This is for high school students, and it will be some of the best advice you get in relation to your career. I think it is good advice because besides warning against a pitfall I did not avoid, it also gives you direction for what you should do. This advice is easily summed up in one phrase you can ask yourself: should I go to college?
First, do not make college your after high school default. Do not say, “I’m going to college or university because I do not know what I am going to do with my life.” Why? A large number of students go to school only to get degrees that have no value once they get into the workforce. I, myself, stumbled into this trap (I call it a trap, because no one tells you when the degree you’re getting is worthless). I want young people to be aware that college is not what employers are looking for in many cases. I had a professor tell me once that college is useful when looking for a job, because employers see that you are able to stick to something for four years, which shows an aspect of your character. This is a partial truth that omits something more important. Employers primarily look at your skills and experience. College is a bonus, but it does not help you get a job unless the degree you are getting is teaching you specific skills related to that job.
Second, do not do something that your parents, teachers, and almost any other adult would not do without thought. By this, I mean that no one in their right mind would take out $50,000 to $100,000 in loans without having a plan on how to get a return on that money. You as high school students need to take debt into account when going to school. Society at large tells students they can make these decisions and ‘find themselves’ while at school, but this is stupid. If I took out $50,000 to start a business and decided I would go in without a plan and ‘find my business,’ I would be an idiot (And they wouldn’t give me a loan). Why would you do the same thing?
But what should you do? Those of you who are certain (And I mean 100%) that you want to go into areas that give you specific skills (like computer science, nursing, and even teaching), go, but I think each high school student should take a year off. Take a year off, work a crappy job, get out of your parents’ house, and do a year of research on areas that interest you. Do fifteen minutes of research a day, and you will have more information than you can imagine.
Now, what if you have no idea of what to do after a year? Pick a field where you can actually get a job in a field you would not mind working in for five years. Make sure the area isn’t insanely competitive, because unless you’re willing to sacrifice a lot, it is going to be very difficult to get a job in extremely competitive areas. After you’ve picked a career area (again, you are doing this to live, not to find the perfect job), get the training in that area. This might be a four-year degree, a two-year degree, an apprenticeship, or even just work experience. There is no reason why you should go to college if you do not know what you want to do. Going is more likely to get you tied to tens of thousands of dollars in debt with no return than making bank.
But what if you are unsatisfied with the job you get? That is okay, and it is part of growing up. Most people wish they were doing something else, and you can always work your way toward your dream-job. Many of the ideal jobs of young people these days are very competitive, and it may take decades before you can make enough money to support yourself by working in that area. This advice allows you to live well and also pursue that dream.