College or straight to work?

When you leave/left school, what will/did you do?

When I was at school, I really wanted to go to college afterwards. It was a wish of mine to either go into engineering or business studies (I know, completely different careers, but I hadn't decided which I was going to do, so I thought I might do both).
However, my mum (who enjoys....urm....the finer things in life) wanted me to go straight into work so that I could pay more rent (yes I said more).
So, she made me sign up to a training program and basically, learn while I work.
I chose Retail and Customer Service as my preferred careers because I enjoy meeting new people and and helping. My first job was in a Chemist. It was great to begin with because not only was I learning the trades of Retail and Customer Service, I also got to try my skills as a Dispenser (making up the prescriptions for patients).

In short, I had my doubts at first about going straight into work, but I have to thank my mum for pushing me because within just a year, I was a qualified Customer Service Advisor and a Retail Manager. I was the quickest in my district to ever get my qualifications and the youngest to ever get a job as a manager after leaving school (I know I'm blowing my own trumpet, but who's going to do it for me? ).

My suggestion to those who are struggling to decide what to do after school, is to seriously consider BOTH college and working. It is possible to do both without feeling that you are taking on too much and the support you can find from training programs is amazing, and the feeling that comes when you get your qualifications, is one of a kind.

Just thought I'd say that studies have shown that, on average, people who spend a year working before going to college earn more per year, in the short term and long term, then people who go straight into college.

Wanna do history at Uni, more specifacally (SOAS-School of Oriental and African Studies). Bet you can guess what prompted that!

Sun Fin wrote:

Wanna do history at Uni, more specifacally (SOAS-School of Oriental and African Studies). Bet you can guess what prompted that!

Mate, that sounds like a brilliant course! Go for eeeeeet!

Personally, I went into college first and, lo and behold, dropped out early. I've had a few jobs since, but NOTHING in the vicinity of what I truly want. And I think there's a lot of truth in what BirdMan said: work prior to college and work during college set you in a far better stead for life after education.

Whelp, I went straight to school and am happily still in the Asian Studies program, Japanese Language focus (yeah, I know... they're going to shorten the name starting next semester). I'm liking it so far, but not everyone's the same.

I guess I'll ship myself out to UNO for Political Science, becoming the best damn left-winger law student I can be.

wassupimviet wrote:

I guess I'll ship myself out to UNO for Political Science, becoming the best damn left-winger law student I can be.

Fun... Just don't come to the UK.

*books a flight*

wassupimviet wrote:

*books a flight*

Once your a politician, until then I'd love to meet to you!

That leaves me a minimum of 16 years I can use to harass you...

wassupimviet wrote:

That leaves me a minimum of 16 years I can use to harass you...

Unless you want to start small and work your way up. An eighteen-year-old ran for mayor here a few years ago. No need to wait sixteen years to be on the political scene!

...That's not a bad idea. Not a bad idea at all.

wassupimviet wrote:

...That's not a bad idea. Not a bad idea at all.

The deputy leader of the Green party here in England is 19...

Fairly awesome.