I'm kinda struggling adjusting to the 'real world' - now with POLL

[dugweb]

okay, I have a slightly unique situation. Just to give you an idea of where I'm coming from, I'm 21. I got back from a 2 year long mission for my church about 3 months ago. It was a great experience b/c of how satisfying the work was. Garenteed everyone of you would think I was nuts for going on the mission and the lifestyle I kept, but that is totally beside the point, and it won't change the fact that I absolutely loved it and wouldn't take it back for anything. (plus I don't want this to turn into a religous flame war)

Anyways, from that experience of service, being out and helping people everyday... to now. Ive come back to my home town, and now started attending a local university (BYU-I for those that care, it's a church school). But School life is pissing me off! Everything seems so petty. I'm getting no satisfaction from school (whether I do well or not, I can't really find a subject that interests me) I don't feel like I am accomplishing anything. The other kids at the school are just making it worse. They dont care about anything! they just walk around with thier iPod earbuds stuffed in thier ears and walk around hypnotized by all the cool electronic gadgets there are to buy.

I've thought it may be my job so I've applied at a bunch of different jobs (I work on a farm part time right now for potato harvest) but even if i get those jobs, I envision myself being just as frustrated. All I ever want to do is cruise around on my motorcycle .

My thoughts are that the only worthwhile job or activity at my age is joining the service. I'm looking for some advice though. I imagine it would be the hardest thing I've ever done (boot camp, possibly going to iraq or other countries for long periods of time, etc.) but it also seems like the most satysfying thing to do. I would like to be on one of those guys on a small fishing boat down in New Orleans going from house to house, or saving someones life, or just helping someone that lost thier home. Now thats a job that matters! none of this computer repair crap ive been applying to.

Anyone here feel the same possibly? anyone have experience with the service? I was pondering these things while I was doing my nightly run, so the problem could be with me/my attitude rather than the people around me. I havent had time to really refine my thoughts.

CLIFFS:
1. I'm 21 and sick of my peers
2. I want a job that matters
3. I want outta my home town

edit: oh and I swear this this thread had nothing to do with my decision

 

[necine]

Hey man... I feel the same way. Except I'm 2.5 years into higher education. What's the point in stopping now? When I'm done with school the service is a definite possibility. I'm not sure yet though. I say go for it.

 

[chambersc]

If you feel it's right for you and you're willing to commit a lot of time of your life to the service, do it. I'd only recommend this if you have no serious relationships and if your parents support you. You will definitely need your family behind you if you care. Sure, the service definitely matters and they do need some warm bodies. If you feel that it's right, then go ahead and do it. Remember though, once you're in you're in for a while.

 

[RiDE]

Go for it. :thumbsup:

 

[AbAbber2k]

Eh... lotsa people lose focus every now and then. I went to community college after high school, got my Associates in Science, signed up for the Marines, they told me I had a bad medical history, and now I'm about a year from getting my Bachelors in Kinesiology. Not everyone knows what they want, sometimes it's just a matter of exposing yourself to different possibilities until something grabs you.

 

[Coquito]

I've been looking into mission style work myself, but without the religious overview of it all. Nothing here besides cold, soggy cheerios to wake up to in the morning.

Just finished watching A Far Off Place.

/feels like settling down with headstrong woman & hunting poachers

Seriously though, I have been interested.

 

[MrDudeMan]

i almost did it after high school, so i know how you feel. you are only young once...if you dont like school now, you can always go back later. no one said you cant go to college after your early 20s.

think about it long and hard, but i say go for it if you decide its something you want to do. oh, and i wouldnt talk about it to anyone because the peer pressure can really change your mind, even if you are a strong willed person. no one will understand how or why you feel like you do, so they will say dont go through with it and it will work on you.

 

[Zebo]

Go for it! Special forces is prolly what I'd do if you where a HS athlete at all. They get the fattest boneses and respect and will challenge you the most. OTOH if you like rear with the gear, air force is the only way to fly.. Great food, great bases and basically a civilian job with a uniform. Either way check our your options..literally 250 careers you can do find one that seems most appealing... I would never diswade anyone from service but be aware the government totally owns you for at least 8 years and the dangers involved.

 

[dugweb]

updated with poll. thanks for the input everyone.

when you say the gov't owns you for 8 years, is that the minimun? and to what extent do they 'own' you. As in you're on call for 8 years or whatever?

 

[Platypus]

The thing about college is, the first 3 years are pretty shi!tty but the last year is actually worthwhile. The first year is adjusting to the atmosphere that half if not more of your peers cannot even accomplish basic tasks, and you get paired with them in groups, etc. The next two years are filled with classes that are boring, provide nothing but an obstacle, and are a complete waste of time. The last year is really the classes that matter and you will find yourself challenged and enjoying it a lot more.. I wanted to stop after 2 years but I knew it was stupid so you just have to suck that sh!t up and do it.

You have the rest of your life to do what you want, but you won't go back and get a degree if you quit now. Get it.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Joining the service is not something you should out of frustration or lack of imagination. It's not a commitment you can back out of easily.

But if you're inclined to doing service work, how about the Peace Corp?

Good luck

 

[Deleted member 4644]

One of my best buds from high school joined the Navy two years ago. He didnt have a lot of options -- he didnt get great grades in high school and other things were not working out well for him. The plus of joining up is that he has a roof over his head and has learned a bit about discipline...

But the negatives are huge: he will be in his late 20s when he gets out, the pay is absolutely terrible, risk of death (he is going to Iraq as a marine soon), hardly any personal freedom (at least compared to a college student and most normal jobs).

I think he he could do it all over again he would have gone to a CC for a few years and transfered to a four year.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: dugweb
updated with poll. thanks for the input everyone.

when you say the gov't owns you for 8 years, is that the minimun? and to what extent do they 'own' you. As in you're on call for 8 years or whatever?

Yea on call. The problem as of late is because fine young men such as yourself arnt enlisting they are retaining people on active duty called a stop loss up that 8 years to fill the shortfall. So even if you signed a 2 year or 4 year enlistment they can hold you over for the full 8.

 

[UncleWai]

School is what you make out to be. I blew my first couple years by studying passively. Last year, I began to take understand the importance of going to professor's office hours, library, tutoring centers. They make studying so much simpler and make so much more sense. I don't know about you, but for me, when I am able to apply mathematical concepts into some real world applications, it's a very gratifying experience. I guess you are getting bogged down by lower division classes which don't offer a true picture of what the majors are about.

For me I am done with undergraduate in 2 more quarters, and I seriously am going to miss studying and learning. So before you write off school, you should seriously reconsider.

 

[Zebo]

College has an opportunity cost associated with it, usually not making squat for four years and maybe even getting in debt!!

In service, OTOH it's not hard to come out of the service with $100,000 after only four years assuming you drop your whole bonus into a 10% mutualfund and contribute another 15K every year, again not hard.

Another thing is salary is at least as good as a college grad after 4 years in with all the allowances and bonuses.

 

[Chiller2]

Originally posted by: PowerEngineer
Joining the service is not something you should out of frustration or lack of imagination. It's not a commitment you can back out of easily.

But if you're inclined to doing service work, how about the Peace Corp?

Good luck

I agree with the Peace Corp. I am a big supporter of the Military but if what you want is to help people it should not be your choice. The military is more about Destruction than Constuction. Thats is not to say the Military does not sometimes help (such as with the Hurricane) but that is not its main focus.

 

[casper114]

It's not very hard to join the service and be sent to Iraq for one thing so get that out of your mind.

If you think that the service can offer you what you are looking for then join.... but if you don't want to go to Iraq and you want a real since of a job well done then don't join the service.. not right now at least.

All my friends in the service become very agitated very easily because of the fact that they don't feel that they are really helping anyone.

Hope this helps, but don't let anyone on an internet forum sway your decision when it comes to such life changing eventsl.

 

[marvdmartian]

Don't know if you considered this, but if you're wanting to help people, and be in the "service", why not consider the coast guard?? Most of what they're doing is centered around helping people in duress (the other part is drug interdiction, which is a backhanded way of helping out), they've got the uniforms & discipline, you can go to sea, but shouldn't ever have to worry about going into "battle", unless we're invaded.

 

[speg]

Hehe, I am one of those zombies walking around with white earbuds and other material goods. Join us :evil:

I know what you mean though, I'm going through school and it all seems kinda pointless. Somedays I think what it would be like to have a job that actually mattered, but then I couldn't afford all my materalistic needs

Have you thought about police/firefighting/paramedics? I would think those jobs would give you some satisfaction of contributing/helping. And it wouldn't be as harsh as the service.

 

[skace]

So short sighted.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Semper Fi my friend.. Semper Fi.

 

[FoBoT]

join the Navy right away

 

[EagleKeeper]

Look into the Coast Guard also.

Great job satisfaction, less potential for unexpected overseas travel/deployment, same benefits as rest of the military.