Things unsaid.

On the subject of the military:

As I think back, my years in the Navy were the best of my life. When I was living them it felt like a different story. There were times were I was away from home, broke, and alone. There were also lots of good times, I traveled to some awesome places, I learned a trade that's allowed me to travel more as a civilian and earn a lot of money (6-digits at one point in time, very near that now. No college degree), I also got money for my college education. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. If it's something you're considering just remember that boot-camp is rough both physically and emotionally, choose a career field that's going to benefit you when you get out (IE: you can be a cook without joining the military, but it's a lot harder to be an aircraft mechanic), and above all; opt for an overseas assignment. If your dream sheet doesn't say Rhoda, Spain or Ramstein, Germany then you're really missing out on an amazing experience.

one last thing: If you're Air Force, and in an aviation related field, put "Papa, Hungary" on your dream sheet and thank me later when you've met a few Hungarian women

High school did nothing for me except make me wanna get out. I graduated w/ no direction, honors btw. A year of partying and a menial job after graduation decided on a 2 year trade school as the best option. With an entry level job in the field I had decent money again. That was a decent enough start. Patience.

Over the years applied for several apprenticeships and got in w/ a major manufacturer. Got paid to learn a trade and four years later had my journeyman papers. That job led to getting my stationary engineers license. Had 27 years at that facility when it closed. Took my papers, license and experience on down the road. Lotta luck I guess.

Never been one to just show up for the money, I love my work, just lucky like that. Nothin' wrong w/ changing trades or jobs by any means. Bring home the bacon first but ya gotta be happy w/ what ya got or you're being dishonest w/ yourself.

Nothing wrong w/ college but I'd recommend the trades if you're a hands-on mechanical kinda guy. Demand for tradesmen is only increasing w/ old berkeleys retiring. Some 2 year trade school tuition is akin to college btw. As mentioned, community college is a good option also, work a day job for OJT and nights in technical/ trade classes. Pay as you go. Or like KyAllroad said, let the government pay for it, that may just be your best option overall.

I mighta been that kid before. My 'turning point' came as I was lying curled up fetal in my bed w/ that severe ache in my gut at the folks house in the middle of the afternoon and wondering who is gonna buy the beer tonight... gotta be more to life, I'm berkeleying better than that, mere existence doesn't suit me well, who wants to hire a wet behind the ears wanna be? This sucks.

What was the lowest part of my life made me get off my ass to change it. Maybe we all need that to move above existence. Later efforts paid off to rise above mediocrity once established.

School changed everything, what a good start.

G_Body_Man wrote: My biggest problem is that I'm a bit too methodical at times.

No, you just haven't learned how to use that to you advantage.

Aircraft mechanics are very methodical. They have to be. Airplanes can't pull over if there's a problem, so you absolutely have to fix it right, no oops allowed. No lost or left over parts either.

Or surgery. It's the same thing, over and over again. Flawlessly, every time. And they love it.

Learn to live the life that fits you, and you will enjoy it far more than making yourself or life a misfit.

^ exactly. Attention to detail is everything when first time quality counts.

If a project car isn't in the cards, can your income support a project engine? You should be able to pick up a legacy smallblock pretty cheap and rebuild it. Paint it up nice and sell it to someone who needs it for their project. In my apartment days I used to haul around a chev 350 block that I was trying to build a 383 out of. It wasn't as involved as a project car but it was a great outlet when I needed one.

Don't know much except what you've posted, and as some said earlier, it's hard to say "if I were you, I would...". I struggled with a lot of negative emotions in high-school and early adulthood, a family life with some dysfunction, a lack of direction, and felt like a failure. I went to CC, quit, went back, transferred to university, withdrew after 3 weeks, went back to CC, finished 3 years later. Took 5 years to complete a 2 year program. I can offer this: 1)I struggled with depression, put my wife and kids through hell because I wouldn't get help, last year my wife told me either I get help or she would leave. I went to a counselor, so did she, and I worked through some issues. Counselors can help. 2)Everybody changes the world, everybody. 3)Failure is a judgement about an event, that's it. I tried snow skiing once, I stunk. So I'm not a skier. Doesn't mean I'm a failure, just means I stink at skiing. Don't allow yourself to define yourself my failures, learn from it. I don't burn my yard debris by using gasoline to start the fire, once was enough! 4)You are young, your best years are ahead of you. 5)You don't have to have life figured out right now. 6)Take the ASVAB for the military or career assessment type test, it may help you identify some areas of strength. and 7)Allow yourself to human. Everybody is just doing the best they can in life.

GBM: I have a fifteen year old son. Late bloomer. And I was an awkward, late blooming 15 year old myself. E36 M3's not easy.

I am still amazed that you are a teen. At first I thought the age in your profile was some kind of joke. You come across "online" as far more mature.

I think many others have made great comments. For a bunch of white dudes with beards.. Well done guys.

I want to offer one thing that hasn't been said: The sooner you realize that your value is determined by you, and not some dicks at school, the better off you'll be. Be different. Learn to not give one E36 M3 what others think about you. It can't be a fake mask, it must be a true belief. Laugh at them when they attempt to get under your skin. The sooner you can do that, the better. I couldn't do it until I was in my 30's but that's only because nobody ever shared that little secret with me and I had to figure it out myself. My own son doesn't believe it yet. But you can, because it is easier to buy into the advice of strangers than your own family.

Stick around and soak up the wisdom of the people of GRM. And keep being unique.

Let me give you some advice from a broke college student who works at Panera during the school year. College is a stepping stone, and not one that everyone takes. Some people jump over it to the next stone, some people try to take the step and slip off, and those people just hop right up onto the next stone. I wasn't the best at high school. I don't like homework, my essays weren't formal, and my teachers thought I was a smart-ass. But I lived. Something nobody mentions in high school is that a C is considered average and is in no way the end of the world. Heck, I failed History one semester. I'm going to college for theatre, and I love it. If you go to college, go for what you want to do. It makes it fun instead of hard work. And as far as getting a job goes, I couldn't get anyone but my parents to hire me when I was 16. I spent a whole summer job hunting, couldn't even get one at McDonalds. As soon as you're out of high school, people are much more willing to hire you. Sure, I have women who scream at me about how their bagels are toasted too lightly and I go home smelling like soup everyday, but they pay me Don't get discouraged. Know that high school is a E36 M3 hole, and it will end.

G_Body_Man wrote: In reply to Enggboy: I'm still laughing at the acronym "EFAP"

Yes, unfortunate acronym for those who think like 12 year old boys (me included!), but they can offer some valuable services... (no, not THAT kind of service... )

I don't know how this ended up going down the military wormhole. The OP is Canadian IIRC, do they have have that option? In all seriousness though, the OP has a excellent, strong idea as to the issue causing the concern. He's one of the rare young people with a proper passion for cars that's not just the newest, latest and greatest spec sheet wetdream. He's expressed a willingness and desire to travel and write. I'd recommend chasing that dream.

I have an incredibly successful acquaintance who gets paid excellent, near mind boggling, money to travel the world writing about food, the culture and socioeconomic climate and people that created the great food, that is often very inexpensive, but extremely developed and high end. This friend also does speaking engagements while traveling and has a few television programs filmed and produced on his travels. He does what he loves, gets paid to travel the world, eat amazing food and get E36M3 faced with great frequency.

You might be wondering, why is this relevant, it's one person who does an incredible job at what he does doing a job that 10 million would love to do but never make it. Because this friend started at the absolute bottom. He was a very talented cook who bounced back and forth from NYC, to D.C, Boston and Baltimore being a chef and at top talent when compared to any other chef in Baltimore, but a heroin addiction meant that bouts and battles of reliability and accountable generally lead to him being a line cook working under chefs who had inferior talent levels compared to his own.

He stayed hungry and has defeated his demons, though demons that are strong enough that any recovering addict still has to battle every day, and created his own path to immense success. Starting with resurrecting his career in the kitchen and becoming head chef at some of the highest rated restaurants in the world, always writing and chronicling his experiences and travels. Sometimes there is no defined path, if you really want to find the penultimate happiness and success it's even more likely that you'll have to forge your own path as opposed to following in the footsteps of those who have gone before you. Adversity can often breed greatness, though the opportunity can take much longer as it's not the easy cookie cutter path.

captdownshift...

I think I know your friend

NOHOME wrote: captdownshift... I think I know your friend

I was thinking the exact same thing.

In reply to NOHOME:

Tony is an excellent stand up dude. Is also is one of the first to let you know that you're never at the bottom, just at a beginning

Sent you a PM.

Shawn

G_Body_Man wrote:

Trans_Maro wrote: How is your mechanical aptitude? Would you consider moving to the lower mainland / fraser valley area for a job in the automotive field?

I'm fairly mechanically apt. I have done various minor jobs from dropping a fuel tank using only hand tools, to changing valve cover gaskets and fluids. I would absolutely be interested in a job in the automotive field, either for the summer as an apprentice, or more permanently when I finish High School.