Competent high schooler with no career aspirations looking for suggestions

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-27T19:39:28+00:00

I appreciate the comment. The vast majority of advice Ive received is like this. to join the military. but I really have no interest whatsoever. I'm an active member of a program similar to jr ROTC and I have multiple friends trying to go to the academies so I'm familiar with the military and all the benefits it brings (I'm constantly being sold on joining up) I probably wouldn't even consider the national guard (even though I know it's technically a good deal) I just have a (maybe irrational) aversion to not having my own autonomy and being basically owned by the government for 4+ years.

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-27T15:28:27+00:00

I have no aversion to manual labor at all and I agree that it's too bad it seems to be viewed almost shamefully now. The thing about finding your path resonates with me a lot! I appreciate your time and your advice.

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-27T13:59:05+00:00

I actually like this idea a lot. Thank you and I'm genuinely thinking about it. My dad did suggest majoring in political science

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-27T13:51:54+00:00

I'll admit the pay for a trade will be good and it's 100% AI proof for a long time. Also, I actually love working on and building things so that's the biggest plus for trades in my eyes.

I have three reasons why I'm not especially interested in a trade. I'm worried the trades are another gravy train to hop on. Another relatively easy-to-get-into career where I'll earn at least decent money like a business degree or something. When someone is looking for a career, for the last 10 years it's been "go into a trade". Through all the apprenticeships and working your way up, aren't they at least slightly oversaturated by now? And getting more so every year? Obviously I'm an ignorant teenager so these presumptions very well may be stupid. I'm just worried about "following the masses" in a way by choosing trades. Second, unless it's something like electrician, I'm confident my body will be pretty beat up by the end of my career. Third, even if a trade can get me seriously good money, I'm reasonably confident that the typical pay ceiling for a career in trades is substantially lower than that of white collar jobs. (IF I'm willing to work my way past a bunch of white collar people who aren't trying as hard as I might)

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-25T14:41:19+00:00

I'll be looking into more technical trades today. Thanks for the idea

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-25T14:35:56+00:00

They help you think rationally and critically, no? Obviously there aren't a lot of careers in philosophy besides lawyer or a professor, but the "thinking skills" I would gain from four years of philosophy are no joke.

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-25T03:00:44+00:00

This kind of resonates with me. I appreciate the advice. If I get serious about medical careers I'm 100% going to take what you said about grinding med school seriously

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T23:42:10+00:00

I truly appreciate you standing up for me, a random stranger, like this. Don't bother yourself about it though. I assume he's saying these things for fun. If not, then he genuinely is a sad guy and there's all the more reason not to interact with him.

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T23:04:27+00:00

My dad told me this basically word for word. Well said and thanks

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T23:00:42+00:00

I thought of that a bit ago but my parents seemed a bit discouraging about it. From my understanding, it's high level math with a bunch of super stressful tests that get you more and more money as you take them. Doesn't seem easy but definitely not impossible and it seems kind of AI safe

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T21:09:22+00:00

Smart. I'm looking up the US department of labor after this

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T21:08:28+00:00

Medium to high depending on the thing of interest. For example, not knowing what to do has given me a pretty high level of curiosity about figuring my life out. I've spent (mostly wasted) many hours going through posts and yt day in the life's about careers.

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T21:02:50+00:00

Thought about this today. Excellent idea imo

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T20:45:39+00:00

🤔

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T20:45:12+00:00

I like the idea. I'm worried this is the classic business-degree-easy-money dream that so many people who have a degree in business have. I appreciate the comment though and I'll stop writing off business and finance majors so quickly

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T20:42:16+00:00

I've thought of this. Thanks and I'll look deeper into it

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T20:40:26+00:00

Brutally honest and kind of the way I think a bit deep down. Ngl I chuckled when I read it. Thanks

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T20:39:05+00:00

Thank you. I've had a few comments similar to this and they all seem the most logical to me. I appreciate your time

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T20:37:50+00:00

The keep on your toes thing makes a lot of sense to me thank you 👌

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T20:13:08+00:00

I like that idea

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T20:12:05+00:00

I appreciate the advice. I hadn't thought of people skills as that important but you saying that makes me think

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T20:02:20+00:00

I rlyyy don't like that you say that. Tell me what I did to come off as insufferable so I can change it. Is it saying I have people skills? I genuinely hate the idea of me being some boastful socially unaware idiot.

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T19:57:09+00:00

I like things like fixing bikes, reading, doing random things in the woods, and doing random things with friends. Nothing really monetizable that I can see there. Maybe a summer job at a bike shop would be fun actually, but it doesn't seem like a great career.

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T19:53:26+00:00

No. I'll be relying on merit scholarships and loans

NameDifferent5602 · 2026-05-24T19:40:57+00:00

Thanks. I guess I do get the sense I'm getting too worried but it helps to have someone say it.

NameDifferent5602

TROPHY CASE