I'm 21, working as a high school basketball coach, running camps winter break, spring break, and summer. Income is terrible, and I went to college, but it was not for me. Didn't finish a semester. I wanted to do firefighting, was in the middle of EMT school, having already done the fire academy, when i blow my knee out. Down here in Florida, trying to find a firefighting job is tough enough, add surgically repaired knee, slim to no chance. I've thought about becoming a police officer, but I do not have the personality for that. I wanted to do Peace Corp, but they only need people with degrees. What do I do from here.....?
If you are into the health field, go overseas and get your bachelor's degree in medicine or nursing or something similar to that, and then come back to the States and reek in the big bucks. In this type of economy I would NOT spend major money on college and get into ridiculous debt just to end up working my entire life and be able to make minimum payments on all my loans. I am not a big fan of the 'American way' of supporting a debt-driven life. I do not support the idea of becoming a slave to the system.
What kind of shape is your knee in now? Could you walk 3 miles in 45 minutes with a 45 lb. pack on a track? If so, look at wildland fire. Start out on an engine crew and all you have to do is drag hose a couple of hundred yards. Spend a couple years doing that and then move over to Helicopter work... we are woefully short on Helicopter Managers, which is not too terribly demanding physically... and we always need EMTs. Work the summers and you can pay your way through school should you choose to go back.
That is not entirely true. Sure college and degrees can open many doors but you can still make good money without that piece of paper. Hell, kids go to college these days, graduate and come out broke to a crappy job that doesn't even require the degree they have. Some graduate and get jobs that has nothing to do with their degree. There are alternatives. You just need lots of determination and will. Do some research. For example, you can always start your own business. Hard as nails, but there is nothing like being your own boss. At least with that way, if it fails, you know exactly why. It's not like busting your ass at some cooperation for 8 years, only to get laid off because they had to "cutback" on employees. Don't let anyone tell you that just because you didn't go to college, you won't be able to make a good living. I think teachers in High School put way too much pressure on kids when they say "You'll be flipping burgers for the rest of your life is you don't go to college." Like the OP said, college is not for everyone. Whether its personal reasons, financially or whatever the case may be.
QFT. When I was 19, a friend of mine (also 19) decided that college wasn't for him. He quit and went to work as a mechanic for Mercedes. He wasn't even 20 and was making $35K+. This was in the mid '90's. He was making upwards of $50K within a few years. He now owns his own shop and makes a six-figure killing. Meanwhile, I have a degree, I've never made much money, I have ass-loads of student loan debt, and I'm getting another degree (and more student loan debt) just so I can make a good living. Never let anyone tell you that college is a must in order to succeed. Society has put this lie onto a generation of people and it's just sad. College can help, but it is by no means required.
if you can go back and get your EMT basic, you can get on with ambulances and transport services... or even go for an ER technician type job in a hospital. (if you like it, you could move up to paramedic now or later) Not sure if that was something you wanted to pursue or if you just liked it to become a firefighter
You are talking about specific cases, but on average you will make a lot more over your life time with a degree. Sure steve jobs, bill gates, michael dell never finished college, but the fact is most people are average.
