from a trade but everyone thinks i'm more of a white collar person

is anyone else in a similar situation

does anyone have advice

i was particularly interested in drafting

Answer 1

Choose your own future. Do what YOU want to do, and don't worry about what others expect you to do. This is YOUR life not theirs.

Answer 2

do what you want. if you feel you're more suited to working a trade than sitting in an office trying to decide what Chinese food to order, go for it. Just like the office world, some people aren't meant to do it. Trades, especially welding from what I hear, can make excellent money with the right training and exp. Some even comparable to regular white collar jobs. Put it this way, if you go to 4yr college, you'll probably hate it, get in debt 40-50k, find an okay job when you get out and then have to work the job in order to get ahead. or you can go into trades, learn faster (HANDS ON) and get out in the field sooner. Don't worry about what your family or friends think. it's your life. either you take control of it or someone else will. Do what you love, money will find it's way to you eventually. Do welding though, I hear it's great money

Answer 3

Yeah. I know. My parents and my husbands parents pressure their kids to go to college. Mine because my dad is a DVM and my mom has a degree, so they think it is best cause they did it, and my in laws pressure because they blame their financial instability on NOT getting degrees.
YOU MUST decide for yourself. Do NOT let them force you into something you might hate. Maybe give college a try for a semester, or maybe just stand up and do what you want. I have a BA and my husband makes plenty as a programmer with a BS, and he is miserable most of the time, cause he hates the corporate blob world. I believe college does not do anything other than make people respect you for having spent tons of money and 4-5 of the best years of your life just so that other people will respect you. It's a silly social thing. If you are motivated, you can learn as much or more in the library or online. Ask yourself why you want to do drafting, look into what exactly it requires and really find out what will make you happy. Maybe you would be happy as a farmer, or as a baker, who knows!
Of course, your family knows you best, so ask them for real advice, tell them what you are thinking and bounce it off them. Let them know you need thier support, and that you just want the best of what will make you happy, not whatever degree will get you the most money.

Answer 4

College is about YOU. It doesn't matter if you let anyone down or not -- and if they honestly care about you, they'll support your decision and it won't be a let-down anyway. This is your life and future. You're the only one who knows what you want to do, and you have to be the one to make that decision 'cause you're the one that's going to be stuck with whatever you choose (unless/until you decide to change). It's okay to ask someone for their opinion on these matters, but don't let anyone decide for you. Most people in your extended family going to a four-year college doesn't matter. What works for "most people" may not necessarily work for you. Make sense?

I hope this helps..

Answer 5

Don't be pressured. The fact is, most people going to university or college acquire high levels of debt, and then have to start working in low paid positions while trying to pay it back.

As a teacher I encourage my students to look into apprenticeships as a way to earn very good incomes without going into debt.

Answer 6

I think you should do what YOU want to do. I went to a 2-year college and am very happy with my chosen career path and make more money than most people with a 4-year degree.