Career Help!!!

[69PonyRider]

hi everone. I am a senior in high school(which is almost over) and i have no idea on what to study!! This is probably not the place to ask this, but i just cant think of anyplace else right now. Well I sort of do have an idea on what to do; I want to study engines and car stuff. I am getting enrolled in UTI(Universal Technical Institute) anybody heard of it?? What do you guys think of it? They will give me courses in automotive and will specialize me in Ford cars. But what i really want to do is go into Hot Rod stuff. I want to open up my own business for street rod cars. The problem is that my parents dont like the idea of me going to that school because it will cost too much and they dont think it is worth for what i will be studying, they think I will end up in some crummy job. They want me to go into a 4 year college and get "a real career". The course at UTI will take about a year and a half. I have no idea what else i could be doing with my life. I just want it to include cars and racing. I wanted to hear from you guys what kind of people you know that work around cars and how they got there, or maybe even what some of you guys do for a living and how you got there. I am just venting, this school thing is getting very frustrating!!! Thanx for at least listening.

[95mustanggt]

Well there are some options for you IMO. Have you ever thought about Engineering? I am an engineer and it has taken me places I never thought I would be (like Dallas Texas, FYI I'm from Northern Canada).

A Mechanical Engineering degree would give you the option of learning about the design of cars, project managment, financial evaluation and many other skills that you could put towards your future goal of owning your own business. And should anything every go wrong you always have that degree to fall back on, regroup and try again.

Just a thought.

The down side to engineering is that it is not easy and is a lot of work.

[Hammer]

Ahhh,

A perfect candidate for the military in my opinion....

Get good experience in any field you choose, get a little responsibility, get to go see different places, get in shape, and get paid doing it. (Save some money for college too\GI Bill)

And the best thing; You get out of the house!!!

[PKRWUD]

A friend of mine went to UTI, worked his butt off, and got in a job building race engines in Florida before he was finished (provided he completed the course, which he did). He was taking home $60k a year within a year and a half, but he didn't like Florida. He moved back here and recently opened his own machine shop where he builds engines for everything from Sprint cars to NASCAR cars running in several different series. He's making more money than he knows what to do with, and now has more Snap-on tools than the local truck. He also has a couple very nice projects he's working on. He went into UTI with a good working knowledge of engines, but said that the info he learned there, combined with the companies that seek new employees from there, and his determination, assured his bright future.

Bottom line is this, IMHO: There are 3 professions that a person can get into that will guarantee them a job with a "positive cash flow" in any town in America;
Nursing, Auto Repair, or selling drugs.

Take your pick.

Take care,
-Chris

[69PonyRider]

PKRWUD did your friend ONLY attend UTI or did he go to another school? That is EXACTLY what I would like my life to turn out. But my parents dont see that if I go to that school I will turn out doing fine. I would like to hear more of your friends success story. I really need all the inspiration i could get. My metalshop teacher is really helping me decide also, now im debating on engineering or UTI. Thanks for all of your suggestions, you guys dont know how much I appreciate this.

[Mach 1]

Your the only one who can decide what you want to do, good or bad, you have to make a decision and live with it.

Just follow your heart. If you want to work on engines, do it. If you want to be an engineer, do it.

Do want you want. Your parents will understand.

[czstang1701]

Ive heard a lot of good things about UTI. Personally I am going to work on to be a Computer Engineer. I am also a senior, and about to graduate in a couple months. Kind of scary to think that theres choices ill make that will totally change the way I am. I agree though, think of what you want to do..and take what you have to take to get there.. Make being happy doing what you want just as important as being successful.