TODreamer

Yup... where do you think I derived that from???

Dlrosie

I actually joined the military to get an education. I know that I wouldn't be where I am, making what I am, if it wasn't for what I received from the millitary (experience and education). It isn't for everyone, but the money for education, opportunity to travel (I have been all over the world) - I don't want to sound like a recruiting poster - I am definitely NOT - but it was a good move for me at the time.

czr

iTrader: (3)

The military really straightens people out. Yeah, it's amazing how they can get up at 6 am every morning after no sleep and have routines now after not wanting to do jack squat beforehand.

The army wanted my friend's brother so bad that after he failed the drug test the recruiter "helped" him pass and this kid was going no where. I was shocked at that one. Just like "the Program".

MI_FamilyMan

I think we all need to stop making these broad-based generalizations and let each "side's" advice be judged by the original poster. There are so many variables: upbringing, success in pre-college or pre-military life, social "class", school attended, training and experience gained outside of college, who you know, and most importantly, the INDIVIDUAL IN QUESTION that will determine if someone is capable of being successful in the "real world", whether it is in a "profession" or a "job". All I can say to the threadstarter is good luck, do your best, and never settle.

TODreamer

yeah.. while your on army time, you gotta play by their rules which would seem like you're "straightened" out

BUT

Not to generalize as everyone is different but from what I've seen from military guys..... as soon as its "clear" and/or they are not on army time..... IMATURE... with a capital "I"... as it was mentioned earlier many of the ones i know are big "meat headed fools".. its almost like little private school kids acting out because they are always under stringent rules....

I'm not knocking the military as it can work for some people (I assume it worked for you) but I'm not quite so sure about the "straightening out" thing

skuzbucket

observation...

Huh - no response from the thread starter - maybe did this to stir the pot???

Education - hell yes. University gives you a different type of experience that just jumping into the workforce can't give you - How to deal with the myriad of different people and available teachings. Maybe by going to University, you might find something you love more than "CNC Machining". I for one started on one degree path and ended up in a totally different track and school of thought that I would never had found had I not gone to University...

Dlrosie

The military does different things for different people - each branch of the service is different and grooms (for lack of a better word) you in different ways. I knew people that you have described - seemed like All High School...All The Time. Of course, they didn't last long.

Everyone has their niche in life - and different ways to get it. Our silent thread-starter will make up his own mind; and then hope everyday he made the right choice. Just like every one of us does with most of the decisions we make. Welcome to adult-hood!

khtm

Sorry, just never heard anyone who's been to university (especially in Canada where there really are no BAD schools) say that degrees "close minds". The conversations that occur at universities between people from all over the world with different point of views and different beliefs definitely help in making people more "open-minded". Compare those experiences to people who drop out of high school and work at a gas station and tell me who is less-racist, less-prejudice, and less-ignorant.

Gord96BRG

You guys obviously don't remember Troy, now BMW Man, formerly JeupRX8 or something like that - his dad bought him an automatic RX-8. His dad owns a company or three that are very successful, has a Ferrari Maranello, a few BMWs, a vintage McLaren Can-Am car, etc. Basically, rolling in money. Whoever suggested that BMW Man has a silver spoon was right on. It was obvious back then that Troy was unfamiliar with having to work to earn a living and didn't think much of the idea .

Unfortunately, relying on your parents to provide for you is very short-sighted, and leaves you seriously short-changed on the life-building experiences that grow you as a person.

Re education vs. experience - one of the most important things they taught us in Engineering was that the specific formulas etc. weren't all that important - what we were to learn was how to think. How to approach problems, situations, requirements with a proper analytical perspective. Now, take that refined ability to think and analyze and the subsequent experience gained becomes more valuable. Not all higher education has the same worth, or teaches the same values and processes.

Regards,
Gordon

skuzbucket

So well put...

khtm

As usual, Gord replies with such truth and eloquence that many of us can strive to achieve only once in a lifetime.

TODreamer

Yeah but think about it? do those conversations only go down in university? Those people and conversations are everywhere.... doesnt matter if you're in university or not to get that.. its just a matter of if you are receptive or not.

Do all highschool dropouts work at gas stations??? Tell you the truth.. many of the guys I know that didn't bother with university are now making waay more money than many of the ones that did...
as for racism and predjudice... thats at every income bracket and educational level.... the only thing being is that the higher your education is.. the better you are at hiding it.... but a duck will always be a duck.

dont get me wrong.. I wouldnt tell my kid to drop out of university or not to bother going... I'd just make sure he knows that true intelligence does not necessarily come from university per se and oportunity for greatness can be anywhere at anytime for anybody.....

you just gotta know you and whats best for you

StewC625

Man, that dude has some serious "strudel in the noodle" issues:

1) "I don't have to go to college anymore" ... HUH???? WTF???? So he can make ...

2) $18.00/hour. At 40 hours/week/52 weeks a year, that's $37,000/year. Again, HUH? If he got a college education and came away with a degree in business, he could easily get a gig starting at that much and potentially much, much more. Starting lawyer salaries in the Chicago area run an AVERAGE (so there's lots of folks below this AND lots of folks higher) of $120,000/year. In technology sales, I just hired a kid straight out of Univ. of Georgia at a starting salary of $59,000/year.

3) He wants an M3 over an RX-8? A car worth 2x the price, is 2x as fast? HUH?

I think he's smoking something.

khtm

That's your personal experience, but DEFINITELY not the norm (unless you're talking about guys in their early 20s, in which case this is quite possible). I will bet my left nut on it.

I agree that it EXISTS at every level of income/education, but I vehemently disagree that it EXISTS EQUALLY. But I guess we're at a crossroads on this point. Might as well agree to disagree

Well put

Paul_in_DC

I'm a veteran, and the majority of people we hire are veterans. But they have to have a degree.

BTW, funny joke.

Paul_in_DC

WTF?! "Close minds???" Sorry, but I have never known that to be the case.

TODreamer

well sorry, but in the grand scheme of things I happen to think that it does (if you let it)

JoePaterno

18$/hour and a 735$/month car payment? Something isnt right.

TODreamer

read that guy's post.... not everyone has to work for what they have

G8rboy

Bingo- for those that don't remember BMWMan when he had his RX-8, he's a just a spoiled kid that gets bored of his cars after a few months and has daddy buy him something new. When he got bored with the '8 he started crying it's a lemon to get the dealer to take it back.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...light=jeuprx-8

He doesn't have to worry about college or making his car payments, so don't invest too much time convincing him what the right thing to do is.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

I don't think Paris Hilton ever had to 'work' for a living (unless you call that poor excuse of a TV show on Fox 'work', or her infamous nightvision video... lol) ... sounds like BMW Man is of the same ilk... it's a mentality those of us that are brought up in a working family or is working hard to make a living will never understand.

it's unfair, but those privileged few really don't have to worry about money, or at least think about money in ways that we do, EVER, in their life.

therefore I have no comment regarding his decision not going to college... lol

TODreamer

I'm surprised it took 7 pages for people to notice this... even if you've never read any of his other posts...even a blind man could see

His daddy owns a Z8 for god sakes which is the equivalent to owning a ferrari... all things being equal this should tell you something

MI_FamilyMan

Just as a side note -- I think a lot of people commenting on this thread are making the subtle mistake of equating success with having lots of $$$ regardless of the means of obtaining that cash.

Remember everyone, it's not all about the benjamins... It's much more important how happy you are and how confident you are about your contributions to society.

I would bet that there are a lot of high paid professionals, executives and self-made business men who are oozing money but are not happy, whether it's because they have no time for their families, work too many hours to notice their lives passing by, or whatever.

Outlaws eXtreme

Personally I wouldn't be comfortable living with a $18 an hour job and have to pay for an M3... OR an RX-8.

Let's assume the best for BMW-Troy-Jeup guy... and he wants to pay for his OWN home, his own bills, etc etc... at $18 an hour, that's not going to get you very far. I'll assume that he wants to make a living for himself someday.. doesn't want his parents help... but at $18 an hour, and thinking of owning that RX-8 + all the other expenses is just not feasible.

Just as a side note here myself, you can NEVER have enough money in life as long as you want the freedom to go after what you want in life... such as vacation time, spend family time, etc etc.. time is indeed money.

MI_FamilyMan... as long as people have "dreams" of owning that luxury car, or the thought of living in a nice home, money will always be an issue. Most divorces are ended because of money. All that benjamins allows the person to live his/her life whatever they want to... Without the money, you are limited in your lifestyle, and your choices diminished.

I want choices in life.. I want the luxury to wake up one day and think, I can do whatever the heck I want... travel anywhere I want.. spend as much time with the people I love..etc... and to be able to have that luxury, you need money. Success for me is having the 'choice' to do whatever I want right this second. At this moment I could travel to some nice places, close my business for a week or two, and I will be fine... but I want the choice to simply close for a year if I wanted to..etc... but of course that's not possible at the moment.

For example, you go into a restraunt, you look at the menu.. you are perfectly happy, great wife, kids, etc etc... but you have limited income. You see the food choices, and you are still happy.. but you also notice the more expensive items that you can't afford... choices are limiting. You tell yourself, it's ok, I'll just eat something cheaper...etc.. It's only food. But the point is, I want the OPTION of going for whatever the heck I want on that menu.

Education is more than simply "wealth" potential... it's about having wisdom in life, to achieve what you want which you may never have learned without some schooling. College is invaluable if you have the chance to go... I would always choose University Education over a nice car any day.

I would also bet that MORE of the rich people out there are happier than not happy. I'm sure they have their off days... but at the end of the day, Bill Gates could sleep happily knowing he has the CHOICE to simply own whatever the heck he wants with his money.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

That is an incorrect statement. No on-line degree from the internet will ever diminish a "piece of paper" from an accredited college.