[RyanMcVicker]

I am a senior in high school. I do not know what I want to be or where I want to go to college. I was wondering if you could all tell me what you do (or what you want to do) and where you went or are going to college. I may want to go into a career that somehow goes with trials. I used to want to go into computers, but I dunno now. It seems like I am more interested in trials these days than computers.

 

[Tanner]

frame manufacturing? That's what I'm doing. Learn to weld, or do a CAD study

 

[Elan]

i am lost when it comes to that, im hoping to get into teh Arit Institute of Denver for somthing like industrial design, or whatever else looks interesting...

 

[ty]

My major has absolutely nothing to do with trials, unless you want to start your own bike shop or something, but even then it could be a risky venture. I am majoring in Business, more specifically Organizational Management and also in Finance, minor in math i am going to CSU and love it here!

 

[Nikolai]

I would suggest that instead of trying to get into the world of Trials, try to arrange your life where you work the least amount of hours for the maximum amount of money so you have time to ride your bike and pay for new ones when the mood strikes you.

As an undergrad (Virginia Tech--Go Hokies!) I majored in biology and biochemistry. I never had so much free time in my life. I was into XC and road and I rode all the time. I was in fantastic shape.
I am now in grad school (UC Davis). I have a fraction of the time to ride, but I get to make my own hours for grad school. I am on a "ride the trials bike three days a week" plan, and I try to make each ride a quality ride. But I also do other fitness activities and other non athletic activities when not in lab. Compared to friends who got a job right after undergrad, I have way less money, but a much higher quality of life. If you are at the bottom rung in the real world, you get about two weeks of vacation a year and have to work like a dog. I get four weeks of vacation a year, and I rarely work past 4PM.

And to clear up any confusion you might have: in America, if you get a Ph.D. in the sciences (Chemistry, Physics, Biology.... that sort of thing) The University PAYS YOU. Thats right. I earn money being a grad student.

In the future... Germany has a ton of biotech jobs and they love American Ph.D's. They also give a lot of vacation.... We'll see about the move to Europe when I get closer to getting done with my degree.

 

[Sonic]

I thought my grad life would be comparable, I thought I would be able to ride whenever, but I find myself studying all the time. But it sounds like you dont have a part time job, that's got to be the difference. Plus it's rainy and cooold here, argh.

If your deadset on trials, I definitely recommend CO right now, they need fresh blood to keep the dynasty alive.

 

[afrobot]

UC @ Colorado Springs has a Good engineerig pgm. We have a number of students working here at Colorado Cyclist part time for employee purchase benifits.The pay isn't bad either.

I took the easy route and dropped out,got my Good Enough Diploma
and make 12$hr telling people how to fix their bikes over the phone.
And jerkin of on the trials forums all day.

 

[ascentrek]

I'll make this short.

MAKE MONEY! GET A JOB THAT GIVES YOU TIME!!!

That being said, I'm probably the only yuppie thug that shows up with a trials bike and an aggro bike on top of my Saab 9-5.

I went to college, got an EE degree with minors in Philosophy and materials science. After working in a cubical and designing missles, I said Fuck it, I'm going into Sales. So, with a technical degree selling high-end corporate software, I pull in loads of cash, but more importantly, I get flexible time!

Time is what you need to focus on. Pick a profession that has flexible time. I ride trials during every nice day / lunches I can. Oh yeah. And I've got nice trials area's to get good at (look at Kevins COTRIALS 5?)... I can't remember... Regardless, its about your FREE TIME! The rest is just numbers (money).

 

[tomacropod]

after I finished school I thought I wanted to work in bikes professionally, started a machining apprenticeship. Anyway I decided that, after seeing people who ran bike shops etc, that too much bikes is too much, I don't want to spoil my passion by overdosing and stressing about my favourite things. Other end of the scale, I now study psychology and work weekends. I love working on bikes, and in co-ordination with another trialsin friend of mine (who took my apprenticeship in fact) hope to design a bit of cool stuff on the side.

- Joel

 

[oicdn]

Same here....well, I liked motorcycles, but same thing...why ruin a passion with TOO much and stress.....it'd be like playing a CD too much...it'll get PLAYED HARD...

So I joined the Navy as a submariner(more pay compared to teh rest of the military. Subs get paid 2 pay grades higher than the rest of the Military from all the extra pay) cause I had NO CLUE WTF I wanted to do. I was getting $1000 bi-weekly AFTER all bills were paid and taxes...good money, shitty job... Did 3 years, had the option to get out(in less words) and I got out with the quickness. Doing that let me know that Psychology is what I wanted to do, figuring out WHY people do what they do, or act the way they do, being analytical about attitudes and body language, etc.....now I'm going to school to become one......

Sometimes, you will NOT know what you wanna do OR where to go until certain events trigger what you really wanna be and you get a nice dose of reality and some nice reality checks to open your eyes and clear the haziness. And that only comes with time.....comes earlier for some people, and WAY LATE for others.

 

[ascentrek]

As my father-in-law (CO of the John Adams) says: "There's two types of ships: Submarines and Targets."

 

[Nikolai]

Everybody should realize that there is not "One Path" to take through life. College is not for everybody. High school isn't for everybody. If you are not interested in going to college, it dosen't mean you are stupid. Getting a job right after high school and saving up for a car and moving out of the parents house and taking welding classes in the evening can teach you a lot more about life and about who you are than four drunken years of grade inflation. You can always go to college later. You can always get a fancy degree in college and decide that what makes you happy is working construction. My brother joined the Navy in part to "find himself". I think he found himself pretty quickly and is itching to get out. But he does now own two houses.
I wish I owned a house. I'd have a party.

 

[ascentrek]

Lets analyze this one...

Everybody should realize that there is not "One Path" to take through life.

No one can take the 'exact' same path. What do you consider is the 'one path'?

College is not for everybody. High school isn't for everybody. If you are not interested in going to college, it dosen't mean you are stupid.

Hmm... a little defensive. We didn't say you had to go to school. But if you want a career that DOESN'T SUCK, you should probably try and find something that rewards you for the thinking you do.

Getting a job right after high school and saving up for a car and moving out of the parents house and taking welding classes in the evening can teach you a lot more about life and about who you are than four drunken years of grade inflation.

We now know where your animosity comes from. I bet you have issues with people that have more money that you, right? Saving up for a car is the DUMBEST FUCKING THING YOU CAN DO! Cars are a necessary evil. They aren't a great investment by any means. Most high schoolers think they have to have a great car. Well, I'm sure that my taxes are paying for their lack of contibution to society. And whats worse, you prolly think we should tax the rich.

You can always go to college later. You can always get a fancy degree in college and decide that what makes you happy is working construction.

So, you didn't go to college and you're working in construction... hmmm... it sounds like you have issues as to your life choices. Stop convincing yourself that you like to hammer wood in the freezing cold. I'm sure you like working 8 hours with a 15 minute break... but I'd rather work when I want to, and take the time when its nice outside.

My brother joined the Navy in part to "find himself".

There's a lot of ways to find yourself. try a mirror.

I think he found himself pretty quickly and is itching to get out.

WTF?

But he does now own two houses.

So. Make some money and buy one.

I wish I owned a house.

WTF!!! I bet you need some money for that house! You should look at that trans am you bought and since you financed it at 18%, you'll be paying 50k dollars on something that will end up in a junk yard the year after you bought it. Construction isn't paying? Hmmm better look for a higher paying job. Your best bet is to graduate high school, and then go on to college. more than likely, you'll have a stable income to buy a house and throw a party.

BTW, the reason why you drink and party in that 'grade inflation' college life, is because you're celebrating the fact that you'll make some good cash and can play hard.

Believe me, I don't know a single construction guy that enjoys shitty weather while working.

Oh, and the world needs ditch diggers too.[/quote]

 

[Nikolai]

ascentrek, you are very hostile. You need to calm down. I recommend yogalates.

 

[Tanner]

hes not hostile, hes fucking right.

 

[ascentrek]

ascentrek, you are very hostile. You need to calm down. I recommend yogalates.

Nah, I'll just call ya on da crap. You're good. We'll drink beer regardless, its just a matter of when.

No worries man, welcome to OTN. Ride hard.

 

[oicdn]

Yes there is a life without College.My GFs parentsBANK and they didn't goto college. One of them is a District Manager of the Southeast US for Dollar Tree...BANKS at $50K a year WITHOUT COLLEGE. The other is a Housekeeping Manager at a Historic Hotel, $30K a year. Yeah, might seem like not much, but when you didn't goto college.....that's alot of dough!!!!!!

They always tell my GF and her brother and sister, goto college, we got LUCKY. Lucky? Maybe, hardwork that's finally paying off? Yes. Point is, if you wanna start out at the bottom and work your way up the hard way...don't goto school. You might get lucky and make it pretty nicely like my GF's rents. Or, you could stick it out, get drunk and goto school for a couple years (in my case 8...psych) and START OUT at $50K.....it's all dependant on the type of person you are.

Now yeah, some people actually DO enjoy welding, or repairing powerlines, etc. Some people dig getting thier hands dirty. My neighbor is a welder, he LOVES welding, and he LOVES the fact that he can work wherever he wants cause that trade is in demand...if he doesn't like a job he can quit, and have a job the next day.....it's all on who and what kinda person you are.....

As for the submarines and targets thing...LOL...you have NO IDEA!!!!

 

[AndyT]

LOTS of people would NOT consider 50k a year bank.


<----


Anyway do what makes you happy...some people are fucked in this sense, they are super happy doing jobs that this society won't pay them much for...others are VERY happy to do VERY high paying jobs- they are lucky..

 

[BP-Mobile]

Don't forget that there is a famous university in Colorado you can attend for four years for free. The United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Spirngs. True, you will not have a lot of free time for riding, but thier bike team sponsor is a good mechanic. Plus you get a guaranteed job for 5 years minimum.

 

[OTAdmin]

Plus you get a guaranteed job for 5 years minimum.

Whether you like it or not?