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As a young American looking at a "bleak" situation, what do you think I should do?

H

HabitualCloud

Junior Member
I ask this question in all seriousness and with great humbleness to you all. I've been reading the forums here for a while and after going through a few particular topics, I decided to register.

This is undoubtedly a very difficult time for any American, no shades of gray in that picture, but I would like some opinions from you guys because frankly, I have some very critical decisions to make.

I'll being going to college in one year, I've been taking good classes, making strong grades, plan on attending a good university, you've heard it all before.

But, I'm not one hundred percent on what on want to do. I don't mean that in terms of career choice necessarily, I have clear and definite passions and I have what I know to be unwavering ambition. I'm not naive, though, I know I'm going to have to work my ass off and sell it if I want to succeed in a ferociously competitive and intellectual world, especially in the economic situation we're in right now.

Here's what I'm trying to choose between: Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and/or Aeronautical Engineering. (I would like to take all of them as majors, but have been WARNED by teachers, friends, etc. are they right in saying that?)

So, now I get to my questions:
1. Would you say those are solid choices with great potential for (growth)/(societal contribution)/(success) in the future? if you have any suggestions, I am all ears, and open mind.

2. Should I try to get out of the country and study abroad/attend college/live in a more stable/progressive/environmentally friendly country? (Thinking places like Canada, England, Norway, Finland, Denmark, France)

3. Are "America collapsing" discussions truly valid? I personally find myself being put off of living in the US post college because of this. If not, what are (promising), (green friendly), (prospering), (growing) cities in the us I should look into?

4. Any other words of wisdom or advice?

Thanks to anyone who decides to read this, i hope you guys understand why I'm asking these questions. i value all of the feedback you guys can give. 😉
 
1. The first thing you should do is locate your local Tea Party group or click on the first link in my signature and start attending meetings.

2. I hope your joking here, but just in case here is a fair warning. Those "progressive countries" as you call them are socialist nightmares and if you ever visit them you will never come home the same. The foreigners in countries like Canada, Norway and France hate America and will try to brainwash you into hating your homeland too.

3. In one word: Yes. The country is in grave danger because we have an anti-American anti-Israel progressive as President. He wants to destroy everything that makes the US great and CHANGE the country into a socialist hellhole.

4. The above is exactly why you need to listen to what I said in answer #1. It is imperative that all PATRIOTIC AMERICANS open their eyes to the danger OBAMA represents and take a stand.
 
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Become an English major! There are plenty of jobs in foreign countries teaching English.

Either that or apply to West Point. There are also plenty of jobs visiting foreign countries and killing people!
 
comptr6 said:
1. The first thing you should do is locate your local Tea Party group or click on the first link in my signature and start attending meetings.

2. I hope your joking here, but just in case here is a fair warning. Those "progressive countries" as you call them are socialist nightmares and if you ever visit them you will never come home the same. The foreigners in countries like Canada, Norway and France hate America and will try to brainwash you into hating your homeland too.

3. In one word: Yes. The country is in grave danger because we have an anti-American anti-Israel progressive as President. He wants to destroy everything that makes the US great and CHANGE the country into a socialist hellhole.

4. The above is exactly why you need to listen to what I said in answer #1. It is imperative that all PATRIOTIC AMERICANS open their eyes to the danger OBAMA represents and take a stand.
Click to expand...

lmao. I love this guy.
 
There are a million paths in life and they all lead nowhere. Take a path that has a heart. Follow your bliss. No evil can befall a good person in this life or the next. Nobody is ever in trouble who goes straight ahead. Don't look at life inside out, at what you need and can get. You are the universe when you love. Be the sun and radiate. Be and you will BE the master of the universe. You have always been and always will be perfect. There is nothing to do to become something, there's only losing the illusion you aren't. The sun that shown on Christ when he lived is the sun that shines on you. The sun and the Son are one. Take a walk in the light of day.
 
Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and/or Aeronautical Engineering.
Click to expand...
And why were you "WARNED" by people against these?

The above represent real disciplines in areas that provide real job opportunities. It's still in fashion to advise kids to "do whatever you like" and similar tripe but in four years when you have an engineering degree and your buddy has one in liberal studies you will count your lucky blessings.

Look where the demand jobs are now and will be going (google it). Healthcare is king. But some engineering disciplines work well, too. However, a lean on business would help. If you can major in science and minor in a business discipline or similar idea you'd be more capable than many others.

No point in studying elsewhere. Yes, the US is in decline relative to other nations but it's still the best one to be in. If money is an issue you would do well to look at schooling in Canada because its tuitions are often much lower than in the US without diluting the education.
 
Of your 3 choices, computer engineering is the most portable if you are actually looking to move abroad. Many of the countries you mentioned do little in the field of aircraft design, and environmental engineering is a somewhat limited field at this time. If you are even more open to choice, mechanical engineering may even be a more universally portable choice.

America is not "collapsing", but is at something of a low ebb at the moment. We overcame the age of the "robber barons" before, so I think we will again. Wars of adventure are unpopular enough to make them unlikely. We will inch forward until we wean ourselves off foreign oil and will somehow cope with climate change (though at what cost, remains to be seen).

Advice? Always view people like "comptr6" with amused disdain. People that espouse a set of views and solutions that are microscopic in breadth are seldom useful, though they can sometimes be cited as a bad example.

I wish you a happy future.
 
Infohawk said:
What does this have to do with P&N? Also, I've never heard of an American saying "making strong grades."
Click to expand...

This sounds like a topic for OT. BTW, as an American, I was making strong grades to get to where I needed to go.

As for your questions:

1. Pick one, but not all three at the same time. That's absolute suicide. When in college, spend some time networking and getting internships and other career advancement things.

2. Wouldn't hurt. And it'd be a nice break at least. Make sure you have a way of funding this trip though (eg parents, rich uncles, guaranteed future earnings, etc.).

3. No America is not collapsing. People have been saying similar things at least each decade for the past 150 years. Cities to live in will depend on where you find your job. Some people live in particular cities and wait for job openings. This is viable depending on your chosen field. For example, if you're into computers, you can live in the bay area and find jobs there. In other fields, it's more likely that you'll move to where the job is.

4. Get laid, a lot, but don't be on the basketball team at BYU if you do.
 
3. not exactly, it's just a long slow fall from our height.

I would avoid private student loans like the plague if I were you though.
 
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comptr6 said:
1. The first thing you should do is locate your local Tea Party group or click on the first link in my signature and start attending meetings.

2. I hope your joking here, but just in case here is a fair warning. Those "progressive countries" as you call them are socialist nightmares and if you ever visit them you will never come home the same. The foreigners in countries like Canada, Norway and France hate America and will try to brainwash you into hating your homeland too.

3. In one word: Yes. The country is in grave danger because we have an anti-American anti-Israel progressive as President. He wants to destroy everything that makes the US great and CHANGE the country into a socialist hellhole.

4. The above is exactly why you need to listen to what I said in answer #1. It is imperative that all PATRIOTIC AMERICANS open their eyes to the danger OBAMA represents and take a stand.
Click to expand...

Did your parents drop you on your head when you were a kid?
 
comptr6 said:
1. The first thing you should do is locate your local Tea Party group or click on the first link in my signature and start attending meetings.

2. I hope your joking here, but just in case here is a fair warning. Those "progressive countries" as you call them are socialist nightmares and if you ever visit them you will never come home the same. The foreigners in countries like Canada, Norway and France hate America and will try to brainwash you into hating your homeland too.

3. In one word: Yes. The country is in grave danger because we have an anti-American anti-Israel progressive as President. He wants to destroy everything that makes the US great and CHANGE the country into a socialist hellhole.

4. The above is exactly why you need to listen to what I said in answer #1. It is imperative that all PATRIOTIC AMERICANS open their eyes to the danger OBAMA represents and take a stand.
Click to expand...


Like this was Obama fault . Your clueless . I hate the guy . But lets be real here . This thing started when JFK warned about the secret government and for that warning he suffered multi. bullet wounds from a magic bullet.
 
HabitualCloud said:
1. Would you say those are solid choices with great potential for (growth)/(societal contribution)/(success) in the future? if you have any suggestions, I am all ears, and open mind.
Click to expand...

I recommend environmental engineering, particularly if the focus is on alternative energy. I suspect that "the environment" in general and energy sources in particular are going to get very important within your lifetime.

Computer engineering? Eh.. I guess.. as a fall-back I'd consider it.

2. Should I try to get out of the country and study abroad/attend college/live in a more stable/progressive/environmentally friendly country? (Thinking places like Canada, England, Norway, Finland, Denmark, France)
Click to expand...

The place at which you choose to study/attend college should be determined not by what country it is in but by the quality and usefulness of their education program. This leaves you with many good options, both in the US and abroad.

3. Are "America collapsing" discussions truly valid? I personally find myself being put off of living in the US post college because of this. If not, what are (promising), (green friendly), (prospering), (growing) cities in the us I should look into?
Click to expand...

Perception and reality are rarely the same in matters like this. Christian conservatives say that America is collapsing because of the gays and other "immoral" behavior, progressives say America is collapsing because the middle class is "suffering" and because the environment is in the toilet. The bottom line is that everyone has opinions and predictions and some even have access to large venues with which to make (and be paid for) prognostications. They're all just as likely to be BS. Trust the following things, in this order, and you'll be fine: rational and critical thought, common sense, the path-of-least-resistence (as an explanation of others' behavior), and your heart/guts/instincts.

4. Any other words of wisdom or advice?
Click to expand...

No matter where you go, what you do, or who you surround yourself with in life... own it. Take responsibility for your choices, and remember that no one but you is going to be a better advocate for you and your interests.

I also recommend avoiding the following, at all costs: the Republican party, the Democratic party, the Tea Party, socialism/progressivism, religion, the Prius and other hybrid vehicles, teetotalism, and vegetarianism/veganism.
 
comptr6 said:
1. The first thing you should do is locate your local Tea Party group or click on the first link in my signature and start attending meetings.
Click to expand...

Just so you'll know who to laugh at. There are two kinds of Tea Tards:

1. The uber-rich corporate interests, like the Koch brothers, Karl Rove's band of liars, interested in further enriching themselves on the backs of America's working people, destroying all oversight of their corporate greed and pollution and destroying our educational system to keep the masses subjugated.

2. Their idiot followers whose IQ is so low they couldn't spell Fox, despite the fact that it's their only source of audio and visual input.

comptr6 said:
2. I hope your joking here, but just in case here is a fair warning. Those "progressive countries" as you call them are socialist nightmares and if you ever visit them you will never come home the same. The foreigners in countries like Canada, Norway and France hate America and will try to brainwash you into hating your homeland too.
Click to expand...

Proof of their xenophobic stupidity. I'll leave it to you to figure out whether comptr6 is one of the corporate terrorists or one of their anesthetized androids.

comptr6 said:
3. In one word: Yes. The country is in grave danger because we have an anti-American anti-Israel progressive as President. He wants to destroy everything that makes the US great and CHANGE the country into a socialist hellhole.

4. The above is exactly why you need to listen to what I said in answer #1. It is imperative that all PATRIOTIC AMERICANS open their eyes to the danger OBAMA represents and take a stand.
Click to expand...

Further proof of my previous statement, as if that were necessary. 🙄
 
Harvey said:
Just so you'll know who to laugh at. There are two kinds of Tea Tards:

1. The uber-rich corporate interests, like the Koch brothers, Karl Rove's band of liars, interested in further enriching themselves on the backs of America's working people, destroying all oversight of their corporate greed and pollution and destroying our educational system to keep the masses subjugated.

2. Their idiot followers whose IQ is so low they couldn't spell Fox, despite the fact that it's their only source of audio and visual input.



Proof of their xenophobic stupidity. I'll leave it to you to figure out whether comptr6 is one of the corporate terrorists or one of their anesthetized androids.



Further proof of my previous statement, as if that were necessary. 🙄
Click to expand...

Come on Harvey, haven't you figured this guy out yet? All his posts are parodies the the biggest whack job Winger that are members here.

He even uses their phrases such as Union Fluffer, We the People, etc.
 
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HabitualCloud said:
I ask this question in all seriousness and with great humbleness to you all. I've been reading the forums here for a while and after going through a few particular topics, I decided to register.

This is undoubtedly a very difficult time for any American, no shades of gray in that picture, but I would like some opinions from you guys because frankly, I have some very critical decisions to make.

I'll being going to college in one year, I've been taking good classes, making strong grades, plan on attending a good university, you've heard it all before.

But, I'm not one hundred percent on what on want to do. I don't mean that in terms of career choice necessarily, I have clear and definite passions and I have what I know to be unwavering ambition. I'm not naive, though, I know I'm going to have to work my ass off and sell it if I want to succeed in a ferociously competitive and intellectual world, especially in the economic situation we're in right now.

Here's what I'm trying to choose between: Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and/or Aeronautical Engineering. (I would like to take all of them as majors, but have been WARNED by teachers, friends, etc. are they right in saying that?)

So, now I get to my questions:
1. Would you say those are solid choices with great potential for (growth)/(societal contribution)/(success) in the future? if you have any suggestions, I am all ears, and open mind.

2. Should I try to get out of the country and study abroad/attend college/live in a more stable/progressive/environmentally friendly country? (Thinking places like Canada, England, Norway, Finland, Denmark, France)

3. Are "America collapsing" discussions truly valid? I personally find myself being put off of living in the US post college because of this. If not, what are (promising), (green friendly), (prospering), (growing) cities in the us I should look into?

4. Any other words of wisdom or advice?

Thanks to anyone who decides to read this, i hope you guys understand why I'm asking these questions. i value all of the feedback you guys can give. 😉
Click to expand...

You'll be fine. While the US is going though some tough times, not all americans are equal in this regard - the middle class and the working class are both getting screwed over massively, but the yuppies (what you're gunning for) will do fine and the rich... well, it's always a party for them.

The reason why people are warning you against taking all three is because it's nearly impossible to do well. Assuming you go to a good school, you'll find engineering to be hard and completing even a single major will be a challenge. Taking 3 majors would be like someone trying to do three triathlons at once. It's perfectly fine to do just one.

Computer engineering is an excellent choice right now - unemployment is low, salaries are good, not enough kids are going to school to fill all positions and the barriers to starting your own company are low.

Those countries are nice, but they'll all charge you extra for being a foreign student. Try to find a good public school in the US - paying more than 10k/year in tuition would be a ripoff IMO.

"America Collapsing" doesn't mean a violent, catastrophic collapse. America seems to have lost the ability to change itself, it's influence is waning, it's not regarded very well and a lot of other countries are steadily catching up. Doesn't mean you can't carve a decent life for yourself. As a yuppie, you'll probably be able to afford what used to be a middle-class lifestyle, so you'll be fine (assuming you do ok in school and are competent at your job)
 
As far as America collapsing, remember that although we are tremendously in debt, we also have tremendous wealth. We have a lot of natural resources, we have a wealth of knowledge in just about every discipline imagineable, we have a very strong infrastructure... I don't think we're going to devolve into medieval subsistence farming or anything. You just may not be able to make $250,000/yr in New York City as a dog psychologist. You may need to have an actual trade.
 
Moonbeam said:
There are a million paths in life and they all lead nowhere. Take a path that has a heart. Follow your bliss. No evil can befall a good person in this life or the next. Nobody is ever in trouble who goes straight ahead. Don't look at life inside out, at what you need and can get. You are the universe when you love. Be the sun and radiate. Be and you will BE the master of the universe. You have always been and always will be perfect. There is nothing to do to become something, there's only losing the illusion you aren't. The sun that shown on Christ when he lived is the sun that shines on you. The sun and the Son are one. Take a walk in the light of day.
Click to expand...

LOL, you come up with some of the most philosophical bs I have ever read.
 
Get a degree in Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M would be a great place to do so. You could go to work for any of the major oil companies.
 
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