Career Options...Worried about this economy ***Update, Still Struggling

[NCtrueconservative]

Hi all  Just thought I'd ask my fellow Mopar brethren, since there are so many of you on here about opinions on a career choice.  I'm currently a freshman at Appalachian State University. I have it on paper that I am planning to major in political science, but I have NO clue what to do, especially with this terrible economy.  My main interest in life and hobby other than MOPAR's is conservative politics. Three years ago I started my own weekly conservative talk show on the internet, and it has really became popular.  The show is hosted on my website, www.jeremiahfarmer.com, on which I also maintain daily news headlines on the homepage, do polls and video's, as well as coverage of the election.  The show and website work has opened up many great opportunities for me...I have got to speak at numerous Tea Party meetings, and got media credentials to cover CPAC in D.C. the beginning of this month which let me cover the event for my site and was a great success. My show has also won an award, and I now do numerous public speaking events throughout the year. The conservative message is my passion...now I don't want to start political talk on here, I'm just telling you that is what my interest is since they always say "make a career out of what you're interested in."
    I actually even heard one of my hero's Rush Limbaugh asked the other day by Greta "If you were 18 and had 2,000 dollars to your name, what would you do with your life?"  His answer "I would find what I love to do and figure out how to make money doing it...and wild horses couldn't stop me." I'm just trying to think what I wanna do with my life...the radio show and website work offer me minimal $ other than a few t-shirts I sell on my site.  I mean in dream world I would love to make a real living doing that work, but thats not reality.  I thought I wanted to be a dentist until I got my first chemistry grade back  And while a college education is veryyyy important, I think some kids think its just that piece of paper they get at graduation that makes them money. That diploma does nothing compared to hard work!! Sometimes I set in class and think "man i should be out starting a business."  There is not that much to do in this economy. You go to school and get thousands in debt, and work work work just to pay that off. And on the other hand, I'm sure govt. red tape is so bad, it would be a pain to start a small business....I'm just trying to find some guidance guys. I also enjoy hunting, shooting, and of course old cars and antiques of any kind. I've thought about starting a drag strip in my hometown or something like that. I JUST DONT KNOW especially with this bad economy looming over head. For the first time in this country's history, I will inherit a country that is worse off than the ones my parents inherited.

[hpe600rt]

something you like,maybe something with cars they will always need to be fixed

[Cooter]

DO NOT MAKE YOUR HOBBY YOUR PROFESSION.  Bout all I can say bout that.

[ChallengerHK]

You've hit on a topic of great interest to me. I don't know if I'll touch on everything, but here's my first take.

College degrees are extremely over-rated, all the more so in the current economy. That's not to say that you shouldn't get one, but if you want to pursue one, do so with a plan. I have a BA and an MA, both in English. Those qualify me to sell coffee at Starbucks. When I was going through these programs I was 100% sre that i was going to teach English. Near the middle of my last semester an instructor told me that the way to get an English teaching job was to adjunct-teach at as many locations as possible and wait for someone with tenure to die. This would have been useful information to have around the start of the process. As it is, I actually work in the training design industry, and can tell you that every time the economy gets bad, they look at getting rid of training designers first.

So, my point is, if you want a political science degree, talk to people in the know (profs, pols) and ask them how you can parley that into a job such as you want. Then ask them whether you could just as soon do that without that degree. Then ask them if another degree would be more useful. I know several people with film-making degrees; none of them work in film-making. I know several people working in film-making; none of them have film-making degrees.

Finally, do everything you can to avoid taking out student loans. I should have mine paid off about 5 years after I die.

Or you can avoid college altogether. As I said above, i think it's highly over-rated. College ceased to be about learning in the 60s ad become about political indoctrination. Pity; lots of people need to learn, and nobody needs their brand of indoctrination.

So if you go that route (no college), once you find the thing you love and want to do, put together a business plan. Be realistic with yourself about what you can accomplish, and then decide from there if it's something you think you want to do and can be successful at.

[moparmaniac59]

Well,

You sound like a smart individual from what you've accomplished already. I worked with youth for years in my church and a lot fo them are now in their mid 20's and many have no ambition and still live at home with no real education or specific goals. I'm (just a little) older than you and my grandparents made it through the great depression. My father served in  Korea and had to deal with corporate downsizing in the mid 70's, got laid off, but still recovered and was very successful. So although we're in a tought time, it's nothing new. Life's 10% action and 90% reaction. It's what you do that matters. You're far better off than many that have had much more obstacles to overcome and made out wonderfully. I can't tell you what to do, as what works for some may be a complete failure for others. I can tell you that an education is important. For some it may not be college, but to learn a trade and work with your hands, but learn something beyond a GED or HS diploma. I have some college, but learned a trade through an apprenticeship program many moons ago. Having a passion for what you do can be the driving force that propels you to success. Sounds to me like you have a future in journalism. Having a positive attitude is key. There are so many people that have their health and wits and do nothing but blame the world for all their problems rather than trying to make a success of their life. Failure will happen & usually happens before real success. Don't give up your dreams and work hard at what ever you pursue. I've never done anything in the area your interested in, so I have no words of wisdom concerning that. I worked hard all my life and managed to move up to a comfortable place in life. So stay positive, stay focused, trust God, seek wise counsel (as you're doing), work hard, stay away from drugs and people that are negative. Surround yourself with positive people. Sounds to me like you'll do great! Don't try to be good, try to be great!! 

                                                                              Matt B.

[NCtrueconservative]

Mopar Maniac: Great advice..the Lord is my guiding light and I'm always praying for guidance.  I always marvel at our grandparents generation and all they went through. This generation knows nothing about hard times compared to what the greatest generation went through. In the old days, hard work and the American dream were attainable if you wanted it...you could go out there and get it.  That is still true today, although the circumstances are alot different.  Until about the 70's you didn't need a college degree to get a decent job.  Then, it changed, and as long as you went to school you could get a decent job. Nowadays, a college degree isn't even enough.


ChallengerHK: Totally agree with you. "Academia" is really a joke in my opinion. I set in my class and listen to teachers spew BS and just shake my head and ask why I and my parents are paying for this.  I agree, other than law school or a desk job, I don't know what you could do with a political science degree. And I haven't declared so I have time. Thats why I thought about dentistry...you are your own boss, and if you do your work right the money is definitely there.  My fear was, since I am a history buff and not a science guy, that I would take all this science or maybe even major in it and then not get into dental school and not know what to do with the degree or classes. IDEALLY, we would all like to be our own boss and OWN something. I don't know that that takes a college degree like you say, as much as it takes common sense.  I am saving a great deal of money by living at home since App State is in my hometown.

As someone mentioned about working on cars...I took 3 automotive classes in high school- Basic auto/engine, Brakes/steering and suspension, and electrical.  This area is chock full of mechanics, actually too many.  I know a recent graduate of Nashville Auto and Diesel College and came back and is now working at Food Lion. Can't even get a job. I mow yards during the summer, and plan to step up my output again this summer and that gets me by for the most part. The sad part is, unless you wanna spend close to 200k and 12 yrs in college to be a surgeon or something, there are hardly any careers looking up out there

[72cudamaan]

Others have said it about a degree being over rated, BUT, many occupations require
 some sort of a degree even if it isn't related to the field. I know around here you
can't even apply at AT&T phone without at least an associates degree. Reason is this . If
you can complete schooling with a degree, then you will be able to complete a task.
So, I would suggest getting some sort of a degree to make you more marketable. Especially
in this economy.

[NCtrueconservative]

degrees are important for sure, but I don't know what a marketable degree is anymore  And plus with all the middle aged people w/ experience out of work, they get hired for the jobs that entry level college students used to get

[ChallengerHK]

degrees are important for sure, but I don't know what a marketable degree is anymore  And plus with all the middle aged people w/ experience out of work, they get hired for the jobs that entry level college students used to get

The most marketable degrees are those that actually prepare you to do a job. Soft sciences/social studies degrees, like English, Philosophy, History, Anthropology, Sociology...plan of having rich parents 

[NCtrueconservative]

Which I definitely don't have!!!  I guess I'm not the only one facing this problem though. Almost every student I talk to, at least at App, say they have no clue what to do, because they are so stressed about picking something secure in this economy

[72cudamaan]

My wife has a degree in social science( legal assistant). Her career is teaching special education.
She has to have a bachelor's degree to apply. As you can see, it doesn't matter really what the degree
is in.

[dodj]

As you can see, it doesn't matter really what the degree
is in.

They are very important. It shows you will finish what you start. If you look at the stats of who is unemployed at the moment, you will see that the group with less education has higher unemployment.

[ChallengerHK]

They CAN be important, if your potential employer thinks they're important. But, if your potential employer is you, you get to decide how important it is.

If you go for a degree just to have something under your belt, choose something really easy like Art History, so you can simultaneously put effort into things that will actually make you employable, and remember: no student loans!

[GranCuda1970]

You will also see a high number of unemployed Veterans, Veterans finish what they start and many have college credits. I just think the most unemployed are under the age of 30. Basically it comes down to this, the government needs to get the Frig!!! out of the way of business growth, eliminate most regulatories and then when the jobs start coming back cut government jobs and offices. That way the gooberment guys can get jobs in the private sector. This would take common sense but the Left severely lacks this!!!, So I doubt they have enough braincells to figure it out.

[NCtrueconservative]

You will also see a number of high unemployed Veterans, Veterans finish what they start and many have college credits. I just think the most unemployed are under the age of 30. Basically it comes down to this, the government needs to get the Frig!!! out of the way of business growth, eliminate most regulatories and then when the jobs start coming back cut government jobs and offices. That way the gooberment guys can get jobs in the private sector. This would take common sense but the Left severely lacks this!!!, So I doubt they have enough braincells to figure it out.