Make a long wait shorter?

[kdm31091]

Thanks everyone. I'll keep you posted when I make solid plans, look into them carefully, choose a state etc, then I'll ask for advice! So probably towards the summer I'll know more, and I'll ask for your opinions once I figure it all out. Thanks

 

[kdm31091]

Well okay, it's not near summer yet lol.

But I have a few comments.

I've been doing my research, and really, I think my calling is truly hair. I can't turn away or ignore it. I think hairstylist is what I'm made to be. There are several schools I've found in Florida which offer cosmetology, including one (Sunstate Academy) which also has Massage Therapy, so I could get training in both

Hairstylists make about $20k a year base salary in Florida apparently, but you do get tips too. Should I follow this career? I truly think it's my real calling at this point.

Or should I go with a more secondary calling (which is still a calling) like Nursing or Massage? It would provide a more steady income.

But the pastry chef is probably out. I can see my like for cooking as more of a hobby not a career. Realtor still an option though.

 

[mytwotinks]

Do you have a vo-tech program through your school? You would be one step ahead of the game if you went with some prior training. You can finish cosmetology school in a fairly short amount of time. Maybe you should consider getting your training before you head to FL.

As far as a 9-5 mon through Fri job.... I think that we all thought that is what our lives would be like when we were 15. In reality there just aren't that many positions that can support a family with that schedule.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Do you have a vo-tech program through your school? You would be one step ahead of the game if you went with some prior training. You can finish cosmetology school in a fairly short amount of time. Maybe you should consider getting your training before you head to FL.

That's the word I was looking for before - cosmetology. Can't you study that in high school?

I'd give that a shot, then you can BE a barber!

 

[MrsPete]

Lots of comments:

I work with teens every day, and 100% of them claim that they are "very mature" for their age -- in fact, most of them would claim that they are more mature than the average adult. The biggest indicator, in my opinion, of maturity during the teen years is the ability to take advice. Most teens think they have it all figured out, and they won't listen to anyone -- they figure that their own ideas are more valuable than life experience.

It's good to have a dream, but you need to put feet to that dream. It sounds like you're trying to formulate plans, but your ideas are still "all over the place": this career, that career, and there's no consistancy in your ideas. If you said you're looking at either becoming a police officer or a parole officer -- two jobs in the same field with similar qualifications -- I'd say that you've narrowed your abilities and career goals down, and you just need to investigate the specifics of each job and make a decision. But you're all over the map: OTJT jobs, community college jobs, 4-year college -- the first thing you need is some career counseling. You can take a career placement test in your high school guidance office (or maybe even online); that'll help you focus your ideas. This is not a simple task; many adults change jobs (even multiple times) because they've failed to do this during their teen years.

Once you're settled on a general field, look at the requirements for jobs in that field. Most careers have different "levels"; for example, if you were interested in accounting, you could get a simple bookkeeper's job right out of high school, or you could go to community college and get a better-paying job, or you could put in four years and take the CPA exam and really go far in that field.

Review: Choice one -- narrow your career field, Choice two -- decide how much time, money, and effort are you willing to put into the job training.

Last week I read an article in the newspaper about the 10 fastest growing jobs in America. SEVEN of the ten had something to do with health care. Since nursing is one of the things on your list, I'd suggest you put some serious thought into that. This field would be especially good in Florida, where many people choose to retire -- simply put, old folks need lots of health care.

But that's your eventual career goal -- if you're looking at college, you'll probably be 22 before you're fully qualified to enter that job. You need those long-term goals, but you also need short-term goals NOW:

What can you do NOW to prepare yourself for a better-paying college job (something that'll see you through until you can have that career job)? If you're looking at moving out of your parents' house to an expensive state like Florida, you're going to need to prepare yourself to hold a better job than McDonald's worker. If you decide to go into the medical field, you can take classes in high school that'll allow you to earn a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) before high school graduation; that'll allow you to work at more than minimum wage during your college years. Other opportunities abound -- you need to find what's available to you and start preparing yourself now.

You also need to prepare yourself to maintain a household. If you're going to college in Florida (or elsewhere), I'd strongly suggest a dorm room for the first year. It's sort of a half-way step out of your parents' house. You'll be responsible for MANY things that you don't even think about right now at home, but you won't have to pay the electrical bill, etc. I've seen LOTS of just-graduated young people fail at living on their own because they have tried to do "too much too soon". Set yourself up for success by taking little steps.

You already know that you need to save the security deposit, the first and last month's rent -- you also need to have a financial cushion in case your roommate moves out unexpectedly. It could take a couple months to find a new one. You need to be prepared for car trouble, gas increases, a week without a paycheck, and more. I know, I know, no one thinks anything bad's going to happen to him, but these things DO happen to lots of people. You'll also need to be prepared to put down deposits on your electrcity, etc. It costs more than you think to get your first place; my first apartment was a two-bedroom shared with five people, and it was VERY difficult for me to afford it while going to college.

If you're in college, your parents will likely be able to carry you on their health insurance. If not, look into the costs involved. Many minimum-wage type (also known as jobs for 18 and 19 year olds) don't offer health insurance, yet you can't afford to be without it.

What about transportation? Can you expect to have a paid-for car of your own at 18? If so, that's a HUGE benefit to you. Don't forget insurance; it's a killer. Do not buy a new car until you've been out in the working world for a couple years -- you can't afford it.

The bottom line is that you WILL be broke-broke-broke for the first couple years out of school. Either that, or you will get into debt, and that's far worse in the long run. Many young people expect to move out of their parents' houses and instantly begin living the same lifestyle that their parents "built up to" over years. Obviously, that's foolish, but many of them don't stop to think about it. As a just-graduated young person, do not expect to be able to afford meals out, cable TV, new clothes, and other luxuries. Expect, instead, to work very hard -- possibly at two jobs -- and settle for less than you'd like. You have to do this for a couple years; there's just no avoiding it -- unless, as I said earlier, you get into debt to sustain a higher lifestyle, but that's only making things worse in the long run.

In closing, you have a dream. Now you need to figure out what you want to do for a lifetime career (and what training that requires), and you need to put together a financial plan for the first few years out of high school. Planning now will make the difference in success later.

Remember, too, that Florida will be staying where it is. A good plan might be to live in your parents' house while attending community college, THEN moving to Florida two years later. The military isn't a bad option either; they'll pay for career training, and you'll always have veteran benefits. You won't be a failure if you don't have a Florida address before your 19th birthday. All goals can't be reached immediately.

Hmmm . . . one more thought: It seems to me that you've set your sights on a LIFESTYLE -- an expensive lifestyle. You want to live in the Sunshine State so you can enjoy mini-vacations constantly. What you need to decide now is what CAREER will allow you to enjoy this lifestyle.

 

[Becky_Boop]

I'm sorry this has turned into an argument thread. IT IS HER CHOICE! SHE DID NOT ASK FOR THIS ADVICE!

Let's go back to the topic...

What you can do for the next 2.5 years is just dream of all those vacations! Of course, you can plan, and the DISBoards are great for that. You could think back to other vacations- try to find videos, pictures, anything. Basically, the only way to pass the time is to submerge yourself in everything Disney.

 

[Martha7]

Mrs.Pete has given you great advice, and I'd like to add one more thing, if I may. Study Spanish! If you're going to live in the Orlando area, you'll find that there is a large concentration of Spanish speakers. Having some fluency in Spanish will make you more attractive to employers. Good luck with your plans. I admire you for setting some goals. I wish I knew what my 16 year old would like to do professionally. It would make it a lot easier to find a college for him!