[Aav96]

Hey guys, i'm new to this forum. I participate over at weldingweb.com, and I'll be posting a similar question like this one over there to get as many inquiries as I can get. Sorry for the short introduction

This might be a lengthy and confusing question but I ask you to bare with me. So this question is incited due to an argument I had with my mom a couple minutes ago, most people would think it's a huge argument.... she's a thrower... But recently these arguments have become "normal". The argument regards my choices in life, couple of months ago I told my parents I wasn't planning to go ti a four year college/university even though I had the grades for it. Given the fact that I've attended private institutions my whole life this wasn't and still isn't easy news to bear for my parents. They say their money spent in all my education has gone down the shitter, I beg to differ because education stays with oneself and helps people understand complexity. You might ask why I want to work for my monthly check instead of sitting in an office with a degree in whatever? I understand no sane person would like to spend their time working manually for their cash but I've been around "the trades" since I could walk and a love/passion has grown in me. Now realistically speaking I wasn't working at the age of 3. My first official task for my dad's company (general contractor) would be installing drywall at the age of 13. I started out cleaning, setting up machines, putting them away, anything that needed to be done.I did. Then I proceeded to learn more about the trades, education, and overall life choices and the power we have to choose our paths. This is about the time when shit hit the fan and I ended up on a little island full of welding.

I've been taking a course at my local cc regarding welding in the SMAW process most of it has been a process of trial and error my instructor currently has me practicing my 3g 1inch Aws D1.1 test plates. The official class ended a month ago but they extended it due to some inconveniences at the start of the class and I'm going to optional classes as I'm trying to learn as much as I can. My dilemma lies in the fact that I'm 17 and I'll be graduating high school in a little over 5 months probably less and since I've chosen not to go to college I want to get involved with the trades. My parents have made it clear that I will be getting minimal support from them since I basically devastated their dreams by my decisions in life so I've been slowly incorporating more and more responsibility. Currently I pay my phone bill, paid for my phone, bus pass, shoes, iron my clothes up in the morning, and at times make myself food. I'm now realizing that I'm going to have to do something after high school which consists of either going to trade school and breaking into the welding world like that or start my way up on the bottom. I don't believe i'll have the financial resources to go through 2 years of trade school to become a entry to mid level worker "This program prepares the student for fabrication work, construction work, job shops and other entry to mid level related jobs." So my next bet is getting a job but I'm not sure if I should get a welding job or just any job to be able to pay for vo-tech school.

What would you guys do in my situation? I figured I'd ask the more experienced people in Life I have various ideas but some days I feel like doing this and other days I feel like doing that I'm indecisive and not getting support from my parents leaves me hanging?

[weldin mike 27]

Hey,

Welcome to the forum,

Depending on what country you are in, I think the road for you will be to try and get an Apprenticship in a Union. Be it the United Association or similar. These organisations provide structure, security, benefits and opportunity for constant learning and promotion. If you have the grades you say, you sound like the kind of kid they say they are looking for.

If you can demonstrate to your folks that you will become a part of a very progressive and prestigious group, they may come around.

Personally if I spent buckets of money (hahahahah) on my childs education and that forced them into a job they hated, THAT money would have been wasted.

Mick

[Braehill]

I can see by the well written post, with proper punctuation and grammer that your parents money that they spent on your education is already paying off. Most of the posts that I see from people your age are just a string of words that become almost incoherent because of lack of structure in their writing.

I don't have a well thought out answer to your question, but I'm sure you'll do fine in whatever path you take. You have plenty of life in front of you to figure out your way.

Len

[MinnesotaDave]

What would you guys do in my situation? I figured I'd ask the more experienced people in Life I have various ideas but some days I feel like doing this and other days I feel like doing that I'm indecisive and not getting support from my parents leaves me hanging?

It's very common to not know what you really want to do at 17 (or 27, or 37 etc) and now you're closing out your parents in helping you out. Not a thing wrong with either path you choose - but they know you better than random Internet guys.

You better make dang sure you are not burning bridges over the standard rebellious stage that occompanies your age group.

Personally if I spent buckets of money (hahahahah) on my childs education and that forced them into a job they hated, THAT money would have been wasted.

Mick

Well stated Mick. I tell my boys the only thing I expect is that they go to some schooling after high school, whether the trades or university - I don't care. But they know I expect education and preparation.

[Mike]

Aav96 welcome to the forum.

[mcoe]

Let me tell you this, I am 22, a senior in college, and I still don't know what I want to do. My parents pretty much pushed me the same way your parents have. I was told growing up that it was not a question of "Do I go to college?" It was, "Which college am I going to?" I learned how to weld in high school and fell in love with it. I didn't want to go to college, all I wanted to do was weld. When I told my parents that I wanted to weld and not go to college, they did the same thing! Since I was from a tiny town with nothing but oil rigs and log trucks, I decided that I would give into their pressure and go to college. Again I did not want to go and it showed. I was not a straight A student in school but I was in the top of my class. When I got to college, I slacked off and to date have fail 8 classes that I ended up repeating.
What I am getting to is this: Do what YOU want to do. It is your life to live and you need to run it. I regret college everyday of my life. That is why I have been taking ever dime I save and am investing it into welding equipment of my own and setting up my own shop. If you do not want to be at college, you will not do good when it comes to grades. Here is my main piece of advice, when you are 65 what do you see yourself being able to do. I worked oil rigs for the past 3 years and to be honest with you, I cannot see myself doing that when I am 65 years old. That is why I have been fighting on and finishing my education. That is also why I have been buying welding equipment because I know that I will still be able to run a bead at age 65. That is all opinion. Again it is your life, nobody can give you any better advice than your own heart. If you follow your heart, you will never be wrong.

[Otto Nobedder]

Aav96,

Why not a compromise?

I have four years of college.

There are industrial technology degrees, at the AS, BS, and MS levels.

You can study welding technology, metallurgy, structural engineering, or any number of other things that will further your desires and plans, while still pleasing mom and dad, and taking full advantage of their willingness to pay for your education. You don't have to declare a Major for two years, so mom and dad don't have to know your intentions, and you have time to explore where you'd most like your career to go.

College is the most fun I ever had, too.

Think about it.

Steve S

[mcoe]

I agree with Steve, if that is the way you want to go. I totally wish that the college I am at offered anything welding related. The closest I could get to happiness here is agriculture. I am telling you that this is just an opinion and should be treated like one. I have hard feelings against college and it was not the college itself, or the four years I have spent here but the people I am forced to be around. My advisers and fellow students in the department I am in stir drama and spread crap which has led to a bitter outlook toward college for me. I will tell you this much. It doesn't matter where they are from or what area of it they are involved in, this is also an opinion, I have never found a friendlier bunch of people than the people on this forum and fellow welders in general. I feel that they are warm inviting and always willing to help. That is why I spend a lot of time on this site and on weldingtipsandtricks.com it is because the people are great people. That is really what makes the difference. If you work with great people it is not really work. I will end this with a simple statement: Which route to take? should be Which route do I want to take? Do not let any of us persuade you one way or another. You have to search yourself and decide what would really make you happy.
Matt

[Aav96]

Let me tell you this, I am 22, a senior in college, and I still don't know what I want to do. My parents pretty much pushed me the same way your parents have. I was told growing up that it was not a question of "Do I go to college?" It was, "Which college am I going to?" I learned how to weld in high school and fell in love with it. I didn't want to go to college, all I wanted to do was weld. When I told my parents that I wanted to weld and not go to college, they did the same thing! Since I was from a tiny town with nothing but oil rigs and log trucks, I decided that I would give into their pressure and go to college. Again I did not want to go and it showed. I was not a straight A student in school but I was in the top of my class. When I got to college, I slacked off and to date have fail 8 classes that I ended up repeating.
What I am getting to is this: Do what YOU want to do. It is your life to live and you need to run it. I regret college everyday of my life. That is why I have been taking ever dime I save and am investing it into welding equipment of my own and setting up my own shop. If you do not want to be at college, you will not do good when it comes to grades. Here is my main piece of advice, when you are 65 what do you see yourself being able to do. I worked oil rigs for the past 3 years and to be honest with you, I cannot see myself doing that when I am 65 years old. That is why I have been fighting on and finishing my education. That is also why I have been buying welding equipment because I know that I will still be able to run a bead at age 65. That is all opinion. Again it is your life, nobody can give you any better advice than your own heart. If you follow your heart, you will never be wrong.

That was beautiful... Probably one of the best responses I've gotten on from posting on both forums. Thanks for your input I really appreciate it I'll follow up in another post

[Aav96]

Aav96,

Why not a compromise?

I have four years of college.

There are industrial technology degrees, at the AS, BS, and MS levels.

You can study welding technology, metallurgy, structural engineering, or any number of other things that will further your desires and plans, while still pleasing mom and dad, and taking full advantage of their willingness to pay for your education. You don't have to declare a Major for two years, so mom and dad don't have to know your intentions, and you have time to explore where you'd most like your career to go.

College is the most fun I ever had, too.

Think about it.

Steve S

That's great advice, much similar to what the guys over on the other forum have said also. A few of the problems I would have would be not having the financial resources too pay for college. My parents might be able to pay for it but they've been trying to acquire some property for quite some time now and me going to college would mean them putting off that goal. Which is why I came to them straight a few months ago and told them I didn't have a drive towards college. I wanted to be true to myself and them, while at the same time saving them some money and time.

Like I told the guys over at the other forum I ruled it out to either getting a job/apprenticeship/helper either for someone who gives me an opportunity or a union. The other option would be getting whatever job gets thrown at me to acquire some money too pay for vo-tech college. This would be the route I think I'd be less likely to take because we all know what life is like you plan and it all goes too shit. Today I'm getting a job at a supermarket to be able to pay for vo-tech....fast Forward 5 years later I'm still there with a kid on the way, in a job which was supposed to be a "stepping stone".

So essentially as of now if I'm given an opportunity too get my foot in the door of welding I'll gladly take it. If you guys want to read the whole story and what not feel free to visit the other thread I made over at welding web.... I think you need an account over there to view it though

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?34 ... ost3559711

Once again thank you for the advice and suggestions I really appreciate it, these forums have been real good to me.

[weldin mike 27]

Another option is a Learn- work - pay scheme, from places like tulsa welding school.

Where you dont pay anything untill you pass and get a job. Then you pay the course costs.

Mick