What do you wake up for every morning?

[stefan]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

I started working full time summers when I was 15. Did front desk at a golf course, then heavy civil construction laying pipe (all night long...) and driving heavy equipment. Moved to Calgary for Uni with no real idea of what I wassup to. Stared in comp.sci. then moved to business the second year, they got frustrated with my lack of direction. I had done a little surveying with the construction work I had done and enjoyed it, so I headed to SAIT and wrapped up a two year Geomatics program (surveying...). The company went to after that is where I am now, 10 years later. I now manage a team of about a dozen drafters and calculations staff and quite enjoy it.

I felt pretty lost at Uni, but at the same time, all the courses that I got under my belt in the two years have been valuable, so I don't regret it. I don't feel like I missed out on anything not having taken time off when I was younger. I'm 32 now and my kids are old enough now that I can get back to the fun stuff like skiing, travelling, camping, biking, whatever..... not much to complain about in the end.

[danno]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

I'm 29 and wouldn't change anything I've done in my life other than spend more money on cars. I became a electrician at 19 because I knew I couldn't sit at a desk, don't like dealing with people (sales), and I get to spend time working with my hands. I really enjoyed being a electrician but I knew there isn't a lot to look for unless you run your own business, which is something I have no interest in. So this year I found a job working for the city with a pension, higher pay, more time off, double time ot. So here I am now a signals electrician doing lrt, and traffic signals. It's totally different very hard to learn but a very slow city pace most of the time. Haha.

My advice is do something fun that you enjoy. Life is very short you can't take anything with you so keep yourself happy.

[saabhutter]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

Some good advice in this thread so far; I as one of the much older than 19 crowd I have also gone through a few changes over the years. I got a degree in what I enjoyed in school despite the fact that it was not the best for career prospects and afterward took an opportunity to do something different and work in the family business. Through those years I built that up fairly well and got more education to better support what I was doing, then I decided it was time for a change and I dropped down to part time and put myself into a Masters program in a slightly varied program.

As that all happened I helped my wife go through school and now her career has taken off and hence the reason I have moved to London and now I am just finishing my MSc and will see where that takes me. I think education is very important for career but also personal development, but if you are not ready for it wasting the time and money can be a mistake, but you can always find a way to go back. Another suggestion I have is to travel; see the world and more than just your back yard there are so many rewarding places, experiences and people out there so try and see some of them and it might just help you find the way or at least have fun along the journey of life!

What was that?

[DriverFound.]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

Being a year or so older than you it really doesn't hit me how I've changed in a year, but I have. I took two years off just as you have and I did some awesome things and had great times, lived in the moment. When I graduated I knew exactly what I wanted to do but didn't get after it right away. I partied, snowboarded.....LOTS, worked on my car, wasted money......LOTS and had a hell of a time. I've now refocused and am currently working up to my goal, to have my own Production company and specialize in extreme sports....the next Warren Miller or Curtis Morgan? I took my passion for snowboarding and my love for film I had throughout high school and am attempting to make a career of it! So with one year of wisdom I can easily say, go enjoy, go explore and if you know what you want....go get it and don't be afraid to take risks.


Also would love to make a short promo with local cars. Help the promotion of the Calgary VW scene as well as my movie making skills =D If you are interested, vitalproductions1@gmail.com

[Fizzo20]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

Wow guys, thanks so much for all the replies. I'm intently reading these so please keep posting!
Of course, I take all of your suggestions with a grain of salt. I love hearing about what people have chosen to do, and how those chose it. I definitely choose happiness over money, but I don't wanna be poor either. I know as soon as I figure something out, I'm gonna chase it and not stop till I succeed. I'm really into business/economy and whatnot and I think it would be awesome to run a business. I know it's a huge headache, but in the long run it could be worth it. However as most you said, I don't want to combine my hobby with my career. I would still want to do something technical though, so that my skills are applicable to cars. Engineering/design and/or project management of some kind in that field seems pretty cool as well. I have so many ideas but don't know where to start. Like Sean said, people depend on him. That's what it's like for me at work too. And I like it. It gives me a sense of belonging and that's one aspect I want in my career. I know my thoughts are pretty jumbled but I'm working to organize them lol. Again thanks for the replies guys, and keep em coming!

Ryan, no spartan doesn't offer apprenticeships, but if you have a degree/diploma or whatever in instrumentation, jobs come fairly easy. I could hook you up if necessary.

[idlandk]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

I'm 18 and I also took a year off of school aswell (was put in a year early) and I thought hard about what I wanted to do. I really enjoyed social studies and math in high school. I also come from a couple generations of successful business people so I'm taking business and I really enjoy it which makes it really easy for me. School is really Tuff to do if you don't enjoy what your doing. It really helps to have a goal in mind as well so you know exactly what you want to get out of your schooling. I have a couple friends that jumped into school just because they felt they needed to do it and now they are in a program that they dont enjoy an as a result aren't doing very well so keep that in mind.

[Kane]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

I'm a lic. heavy equipment tech. I work for a semi truck dealer in town. I like diagnosing issues and coming through with the repair, I like doing engine rebuilds and making them like new again, I like seeing some of the carnage from flaws from the manufacture or from just the stupidity of truck drivers, I like the fabrication side of it too on new trucks, i enjoy the technology that is coming out in the trucking industry besides the emissions on new diesels. Every job is alittle bit different but alittle bit the same. The guys i work with are for the most part all best buds.

Pulling wrenches all week does put a damper on working on the project car at times but it's always the initial getting out to the garage.

The best thing i can tell you is if you are interested in doing something. Talk yourself into it not out of it and give it a chance.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

What was that?

I have a BSc in Geography with a minor in Archaeology, at the time of graduation (1999) most of the jobs would have been in GIS which was not really something I was too fond of; however having a degree helped me get into after grad programs such as accounting (almost completed the CGA) and my MSc so I would never say it was not worth it, plus I had a lot of fun at university including the 2 month field school I did in Eastern Europe back in the day.

[Lo)2enz0]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

If I could see my 19 year old self today, i'd probably kick myself in the face and call myself a dumbass lol

Been in the automotive industry for the past 7 years, I hate it. Trying to go back to school at 27 is really hard but I'm at work from 7-5/6 everyday and its just reminder of why i'm trying to go back to school. had some part time work at an oil company for 2 summers and wow was it great. boring as hell but considering what was expected of you and your work load compared to what I am doing now its a vacation every day.

Don't put it off much longer, the last thing you want to do is snowball with stuff your buying (new car or a house). Thats where all my problems lie.

[100%VAGitarian]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

i don't get up to work. i get up to live. work is just something that i do for part of the day before i hang out with my wife and dogs, skate, watch tv, maybe build stuff, internetz, cake or anything else that makes me smile.

i'm a mechanic by trade but i've done tons of other things. tried to get out of it twice, i hated it so much. instrumentation was on the radar but never worked out because i bought my first house instead of school. which i hate anyways. now i've found a compromise. i'll retire from where i'm at now. have my house paid off in 10 years and get a pension. i still do everything i did as a teenager and most people are surprised to learn that i'm 37.

[popp]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

the only reason I get up in the morning is for my kids and wife........ everything else falls into place after that. Do everything you can now, go to school, do what you want, travel, etc. Once you've lived your younger years, find a great wife and spawn. Nothing in the world beats parenthood!

[Lars]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

the only reason I get up in the morning is for my kids and wife........ everything else falls into place after that. Do everything you can now, go to school, do what you want, travel, etc. Once you've lived your younger years, find a great wife and spawn. Nothing in the world beats parenthood!

x2... great being a parent , but have a little fun when you have no responsibltys in your younger years.

[CGDoig]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

Popp nailed it for a lot of us I'd imagine. I had a lot of fun in my younger years. 18-24, I pretty much worked, partied and slept, no responsibility at all. Now I'm 27, married to a woman with a daughter and had a son of my own. Currently starting my first year millwright apprenticeship at work. Everyone has their own path to the end. But you're responsible for making that path what it is.

[toplessvw]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

All I can say before you become an old fart in your 30's and are married with kids, travel go see the world, work abroad while you are young enough to get visas. You will have plenty of time to be a grown up later in life. Go out bang all you can and get some life experience you might just bump into a passion that can turn into a job you love on the way.

[mk4jetta]

Re: What do you wake up for every morning?

I'm 25, 3rd year automotive service apprentice, pays decent, hate it some days, but I need to finish and become a journeyman.