how many of you are doing what you want to be?

[Wet Doggg]

Ever since I was a young kid I wanted to play professional golf. I was a two time second team All-American at top school. I gave Q-school a shot and some mini-tour events but just did not have the money to keep going out there. On most of the mini-tour events if you win...you break even. So i took my degree and got a job. Is it hard to see a lot of guys I played against and beat in college making millions...of course. But I am content, have a great wife and three wonderful kids I see everyday.

I had also considered the club pro route. But the 80 - 100 hour weeks for little pay for the first 4 - 8 years of that career was not appealing. I am in sales and just getting back into golf this summer for the first time in about 10 years. I think I can finally not view a round of golf as a "job". So to answer your question...am I doing my "dream" job, no. Am I happy...very much so.

[ugottabjoshinme]

The only problem is if everyone was smart enough to study at university, who would drive garbage trucks, work in factories etc.

Everyone is "smart enough" to study at a university, its whether or not they have to work ethic to do it. I graduated in Civil Engineering 2 years ago, and I saw that the people got bad grades not because they were not intelligent enough, but because they spent their time binge drinking 4-5 nights per week.

I am doing what I want to do. When I graduated high school, I wanted to go into Civil Engineering. I changed my major to a different engineering before I even took a class. I made it back to Civil Engineering by the end of sophomore year which was luckily before a major change would put me off the four year plan.

[kfowler]

Everyone is "smart enough" to study at a university, its whether or not they have to work ethic to do it.

I kind of disagree with you here. Some people were just not meant for college and there's

absolutely nothing wrong with that. You, however, have to learn a trade. Whether that's though formal college, trade school or apprenticeship it makes no difference. One thing I'd like to see changed in the country is how we view trade jobs. For some reason many people look down on these. That shouldn't be the case. I think we've pushed some young people into college when they would have been better at learning a trade. Welders, mechanics, carpenters, etc can make really good money if they're good at it.

[Shanks A Million]

I kind of disagree with you here. Some people were just not meant for college and there's

I have more respect for many of the catering and janitorial staff I work with at concerts than some of the large name artists. Of course, it goes both ways, there are janitors who are jerks too. Basically, one's trade should not be something one is judged for. I play music and run mixing consoles because it's what I'm good at, not because of where it may take me. I only want the respect of my peers, like any good session musician. Most people will never know the names of the people who bring them their music, Dann Huff, Patrick Leonard, Guy Pratt, David Foster, Michael Omartian, or those types. Instead, the general public is enthralled with names like Madonna, Celine Dion, and other good looking people who sing decently well, yet have very limited actual musical skills.

[jamo]

I kind of disagree with you here. Some people were just not meant for college and there's

I think you are sort of missing the point of his post. I think he meant it more like "there is a college for everyone." I still agree with what you're saying. Most plumbers and electricians make very very good money.

[Shanks A Million]

I think you are sort of missing the point of his post. I think he meant it more like "there is a college for everyone." I still agree with what you're saying. Most plumbers and electricians make very very good money.

Probably better than I do!

[enis750]

while in H/S I had aspirations of being a club pro...at that time I didn't think I could make a living in the winter (boy was i stupid)
I have a client now who is a local pro - makes over $300k CDN/year and been doing it 30+ years - there is a lot more business involved than actual golf

after that went out the window i thought about sports physical therapy (until I realized you needed an 85% average to GET AN INTERVIEW after 2.5 yrs of University)
.....I then quit school

worked in the oil patch for 3 + years trying to "find myself"
after i fried every brain cell possible, I quit that and got into sales
i literally fell into a coprorate job w a major bank and ended up managing the place for 5 years......funny......i failed Gr. 11 math the 1st time around!! hahaha!

recently (about 2.5 years ago) I started my own company and am now a Mortgage Broker
honeslty....it's the best move i ever made
I make TRIPPLE the income i did at the bank, no boss, no sales targets and come and go as i please

im not saying college is a bad idea, but if i did it all over again....i still wouldnt go
unless it was a free ride for golf
I have a lot of friends that owe well over $40,000 in student loans and I make 3 times the amount they EVER will

i consider myself very fortunate i was given the opportunities in life that presented themselves
but i also believe you make your own luck

[biscuitninja]

I used to take everything apart to understand it. My father was a scientist and my mom a teacher.... I am an engineer of 17 years and very much enjoy it. I worked VERY hard in college to get that degree. While I may not always enjoy what i'm doing, i very much enjoy being an engineer.

[ohh i'm a weapons engineer BTW] Things that make you go BOOM!

But as a side i started my own real estate company, it honestly makes 13x what i make as an engineer's salary. But that is for a later day when i'm about to retire. Anyways good luck and don't work too hard.
-bix

[Cussin hacker]

I went to a tech school while in the Air Force. Aircraft jet engine tech. Then worked for Boeing in STL for 17 years. Didn't enjoy it much though. I always tell my boys find something you think you will enjoy as a field of work. Whether it involves collage or a tech school make sure you will enjoy doing it. It's not just about money. You have to have enjoyment at what you do also. After all as adults most of us spend a 3rd of our lives on the job.

[csibona]

I'm a software engineer at a large software company with a bachelor's degree in computer science and an MBA. I am glad that I went to college and I enjoy writing software.

[ApocG10]

5 years university, work in sports nutrition and fitness. Absolutely love it.

[srjorion]

I always wanted to be a pilot growing up. I wound up getting a degree and joined the military. I tried the airlines for a couple of years but that was tough on the family and was able to get back in the military flying. I like it, but not so much in love with it that I haven't entertained doing something else. My degree is in engineering and I don't use it at all.

[Philip9210]

Right there with you OP. Senior in high school this year, heading off to the wonderful University of South Carolina next year. Hopefully going to major in International Business and minor in German. A lot of my family is German, and there is a lot of German industry where I am from. However, if I had to say what I would love to do, it would be playing collegiate/professional baseball. However, I messed that up my freshman year in HS by wrestling for my school and getting muscle and back spasms in my shoulder, and now I can't throw but for like 30mins without it hurting. I do enjoy golf however, not sure why it doesn't hurt my shoulder like baseball did. I would say def. go to college, as it will def. make whatever field you go into much easier to move up in.

[senorchipotle]

I think you are sort of missing the point of his post. I think he meant it more like "there is a college for everyone." I still agree with what you're saying. Most plumbers and electricians make very very good money.

if everyone went to college, then who'll do the work that doesn't require a degree? the whole liberal ''everyone should be able to go to college'' attitude is at best very dangerous for society.

[alf174]

Didn't finish a bachelors degree but did get enough schooling and accreditation to be doing what I wanted after working menial jobs for 4 years coming out of HS. Been 26 years now and and I still enjoy going to work because its new & different almost every day and there is always something new to learn. I could do this well after my expected retirement age.

[jamo]

if everyone went to college, then who'll do the work that doesn't require a degree? the whole liberal ''everyone should be able to go to college'' attitude is at best very dangerous for society.

I don't really want to argue politics with you, but I think it is completely wrong to be planning the world around who is going to be picking up my trash. If someone wants to go to college, it should be possible, and not everyone wants to. Those are the people that become electricians and plumbers, and like I said, make very good money. Those people who want to better their lives and therefore better society by going to college should be able to.

And that's all I'm going to say on that.

[Shanks A Million]

I don't really want to argue politics with you, but I think it is completely wrong to be planning the world around who is going to be picking up my trash. If someone wants to go to college, it should be possible, and not everyone wants to. Those are the people that become electricians and plumbers, and like I said, make very good money. Those people who want to better their lives and therefore better society by going to college should be able to.

Agree... What's wrong with the trash man having a degree? Something conservatives seem to fail to grasp: the

option and the requirement are two totally different things. I think everyone should have the opportunity to attend college, but no one should be required to. I believe there should be an option to join a national healthcare system, but not a requirement. It's highly unfair that people born in to wealthy families have so many opportunities, while people born into poor families don't. Somehow, everyone who favors some form of social justice gets lumped into the broad category of "socialist" with a negative connotation. This is a false prophesy. This is like saying that someone who is a Libertarian should be lumped in with Fascists. In both cases, you're talking about people with similar economic views, but highly opposing social views. Liberals and progressives are libertarian-left, the socialist and communist parties were authoritarian-left. Fascists and Nazis are authoritarian-right, while Libertarians and Anarchists are libertarian-right. At one time, we believed that it was totally fair that a black man didn't have the same opportunities as a white man. The people who argued against this got a similar label too...

[ApocG10]

I don't really want to argue politics with you, but I think it is completely wrong to be planning the world around who is going to be picking up my trash. If someone wants to go to college, it should be possible, and not everyone wants to. Those are the people that become electricians and plumbers, and like I said, make very good money. Those people who want to better their lives and therefore better society by going to college should be able to.

So people who donbt go to college arent bettering their lives or society?

Firefighters arent bettering society? What about soldiers? Cops? That plumber who isnt bettering society, without him, you'd still be running water from the river. It sounds like your still in school, and think your part of a special club. I have two degrees, and run my own successful business (im by no means rich, but I do very well). Some of the most successful men I have ever done business with, never made it to highschool. Guys who are filthy rich. Many more do very well for themselves. And im sure most of them have bettered society in far better ways than your ignorance could comprehend. Theres an old saying. I'd have learned a lot more if school hadn't got in the way.