Hi Matt and welcome - this is a great group of people here and hopefuuly you will find something of value to assist you in your journey.

You know, I can understand completely what you mean by not knowing what you want to do. There are so many dog-gone choices and just what do you want to do for the rest of your life and just how does one go about that??? AGHHHH!

All that is just so depressing, isn't it? But - it is something you are going to have to do. I mean - the time comes and you just got to get off that fence.

As great as college is, it isn't for everyone. It doesn't have anything to do with one's intelligence, but rather, their interestd and their ability for tolerance. Voactional schools can be just as great for someone who would rather work with their hands, and hey, there's good money to be made out there - depending on the job.

And as great as it would be to just sit around and do whatever we want to - life just isn't that way because sooner of later the money is going to run out.

So if college isn't your thing - no biggie, but, you should consider a vocational school for a trade. And here's something else (a tool to help you decide) - do you want to work a job so you can earn money, or do you want a job (career) that will allow you to do things you enjoy? There is a really big difference you know!

For example - if it's just about getting some money to get this or that - heck, just about any job, even part-time can do that, but what just any job can't do, is to allow you to work 4 days a week and take 3 day weekends, go sky diving, whenever, or golf, or just whatever you want to do.

And it is very important that you either get a degree in a college, or a skill in a vocational school. At present, there are so many people - more people than jobs, so unless you're able and planing on creating a job that will allow you to make big money (or on wining the lottery - but don't hold your breathe here because you're actually more likly to get hit by lightening first) - you have to have something that says,"I'm qualified! - HIRE ME".

I don't know where you live - but I know people with college degrees working in fast food restaurants - so if you don't have something that shows you're educated or qualified - you're out of luck.

Somthing else:
- Does where you live or want to live have anything to do with what you want to do?
- Perhaps you could look through the yellow pages of the local (or not so local) telephone book and see whats hot and whats not.
and,
- Take a day or two, and drive around your community or town, and write down the different businesses, how many there are of this and that - which bussiesses prosper and which don't, and look for reasons why ( but only in the fields that interest you)

I know if I were hiring and I had a choice between 2 people:
one had a college degree and the other had a high school diploma - I'd be hiring the one with the college degree.

But I think that by your coming here - you've taken a very important first step. Now, it's time for you to take another ...

Best of luck to you, But whatever step you take, college or vocational - it will be a step in the right direction.

Your friend Sam