In a slump

You are too young to be in a slump, but if you decide to go to college, you will end up changing your mind on what you want to do at least a half dozen times.

I also think a lot of people would find that what a fair amount of engineers do as pretty boring.

bravenrace wrote: You're are apparently a pretty good writer.

Well, certainly compared to the guy that writes "You're are..."!

Don't do car sales.

I am going to challenge your thinking a bit. At 16 you probably don't know what you are capable of yet. I look back what I thought my talents were when I was 16, and I was wrong. My view of myself and my options was ridiculously small compared to what opened for me.

Before you write off any career options, find people who do it for a living and learn what the job really is. I pay my bills doing compensation analysis. It basically means figuring what the going rate in the labor market is is for any job. To do this, I have to first understand what people in a job actually do and the skills needed to do it. The reality of many jobs is different than what your peers, parents or guidance councilors think it is.

If you want to know what a engineering job is like in the automotive world, see if Alfa Driver or Adrian Thompson will talk to you off line. If you want to know what software engineering is about, Boxhead Tim would be a place to start. This board has mechanics, journalists, salespeople, assemblers, construction contractors, lawyers and fabricators. That's just what I can think of off the top of my head.

You have a talent for language. You also have enough intellectual and emotional intelligence that we are taking time from of our busy mornings to try to help you. Use these talents to get a real picture of the work world before giving up on anything.

G_Body_Man wrote: I don’t have the creativity to be a designer, nor the math skills to be an engineer. I’m too meticulous to be a technician, and too slow to be a specialist. I have complete apathy towards anything if it doesn’t have to do with my passion, and little sympathy for others. I have no ambitions, nor motivations. I tend to simply shut down when I encounter something I don’t like or can’t comprehend. I don’t typically have the energy to do my best, but when I do, I don’t want to do anything. All I want to do in life is dick about with cars. Is that so wrong?

I did a MecE degree at the U of A in Edmonton. After 1st Year, there were 4 or 5 advanced level math courses... I failed 3 of them the first time around. Passed on the second though! Once you are out of school, unless you are in a research position, most (not all, but most) MecE's and other Engineers don't use advanced math. We have software for that.

Personally, the most advanced math I have used in the last few years was long division in my notebook because my cell phone was dead and I couldn't access the calculator app!

What province are you from, and what was your high school math grades like? If I can do it, I'm sure you can.

You're only 16. I didn't figure out what I wanted to do with my life until I was almost 30. Most people still don't know by then.

Don't worry. You don't have to know yet what you want to do. Don't focus on a goal yet. Spend your time trying to learn as much as you can, cultivate a few creative hobbies, find a way to travel and gain perspective on the world.

When you do start thinking about what you might want to do, don't focus on a specific job or profession yet. Think about the sort of environment, skills, and traits you will find most fulfilling to use and then you can start looking at what career paths fulfill those desires. E.g. - don't think "I want to be an automotive journalist," think "I want to be able to express myself creatively, have the opportunity to learn about new things, spend time fiddling with stuff, and maybe do a lot of traveling."

You should be at the point of starting to play around with experiences to figure out that later guiding statement. You almost certainly will not have figured it out yet, let alone be ready to put it into an active plan towards a specific job.

Go work in an automotive shop as a grease monkey and tire changer. You'll learn real quick your limits to dicking around with cars.

I worked in that position for about 2 years, and did it again briefly to get on my feet after college in a new town. All it made me want was a pole bar with my own lift and an office job.

Cooper_Tired wrote: You are 16... You have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do. Go forth, find things that interest you. Do those things. Try things out of your comfort zone. Just because you can't/ don't like to do things now, doesn't mean you never can/ will. Most people develop beyond 16.

QFT. Trust me, at 16 you haven't got a clue. You don't even know what you don't know, and that's normal. You probably won't until you're in your mid twenties.

Also, what's this talk of being too meticulous to be a technician? I'm a meticulous technician, and I hate cleaning up after the ones that aren't, which I have to do a lot. As a mater of fact, I've been working on a job this week which will cost someone thousands of dollars due to someone's lack of attention to detail and ignorance of important regulations. In a company with hundreds of Tech's, I am one of a handful trusted to deal with a situation like this, because I'm meticulous.

Here is the real advice I wish I had at your age:

Don't worry too much about it. You don't know what you want yet. That's fine.

What you do doesn't matter. You are almost certainly not destined for greatness. It doesn't if you never do anything truly great and world changing. Just make sure you leave your world a little better than you found it.

Plan to study abroad.

Be awkward. Force yourself to develop a personality that will interest people and make you attractive (both sexually and professionally) in 10 years.

Practice some creative and expressive hobbies that will put you in close contact with the gender of your sexual preference. Learn to dance, play guitar, sing, etc. Don't worry if these things are "gay". Macho hobbies have you hanging around dudes. "Gay" hobbies have you hanging around women.

You do not have one soul mate out there who you are destined to spend the rest of your life with. You almost certainly not find the eternal love of your life in high school or even college.

Do not get into a long-distance relationship.

Do what you want to do and makes you happy, not what you think other people want you to do that will make them happy.

Learn to cook your own meals, wire an electrical circuit, and spin a wrench.

Travel abroad. Study abroad. Live abroad.

Learn to dance. Seriously. You can have your pick from whichever gender you want if you can tango.

Always wear protection.

I'm 33, and I still have no clue what I'm doing. Don't feel bad.

What I am starting to figure out is that you can do whatever for work, but as long as you have time to keep sane and happy by doing your hobby, you will be ok. There needs to be a balance. In my case, I have many hobbies. I love cars, but I also love collecting old video games, playing the drums, bass and guitar, and writing. Balance is everything.

Find a field that interests you and go for it. If you have math smarts (which I definitely don't), look at being a mechanical engineer. All my friends that do this make $$$ and have the time and money to be able to do their hobbies. I've been looking to make a career change myself. I've been looking at pretty much anything involving data analysis, as my skillset at my current role can cater to that. But I also was able to achieve a dream of mine this year, and that's writing automotive stuff for a huge online car blog. My studies as a History major have helped me learn to write eloquently, and I have transitioned my skills to my writing. While I'd love it to pay the bills (and someday it might), I know that it's a hobby that I love to do, and my studies helped me get to where I am now.

Another tip: even though it may seem like a great idea at the time, it's not always smart to make your passion your main source of income. I tried that once with my music. I was in a band for 6 years, and I focused more on that than my career path through my college major of History. I seriously thought that we had the talent and the smarts to make it. We didn't. We made a total profit of $86 split between 5 people over 6 years. And that doesn't count the thousands I personally spent on gear, practice space rent, travel expenses, etc. It was fun, but in the end, I wish I focused on school.

And don't sell cars. As the great Admiral Ackbar once said, "IT'S A TRAP!!!!"

In reply to Beer Baron:

...and wear sun screen.

I think it's better to not know what you want. It'll leave your mind open to options.

And here's a little life nugget: Don't worry about what your peers or friends are doing with their lives, and most certainly do not compare yours to theirs. I made this mistake when I was your age and paid for it dearly throughout my twenties, what with a bankruptcy and failed engagement at 22/3. Definitely made me rethink everything.

I worked in dealership car sales for 5 weeks. During that time I became aware that the owner hated everyone (he actually said so in a sales meeting). The managers were ruthless. The experienced sales people were ruthless and had no real respect for anyone. Some were blatant about it. There was a look in there eye that made me want to keep away from them.

My last customer said "Graefin" I like you and appreciate how you've related to me but if it weren't for the fact that I want to buy this particular car I wouldn't walk onto this property.

Who knows maybe you would be good at it. You CAN make good money if you are good at it. If you do decide to do it I sincerely hope you can scrape all the above off every night when you go home. I don't think all dealers are that bad but many lean in that direction. The environment was making me sick.

Everything I've about car sales indicates "car people" rarely make good car salesmen, but a good salesman can do well selling cars.

Hell, quit worrying and enjoy your youth. You can chase girls, do active things without feeling like you want to die the next day, you have hair, you can eat what you want. Trust me, you'll miss it. I'd wager that most of us old guys on here would be willing to trade places with you.

PHeller wrote: Go work in an automotive shop as a grease monkey and tire changer. You'll learn real quick your limits to dicking around with cars. I worked in that position for about 2 years, and did it again briefly to get on my feet after college in a new town. All it made me want was a pole bar with my own lift and an office job.

At 16 I did 2 years of vocational school for auto tech. I was interested in cars and it looked like an easy path though my last 2 years of school. I was burnt out by the time I graduated and didn't give a E36 M3 and failed out of my collage auto program after 1 semester.

I rarely do anything more then tire and oil on my own cars.

Thanks for the support, guys. I really should start writing to become an automotive journalist. Maybe I could also give automotive photography a shot.

I was 16 twenty years ago. I was much smarter back then than I am now.

16 ain't no slump.

HappyAndy wrote:

Cooper_Tired wrote: You are 16... You have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do. Go forth, find things that interest you. Do those things. Try things out of your comfort zone. Just because you can't/ don't like to do things now, doesn't mean you never can/ will. Most people develop beyond 16.

QFT. Trust me, at 16 you haven't got a clue. You don't even know what you don't know, and that's normal. You probably won't until you're in your mid twenties. Also, what's this talk of being too meticulous to be a technician? I'm a meticulous technician, and I hate cleaning up after the ones that aren't, which I have to do a lot. As a mater of fact, I've been working on a job this week which will cost someone thousands of dollars due to someone's lack of attention to detail and ignorance of important regulations. In a company with hundreds of Tech's, I am one of a handful trusted to deal with a situation like this, because I'm meticulous.

Wow dude. This is like the "wear sunscreen" speech. Well done and I agree with all. Kid- listen to this dude.

Oh, also, college. Dammit, college. Chase girls and play rugby.

G_Body_Man wrote: Thanks for the support, guys. I really should start writing to become an automotive journalist. Maybe I could also give automotive photography a shot.

Close but not there yet. What you should do is start writing to become a journalist and learn about photography. Don't lock yourself in to automotive, you may find other subject areas that interest you and pay better.

I do some photography and know several professionals in the field. None of them lock themselves in to just one type of photography. And I am sure the same can be said for journalists.

And just to support those who said you are not old enough to know yet:

Years ago I taught a career exploratory course in school. One of my students was absolutely positive she wanted to be a veterinarian.

Today she is a best selling author and the Chaplain for the Maine Warden Service.

G_Body_Man wrote: Thanks for the support, guys. I really should start writing to become an automotive journalist. Maybe I could also give automotive photography a shot.

No. Just start writing. Just start photography. You may find that leads you to automotive journalism... or to any number of other venues. Develop the skills now. Figure out how you'll make money off them in another 5-10 years.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: Wow dude. This is like the "wear sunscreen" speech. Well done and I agree with all. Kid- listen to this dude.

Holy crap... that speech was almost 20 years ago... before the OP was born...

Now I really feel old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5giWfpANMac