Pal’s jobs and skateboarding

[DanTheDoucher]

Shit man, I believe it. You can live like a king while doing next to no work.

It's the American dream.

[Soft Boiled]

I’ve been delivering pizzas for over a decade, but now that I’m getting older(I’m 48), I’ve decided to pursue my dream job of working at a Vape shop.

[reverbtank]

I appreciate everyone’s advice.

I don’t care what Nine Club says, Slap is a nice place to visit.

[geneparmesan]

Not to sound like a debbie downer, but you get the job you think you deserve. If you believe that you deserve a quality career position, you will put the work in to make that happen. Similarly, if you believe you deserve a low paying, soul sucking job, you will make that happen too. Your thoughts and world view dictate the choices and actions you take, and you reap what you sow.

I say this as someone who for most of my life couldn't figure out what to do, and was in a lot of denial and depression. So I worked a number of jobs that weren't even close to fulfilling. When you are in that in between stage, you're scared and worried about what the future holds, and as a result make safe choices that keep you in that same paradigm. It wasn't until I was nearly homeless and broke that I was willing to make whatever sacrifices needed to be made to make my career happen. In hindsight, I can see how my unwillingness to pursue my dreams at any cost was what was holding me back, but I literally had to put myself into a situation where there was no other choice but move forward.

Highly recommend the book "Mastery" by Robert Greene. He lays out all the steps from novice to master and the stages it takes to get there. For the pals here talking about not knowing what you're passionate about, there's chapters in there about how to rediscover it.

Best of luck. I'll leave with a Michelangelo quote,"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark."

[Deputy Wendell]

Not to sound like a debbie downer, but you get the job you think you deserve. If you believe that you deserve a quality career position, you will put the work in to make that happen. Similarly, if you believe you deserve a low paying, soul sucking job, you will make that happen too. Your thoughts and world view dictate the choices and actions you take, and you reap what you sow.

I say this as someone who for most of my life couldn't figure out what to do, and was in a lot of denial and depression. So I worked a number of jobs that weren't even close to fulfilling. When you are in that in between stage, you're scared and worried about what the future holds, and as a result make safe choices that keep you in that same paradigm. It wasn't until I was nearly homeless and broke that I was willing to make whatever sacrifices needed to be made to make my career happen. In hindsight, I can see how my unwillingness to pursue my dreams at any cost was what was holding me back, but I literally had to put myself into a situation where there was no other choice but move forward.

Highly recommend the book "Mastery" by Robert Greene. He lays out all the steps from novice to master and the stages it takes to get there. For the pals here talking about not knowing what you're passionate about, there's chapters in there about how to rediscover it.

Best of luck. I'll leave with a Michelangelo quote,"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Alger

[CrappyChan]

Welp im here to sad sack this shit. I need advice guys. My girlfriend of four years unexpectedly broke up with me and kicked me out. I no call no showed my job out of depression for the week, ending with me being fired. This whole situation is my fault, college got pulled out from underneath me and ever since I've been finding jobs with little to no responsibility, pay or hours. After 2 years of bad luck and seeming to not care, combined with my inflated ego my girlfriend is 'finally' taking her friends advice and dumping me since I'm a deadbeat loser. I feel like everything is against me. Nothing I could do could make her happy though, i feel like I could work at 4 fast food restaurants, get 50 hours a week and I still wouldn't be making a high enough wage. I was working a decent paying job but they cut my hours alot when the guy I was supposed to replace decided not to leave. Re emerging in the scene is weird, plenty of my friends have moved away or have grown less friendly since I've been busy with domestic life. I don't have any family that can help. I just have to make some change from within and shit but has anyone been in my position before? Skating hadn't been helping, I just get bummed I'm not as good as I'd like to be. I also bought a car last year but haven't been able to save up to get it insured still. Took my drivers road test today and failed. Might sell the car? I'm too bad at driving to use it. Sorry in advance, this is a stupid rant but I seriously feel so alone at this point that I'm asking you assholes for advice. Thanks for the forthcoming belittling statements...

[nesta.]

Welp im here to sad sack this shit. I need advice guys. My girlfriend of four years unexpectedly broke up with me and kicked me out. I no call no showed my job out of depression for the week, ending with me being fired. This whole situation is my fault, college got pulled out from underneath me and ever since I've been finding jobs with little to no responsibility, pay or hours. After 2 years of bad luck and seeming to not care, combined with my inflated ego my girlfriend is 'finally' taking her friends advice and dumping me since I'm a deadbeat loser. I feel like everything is against me. Nothing I could do could make her happy though, i feel like I could work at 4 fast food restaurants, get 50 hours a week and I still wouldn't be making a high enough wage. I was working a decent paying job but they cut my hours alot when the guy I was supposed to replace decided not to leave. Re emerging in the scene is weird, plenty of my friends have moved away or have grown less friendly since I've been busy with domestic life. I don't have any family that can help. I just have to make some change from within and shit but has anyone been in my position before? Skating hadn't been helping, I just get bummed I'm not as good as I'd like to be. I also bought a car last year but haven't been able to save up to get it insured still. Took my drivers road test today and failed. Might sell the car? I'm too bad at driving to use it. Sorry in advance, this is a stupid rant but I seriously feel so alone at this point that I'm asking you assholes for advice. Thanks for the forthcoming belittling statements...

What kind of car/how much did you spend on it? Why would you buy a vehicle if you don't have a license and can't afford insurance? Definitely sell that thing, hopefully you can get enough for a security deposit and few months rent while you look for a new job. Go to a reputable temp agency and ask for entry level office work or factory work. Tell them your minimum wage is $15/hr. They should be able to find you something you can grow into as long as you don't totally fuck up the interview. Another option is to look at which trades interest you the most (welding, pipefitting, plumbing, electrcian, etc.), call the local (union) office for your area, and start an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships generally pay for the school required of you while you work four days a week and go to class for one. Within a few years you could be making $40+/hr. Good luck.

[BayZ]

Welp im here to sad sack this shit. I need advice guys. My girlfriend of four years unexpectedly broke up with me and kicked me out. I no call no showed my job out of depression for the week, ending with me being fired. This whole situation is my fault, college got pulled out from underneath me and ever since I've been finding jobs with little to no responsibility, pay or hours. After 2 years of bad luck and seeming to not care, combined with my inflated ego my girlfriend is 'finally' taking her friends advice and dumping me since I'm a deadbeat loser. I feel like everything is against me. Nothing I could do could make her happy though, i feel like I could work at 4 fast food restaurants, get 50 hours a week and I still wouldn't be making a high enough wage. I was working a decent paying job but they cut my hours alot when the guy I was supposed to replace decided not to leave. Re emerging in the scene is weird, plenty of my friends have moved away or have grown less friendly since I've been busy with domestic life. I don't have any family that can help. I just have to make some change from within and shit but has anyone been in my position before? Skating hadn't been helping, I just get bummed I'm not as good as I'd like to be. I also bought a car last year but haven't been able to save up to get it insured still. Took my drivers road test today and failed. Might sell the car? I'm too bad at driving to use it. Sorry in advance, this is a stupid rant but I seriously feel so alone at this point that I'm asking you assholes for advice. Thanks for the forthcoming belittling statements...

Every challenge is an opportunity brother, this time may be hard but NEVER lose hope. Just stay true to your authentic self and always lead with love. You’ll figure it out, stay humble and stay aware. Opportunities will present themself.

[CrappyChan]

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Welp im here to sad sack this shit. I need advice guys. My girlfriend of four years unexpectedly broke up with me and kicked me out. I no call no showed my job out of depression for the week, ending with me being fired. This whole situation is my fault, college got pulled out from underneath me and ever since I've been finding jobs with little to no responsibility, pay or hours. After 2 years of bad luck and seeming to not care, combined with my inflated ego my girlfriend is 'finally' taking her friends advice and dumping me since I'm a deadbeat loser. I feel like everything is against me. Nothing I could do could make her happy though, i feel like I could work at 4 fast food restaurants, get 50 hours a week and I still wouldn't be making a high enough wage. I was working a decent paying job but they cut my hours alot when the guy I was supposed to replace decided not to leave. Re emerging in the scene is weird, plenty of my friends have moved away or have grown less friendly since I've been busy with domestic life. I don't have any family that can help. I just have to make some change from within and shit but has anyone been in my position before? Skating hadn't been helping, I just get bummed I'm not as good as I'd like to be. I also bought a car last year but haven't been able to save up to get it insured still. Took my drivers road test today and failed. Might sell the car? I'm too bad at driving to use it. Sorry in advance, this is a stupid rant but I seriously feel so alone at this point that I'm asking you assholes for advice. Thanks for the forthcoming belittling statements...

[close]

What kind of car/how much did you spend on it? Why would you buy a vehicle if you don't have a license and can't afford insurance? Definitely sell that thing, hopefully you can get enough for a security deposit and few months rent while you look for a new job. Go to a reputable temp agency and ask for entry level office work or factory work. Tell them your minimum wage is $15/hr. They should be able to find you something you can grow into as long as you don't totally fuck up the interview. Another option is to look at which trades interest you the most (welding, pipefitting, plumbing, electrcian, etc.), call the local (union) office for your area, and start an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships generally pay for the school required of you while you work four days a week and go to class for one. Within a few years you could be making $40+/hr. Good luck.

I went to school for film instead of joining the union because this is what my family deemed the 'smarter decision'. Bought a 99 jeep Cherokee for 800 bucks because I need a car to get into film work, seeing that locations often change day to day and errands are usually integral. It's been sitting in the driveway since. It was a good deal and here in Atlanta everything is so spread out and our public transit is so bad you pretty much can't live here without a car.I apprenticed to tattoo for most of my youth seeing as that was my dad's profession, an easy in, but they kept me from finishing the apprenticeship and moving up to actual tattooer just based on having too many artists already at the shop so I gave that up at 19. I'm stupid and have no basic skills you learn from your parents like driving, changing a tire, basic plumbing or anything. I feel pretty fucked over. Just entered the second half of my twenties and don't want to restart at ground level again but it seems like that's what's available. Ex told me she felt like she's been babysitting this whole time. Can't get into tech or any of that stuff, computers and me don't get along. Thanks for the positivity, it at least feels nice to hear someone tell me things will be alright.

[fakie nollie]

I’ve been delivering pizzas for over a decade, but now that I’m getting older(I’m 48), I’ve decided to pursue my dream job of working at a Vape shop.

I pray this is real.

[Mr. Kamikazi]

I’m a Masters Level Social worker in the role of a therapist. I work with kiddos in foster care of all ages, some of which are juvenile sex offenders, my favorite population to work with.

[tony volume]

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29. I am an Able Seaman. I work on Military Supply ships for 4-6 months at a time. I have plenty of coworkers who skate, and I just hurt my knee at Rockridge Bart curbs last night while skating with some friends. Our Union Hall is a famous Skate spot.

[close]

This is basically what I wanted to do.

I was going to become a merchant marine. Unfortunately it just wasn’t my path.

It’s hard to get into, but it’s worth it. Lots of paperwork through the coast guard, and classes that you have to pay for until you get in the Union. I recommend my union (sailors union of the pacific) or the Marine fireman’s union (MFOW) and stay away from Sailors international Union. They are owned by the mafia, and steal wages.

I got a call that I’m flying out to a ship in New Jersey that’s in dry dock for awhile. Might be skating some NY spots, but my lady and I are saving to move to Honolulu because there’s more jobs in that hall.

[cricketclub]

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Welp im here to sad sack this shit. I need advice guys. My girlfriend of four years unexpectedly broke up with me and kicked me out. I no call no showed my job out of depression for the week, ending with me being fired. This whole situation is my fault, college got pulled out from underneath me and ever since I've been finding jobs with little to no responsibility, pay or hours. After 2 years of bad luck and seeming to not care, combined with my inflated ego my girlfriend is 'finally' taking her friends advice and dumping me since I'm a deadbeat loser. I feel like everything is against me. Nothing I could do could make her happy though, i feel like I could work at 4 fast food restaurants, get 50 hours a week and I still wouldn't be making a high enough wage. I was working a decent paying job but they cut my hours alot when the guy I was supposed to replace decided not to leave. Re emerging in the scene is weird, plenty of my friends have moved away or have grown less friendly since I've been busy with domestic life. I don't have any family that can help. I just have to make some change from within and shit but has anyone been in my position before? Skating hadn't been helping, I just get bummed I'm not as good as I'd like to be. I also bought a car last year but haven't been able to save up to get it insured still. Took my drivers road test today and failed. Might sell the car? I'm too bad at driving to use it. Sorry in advance, this is a stupid rant but I seriously feel so alone at this point that I'm asking you assholes for advice. Thanks for the forthcoming belittling statements...

[close]

What kind of car/how much did you spend on it? Why would you buy a vehicle if you don't have a license and can't afford insurance? Definitely sell that thing, hopefully you can get enough for a security deposit and few months rent while you look for a new job. Go to a reputable temp agency and ask for entry level office work or factory work. Tell them your minimum wage is $15/hr. They should be able to find you something you can grow into as long as you don't totally fuck up the interview. Another option is to look at which trades interest you the most (welding, pipefitting, plumbing, electrcian, etc.), call the local (union) office for your area, and start an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships generally pay for the school required of you while you work four days a week and go to class for one. Within a few years you could be making $40+/hr. Good luck.

[close]

I went to school for film instead of joining the union because this is what my family deemed the 'smarter decision'. Bought a 99 jeep Cherokee for 800 bucks because I need a car to get into film work, seeing that locations often change day to day and errands are usually integral. It's been sitting in the driveway since. It was a good deal and here in Atlanta everything is so spread out and our public transit is so bad you pretty much can't live here without a car.I apprenticed to tattoo for most of my youth seeing as that was my dad's profession, an easy in, but they kept me from finishing the apprenticeship and moving up to actual tattooer just based on having too many artists already at the shop so I gave that up at 19. I'm stupid and have no basic skills you learn from your parents like driving, changing a tire, basic plumbing or anything. I feel pretty fucked over. Just entered the second half of my twenties and don't want to restart at ground level again but it seems like that's what's available. Ex told me she felt like she's been babysitting this whole time. Can't get into tech or any of that stuff, computers and me don't get along. Thanks for the positivity, it at least feels nice to hear someone tell me things will be alright.

Keep your chin up. Take a service job or something else you think would be an easy hire close to home for now and decide if you want to be a driver or not. ATL does have public transit but if you don't want that then you need get your licence and insurance. If you drive without those you are just setting yourself up for the revolving door of "justice." So sell that car or or study up. You are still young. I had a terrible job when I was 25. It may be tired advice but perseverance and positivity are going to be super important for you to strive for right now.

[Glurmpz]

Not to sound like a debbie downer, but you get the job you think you deserve. If you believe that you deserve a quality career position, you will put the work in to make that happen. Similarly, if you believe you deserve a low paying, soul sucking job, you will make that happen too. Your thoughts and world view dictate the choices and actions you take, and you reap what you sow.

I say this as someone who for most of my life couldn't figure out what to do, and was in a lot of denial and depression. So I worked a number of jobs that weren't even close to fulfilling. When you are in that in between stage, you're scared and worried about what the future holds, and as a result make safe choices that keep you in that same paradigm. It wasn't until I was nearly homeless and broke that I was willing to make whatever sacrifices needed to be made to make my career happen. In hindsight, I can see how my unwillingness to pursue my dreams at any cost was what was holding me back, but I literally had to put myself into a situation where there was no other choice but move forward.

Highly recommend the book "Mastery" by Robert Greene. He lays out all the steps from novice to master and the stages it takes to get there. For the pals here talking about not knowing what you're passionate about, there's chapters in there about how to rediscover it.

Best of luck. I'll leave with a Michelangelo quote,"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark."

^Does that do a good job of summarizing his theory?

 

[geneparmesan]

^Does that do a good job of summarizing his theory?

 

That's a good summary from what I watched of it. The book obviously goes into much more detail.

And CrappyChan, I know a lot of late 30s/early 40s men who are currently trapped in a loveless marriage, paying a mortgage that keeps them stuck so they can provide for a child they wish they hadn't had, and would give their left nut to be back in their 20s and in the situation you are in right now. Congrats.

Number one thing I would advise is changing the story you tell yourself. If you truly believe you are a deadbeat loser, then you will act like one. The fact that you know you don't like the results should tell you something. That's not who you are. That's your ego comparing and contrasting and choosing to tell you that your story is that of of a loser. You can reframe it and know that you did your best and that there was simply some adjustments that needed to be made as to how you go after what you want in life. I would recommend being thankful that this all happened at once. Would you rather pull a band-aid off quickly or slowly? Now you get to rebuild from the ground up and know that you were the one that made it happen for yourself.

Currently as a society, we have a real problem with failure. Everyone seems to want to avoid it at all costs, but what they don't understand is on the other side of failure is where they want to be. Failure is just life showing us that our approach needs to be tweaked before we can get the results we desire. If you start studying really successful people, you'll see that they actually want to fail, because it means they're learning and they are now that much closer to figuring out how to get what they want.

I'm tempted to post that video about Seinfeld talking about skating and how it's a good life skill. When you try something the first time you don't know how to do it, but the more comfortable you become, you start to understand how the trick works, how your body needs to move, where to place your balance, and eventually you master that trick and move on to something else. Life's the same way.

If any of this resonates with you guys, I would also recommend picking up "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz and "The Game of Life" by Florence Scovel Shinn. The first is ancient Toltec wisdom about how to live your life, and the second was written back in the 20s by an artist/book illustrator who laid out spiritual concepts and how to follow them to achieve what you want. Shalom.

[El Nugjar]

Welp im here to sad sack this shit. I need advice guys. My girlfriend of four years unexpectedly broke up with me and kicked me out. I no call no showed my job out of depression for the week, ending with me being fired. This whole situation is my fault, college got pulled out from underneath me and ever since I've been finding jobs with little to no responsibility, pay or hours. After 2 years of bad luck and seeming to not care, combined with my inflated ego my girlfriend is 'finally' taking her friends advice and dumping me since I'm a deadbeat loser. I feel like everything is against me. Nothing I could do could make her happy though, i feel like I could work at 4 fast food restaurants, get 50 hours a week and I still wouldn't be making a high enough wage. I was working a decent paying job but they cut my hours alot when the guy I was supposed to replace decided not to leave. Re emerging in the scene is weird, plenty of my friends have moved away or have grown less friendly since I've been busy with domestic life. I don't have any family that can help. I just have to make some change from within and shit but has anyone been in my position before? Skating hadn't been helping, I just get bummed I'm not as good as I'd like to be. I also bought a car last year but haven't been able to save up to get it insured still. Took my drivers road test today and failed. Might sell the car? I'm too bad at driving to use it. Sorry in advance, this is a stupid rant but I seriously feel so alone at this point that I'm asking you assholes for advice. Thanks for the forthcoming belittling statements...

Life is a crazy ass roller coaster, and some times it whip lashes the fuck out of you. Just don’t give up, I’ve been in the same type of situation. There is always good with the bad, it can be hard to see or find sometimes. I never would have thought I would be where I am today, I found the one positive thing and rode that horse as long and as far as I could until everything else started to fall back into place. And this chick, if what you make $$ wise is what she cares about, she’s a fucking cunt and you are better off with out the bitch.

[Fongstarr.]

I have been there too. Long story short, dated my high school girlfriend for 7 years. We both graduated college and I just wanted that passion job while she went on with her career. I wouldn't say I was a dead beat boyfriend but we drifted off and we broke up and she found someone super fucking fast and seems to be living such a better life than when she was with me. I took it like a bitch and got upset. Drank a lot and even got a DUI which was dumb. That sucked a lot of money out of me as well as setting me back career wise with that on my record. I hated life, had no motivation but skated a lot and just wanted to feel like shit. I did the best thing in my life though and took a job in the city (SF) and just moved away from my normal surroundings. I ditched my friends and found new ones and just became independent for once in my life. I got a temp job at an insurance gig and then just worked up the ladder and lived poor for a while. Met my current wife at work....now we have a kid and are both doing well in our careers and this took almost 10 years to achieve.

My ex did me the biggest favor by leaving me cause I would have been that guy doing shit to this day living at home with my parents. I am 38 now and swear I have only had a strong career in the last 5 years. So you have plenty of time to get your shit back together. Just start working. My cousin works at UPS and they pay well. No real experience except obviously driving. Just be productive. Just don't let this shit get to your head.

[CHONGO]

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Welp im here to sad sack this shit. I need advice guys. My girlfriend of four years unexpectedly broke up with me and kicked me out. I no call no showed my job out of depression for the week, ending with me being fired. This whole situation is my fault, college got pulled out from underneath me and ever since I've been finding jobs with little to no responsibility, pay or hours. After 2 years of bad luck and seeming to not care, combined with my inflated ego my girlfriend is 'finally' taking her friends advice and dumping me since I'm a deadbeat loser. I feel like everything is against me. Nothing I could do could make her happy though, i feel like I could work at 4 fast food restaurants, get 50 hours a week and I still wouldn't be making a high enough wage. I was working a decent paying job but they cut my hours alot when the guy I was supposed to replace decided not to leave. Re emerging in the scene is weird, plenty of my friends have moved away or have grown less friendly since I've been busy with domestic life. I don't have any family that can help. I just have to make some change from within and shit but has anyone been in my position before? Skating hadn't been helping, I just get bummed I'm not as good as I'd like to be. I also bought a car last year but haven't been able to save up to get it insured still. Took my drivers road test today and failed. Might sell the car? I'm too bad at driving to use it. Sorry in advance, this is a stupid rant but I seriously feel so alone at this point that I'm asking you assholes for advice. Thanks for the forthcoming belittling statements...

[close]

What kind of car/how much did you spend on it? Why would you buy a vehicle if you don't have a license and can't afford insurance? Definitely sell that thing, hopefully you can get enough for a security deposit and few months rent while you look for a new job. Go to a reputable temp agency and ask for entry level office work or factory work. Tell them your minimum wage is $15/hr. They should be able to find you something you can grow into as long as you don't totally fuck up the interview. Another option is to look at which trades interest you the most (welding, pipefitting, plumbing, electrcian, etc.), call the local (union) office for your area, and start an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships generally pay for the school required of you while you work four days a week and go to class for one. Within a few years you could be making $40+/hr. Good luck.

[close]

I went to school for film instead of joining the union because this is what my family deemed the 'smarter decision'. Bought a 99 jeep Cherokee for 800 bucks because I need a car to get into film work, seeing that locations often change day to day and errands are usually integral. It's been sitting in the driveway since. It was a good deal and here in Atlanta everything is so spread out and our public transit is so bad you pretty much can't live here without a car.I apprenticed to tattoo for most of my youth seeing as that was my dad's profession, an easy in, but they kept me from finishing the apprenticeship and moving up to actual tattooer just based on having too many artists already at the shop so I gave that up at 19. I'm stupid and have no basic skills you learn from your parents like driving, changing a tire, basic plumbing or anything. I feel pretty fucked over. Just entered the second half of my twenties and don't want to restart at ground level again but it seems like that's what's available. Ex told me she felt like she's been babysitting this whole time. Can't get into tech or any of that stuff, computers and me don't get along. Thanks for the positivity, it at least feels nice to hear someone tell me things will be alright.

Dude learn a trade! Join a construction company and learn. You will start from the bottom but work your way up. Carpenters, painters, sheetrockers, you name it. Those guys get paid good.

[Dr-Feelgood]

Im a landscaper, dont work weekends and finish my days by 2 so it still allows me to have a life

[SHAQUEEFA]

I work for The Boardr. We work on a wide variety of skate events. I am currently in Shanghai at the Vans Park Series.
My boss is Ryan Clements, who you guys have become real fascinated with lately. He wants everyone to know that you guys give him WAY too much credit for shit that he "makes happen" behind the scenes. Yes, he is an agent/business manager for many of the top guys right now. Yes, he guided Shane through the process of starting his company. Yes, if your shop buys April boards, they will be shipped out of Tampa. He absolutely loved that diagram/flow chart that got posted here awhile back, and we still give him shit for the time a dude posted a photo of him at SPoT eating a banana.

I also sell shirts under the brand called SHAQUEEFA. Check out @shaqueefaog if you want.

I get most of my skating in when we are on these trips, which is great. Shanghai is on another level of amazing for any skill level.

[Gray Imp Sausage Metal]

I manage all of the finances for my university's study abroad office: creating faculty-led program budgets, invoice management, drafting contracts, account reconciliation, payroll prep prior to sending it over to HR, there's a lot of different stuff that I do. It's alright, very cyclical depending on the time of year so right now I'm insanely busy preparing for summer programs whereas two months ago I was browsing the internet all day. I get to leave at 430 every day, though, and I like being on a university campus.

But I'm going back to school in the fall for a master's in curriculum and instruction concurrent with a teaching cert for high school English. I'm pretty confident in this future path but if it doesn't work out then I'd like the get back into higher ed as an advisor of some sort, either still in international education or within a liberal arts college or something. I just really like working with students and not being isolated behind a desk all day.

you and me would get on well!
I’m just about to change jobs though so I think I need some slap advice, should I chuck it in the old jobs thread, or in here?

[pauline_handsome]

international commodities trading and finance.

love the job. pay is good.

cannot stand sitting down for 9 hours or more a day in an air conditioned room. it drives me bonkers.

first world problems of course. i am grateful to be where i am and the travel ops are great.

[RoaryMcTwang]

Absolutely love this thread and also the older jobs thread, they bring slap to life for me in a new way.

I got my English Lit PhD last year and am about to start an associate professor position at a fair-to-middling uni here in China. Been in academia all my life in one way or another and will stay here I guess, I like it.

I've met a few younger university professors from various fields who skate, but it's definitely not your average Shakespeare experts' favourite pastime. I've been out with a knee injury for a year and a half myself, but am inching closer to an unspectacular comeback with every physio session.

[whaaaaat]

I'm a Product Manager at a fairly large tech company.  It's a good job, that I really like, and I'm totally unqualified for it - so I figured I'd share a bit because maybe it will help someone.  First - college is always affordable and almost always worthwhile.  I didn't go back to school until I was 25.  Didn't grow up with a family that really even considered that as an option and as a skateboarder I lumped college and school in with 'authority' - so, you know, 'fuck that!', etc.  But when I did go I paid for it almost entirely in loans (and what little I could save while working as a waiter).  I graduated with ~40k in debt.  ouch.  For the first 2 years I had to defer payment because I couldn't afford them.  Then for 2 years I made minimum payments.  Then for 2 years I doubled the minimum payment.  Along that road it seemed like that debt would follow me forever.  But sticking out the long term career game pays off and I'll rather easily pay off the remaining ~$25k in debt by then end of this year.  In other words it took me 6 years to pay off $15k, but it got me to a position where I'll pay off $25k in 6 months.

Second - always think a few steps ahead of where you are.  You'll likely have to do a lot of shitty work before you can do work that you want to.  I graduated with a degree in International Relations - oops!  Not exactly a huge field hiring a lot of people.  But where there's a will.... Without boring you through all the details, I slogged through some really shitty jobs that I hated, but knowing that if I could stick it out, work hard, meet the right people, and take opportunities (even one's I didn't really want) that eventually I could weasle my way to where I wanted to be.  When I started at the company I'm at now I was in sales.  And I hate sales!  And I hated being at a big corporation.  But the benefit of a big corporation is there's lots of types of jobs and there's potential to get into them if you play your cards right.  So I stuck sales out, met every product manager I could, volunteered for extra projects, etc etc.  It took almost 4 years here, but I finally landed in the space I wanted to.  I almost doubled my salary overnight and now I do something I really enjoy.  But it took $40k in debt and ~7 years of shitty jobs that I hated. 

So long story short - figure out what you want to do (realistically) and then think about the steps you can take to get there.  Then just start taking them.  Likely there will be many, many shitty steps to get through to get where you want.  But shit, time flies, and I always figured it was better to be working a shitty job I hated but was helping me get somewhere I wanted to be as opposed to just working a shitty job I hated that wasn't going anywhere.

That was lengthy and probably self-indulgent.  Sorry

[seriously dude]

I'm an urban planner working in economic development. I run a grant program out of my city's economic development agency that gives grants to new and expanding small businesses. It's incredibly demanding and stressful but also really rewarding. It's great because I get to be involved in policy decisions but also work a lot with regular people. I love it.

If you're struggling, I feel you. It wasn't that long ago that I was waiting tables, bartending, and wondering what the fuck I was gonna do with my life. I'm 37 now, and went back to college at 32 to finish my bachelors then went straight into a masters program. The first year back in school I still had no idea how i would end up with a "career." But I was older, and I wasn't there to waste anymore time, so I got really engaged. I joined the student group in my department, I went to lectures, hung out after class to talk with professors, and I did my homework. I finished the undergrad program and was encouraged by the head of the department to apply for grad school, so I did. About half of my grad school tuition was paid for by scholarships, and an internship I was recommended for turned into my job. A little secret, not that many people actually apply for scholarships. Everyone just assumes they won't get them so they don't apply.

Honestly, going to college as an old dude was fucking amazing. I appreciated it so much more than I ever could have in my early 20's. Also, I got to travel a bunch through school trips, and I got to karmically amend some of the misdeeds of my youth by helping some kids get through some tough times. If you can do it, I highly recommend it.

As far as skating goes, I have no kids so I get to skate as much as my body allows. After 28 years things are starting to break. Arthritis in one knee, and I tore my hamstring about a month ago, had surgery two weeks ago, and have another six weeks before I'll even be walking again. After that probably about 6 months before I can hope to skate. Take care of your hamstring kids, you do not want this. But it's all part of the game. I'm hopeful that I can use this time away from skating to change my relationship with my body. I'll get to work with a physical therapist and relearn how to care for myself. New stretches, new exercises, and hopefully in about a year I'll be better than before the injury.

Again, to those of you struggling, keep the faith and know you have the power to turn things around. But you gotta do it. Get committed to something and really dig in. There is plenty of shalom in the world, sometimes the route to finding it is just a little more winding than we expect.

[rusty knees]

in all my time of looking for jobs, the best advice I can give is, tell people you are looking for a job.

tell friends, family, tell the people you just met. #1 way people get jobs is through someone else.

if you don't have a job and want or need one, your best bet is to be out in the mix, talking to people at bars, skateshops..whatever.

similar situation if youre in school/college, knowing more people and being cool with them will bring more opportunities overall for years after

[FrozenIndustries]

I have a MS in library and information science and work in administration at an academic library. We do a lot of public programming and I am the lead AV/tech person (I also handle a lot of facilities related stuff). I get to skate every weather permitting day on my break and either before or after work.

If you want to go back to school, I highly recommend at least starting at a community college. You will be in an intimate setting with a lot of diverse people who are trying to get a fresh start (as opposed to typical college students) and getting financial assistance is much easier. It makes transferring to a university (if that is what you want) much easier and will increase your chances of getting good financial aide, and many of them have really excellent vocational training available.

Also, if you're going for financial aid and are in the US, do not fuck with private loans. Federal loans are way more manageable and have income based repayment plans, loan forgiveness for those who work in the public sector, etc.

   

[Madam, I'm Adam]

A friend of mine went to jail years back and was working in gas stations. Didn't seem like he'd do much with his life.

A couple of years ago, he got a job as a cement mixer operator by taking a few tests and getting a special licence. He also worked as a tow truck driver with auto associations as additional experience. A few days ago, he put a down payment on a cement truck and now basically owns his own business through the truck. He makes good money and is going to take off a lot of vacation time paid through employment insurance in the winter.

I'm happy for him because he turned his life around (even if he brags a bit too much about the money he makes). It goes to show that anyone can do the same.

[Mr. Kamikazi]

I have a MS in library and information science and work in administration at an academic library. We do a lot of public programming and I am the lead AV/tech person (I also handle a lot of facilities related stuff). I get to skate every weather permitting day on my break and either before or after work.

If you want to go back to school, I highly recommend at least starting at a community college. You will be in an intimate setting with a lot of diverse people who are trying to get a fresh start (as opposed to typical college students) and getting financial assistance is much easier. It makes transferring to a university (if that is what you want) much easier and will increase your chances of getting good financial aide, and many of them have really excellent vocational training available.

Also, if you're going for financial aid and are in the US, do not fuck with private loans. Federal loans are way more manageable and have income based repayment plans, loan forgiveness for those who work in the public sector, etc.

   

This is some very solid advice. Start at community college. I got an Associates in Fine Arts before pursuing a BSW and MSW. Community college let me figure who I was and really explore my options(some of the best courses I took were the electives there; in fact the DJ for my wedding is a now friend but was my sociology professor. Started chatting about vinyl and found out he loves post-punk)

[afoct5]

My wife and I are recently retired from the military. She chose a second career and I chose a second childhood. We live in Okinawa. I do some occasional photography work but other than taking care of the house (which feels like a full-time job) that's about it. I'm just happy to still be alive and relatively injury free enough to push around and skate the local parks regularly. I'm always the oldest one at the park by a long shot!