ORIGINAL: t-max97
I know why I see adults that work in jobs they don't like, it's that or don't feed your family and don't pay the bills, I know my dad is one of them, he has a great job and makes nearly 100k without a college education but he typically doesn't enjoy his job at all. ... Nothing lazy about not wanting to work in a job you hate your whole life just to die later, think about it...when your laying on your death bed are you gonna look back at your life and think how great all those countless hours spent working a job you hate where? I don't think so. I realize some people end up in a situation where they don't have much of a choice for a career but they typically put themselves in that situation. Like I said I'm done with this thread, thanks to everyone I know everybody is just trying to help.

ORIGINAL: jester_s1


This, along with the video link you posted, is exactly the kind of thinking that 15 year olds do that gets them stuck in jobs that they hate. Your dad sounds like a solid guy. You might try listening to him a bit more instead of criticizing how he lives his life. Because he makes the sacrifice of getting up early to do something he doesn't enjoy you get to have money to pursue your interests. Maybe he pursues some of his own as well, or at least plans to after you're on your own. The time is coming soon when you have to grow up, which means not putting your own desires first. You will, at that point, have two choices: do what you enjoy doing and be poor or do things that you don't want to do and make some money. Sure, there is the very rare person who doesn't what they truly love to do and enjoy a lot of what their job requires of them and also makes good money at it. That's maybe 1 out of 500 people. Us normal folks step into careers that we have a knack for and have the opportunities to do and we work through the unpleasantries of it in order to have money to do what we need to do. Until you figure that out you won't accomplish much of anything. Even getting that pilot's license isn't going to happen, because there are parts of that process that aren't any fun too.

ORIGINAL: Charlie P.

Well gosh. I'm glad I can take life lessons from a 15 year old.


Sometimes work is what they pay you to do because it's not fun. There used to be a name for folks who did what they liked all day: ''bums.'' A hobo was someone who would at least work when he could find it.


You want hard work? Decide which of two good employees you have to let go because of budget cuts. Decide whose water gets shut off because they haven't paid the last three bills. Decide who loses their home for non-payment of taxes. Life is full of ugliness. I've been laid off three times. Sometimes you take a job to meet the mortgage and keep groceries on the table whether it's fun or not; even if it pays half of what you had been earning.

It's true that money won't buy happiness. But it sure gives you options. And nothing is better than having options - especially pleasant ones.

I don't have a mortgage, I don't have bills, I don't have kids . ..

ORIGINAL: Charlie P.

No worries. Lots of places are glad to hire you for less than 8-5/M-F. That way they don't have to pay your benefits.



Go for it. Invent a better alternative to the Internet or telephones and you'll be all set. Write down all your good ideas now while you are 15 and still know everything.

You should definately be thinking about careers. Go visit some FBOs and ask what qualities and qualifications they look for in aircraft mechanics if that is where your heart takes you.

Really? And you're 15? I would never have imagined that. Heck, when I was your age I was 25.

ORIGINAL: Charlie P.

I've been laid off three times. Sometimes you take a job to meet the mortgage and keep groceries on the table whether it's fun or not; even if it pays half of what you had been earning.

ORIGINAL: Charlie P.

Yep. I'm pretty dense. But I get it: you're free as a bird. No yoke of responsibility. No debt.

No marketable skills and 10,000,000 other folks like you in the U.S. competing for entry-level jobs each year. 3,000,000 of them won't get a full-time job

I haven't figured out a way to get free room and board currently. I bet you have. And you should certainlty get your pilot's license while it's on Dad's dime.

It will not get easier later.

My signature is on 720 paychecks every two weeks and you're blowing free advise from someone who has taught accounting and economics as well as applied it in private and public corporations. I've also been a cost accountant and I'm pretty good at making informed decisions on break even points.

Create a career. Do what you love. But what have you done so far that gives you a database of loved jobs to base your decision on?

My job is an adventure every day and very satisfying (city comptroller). I make enough money to even keep a small hobby farm solvent. Without college? Probably not. You don't have to go to a $35,000 a year college. Take math and get an A.S. degree in whatever discipline at a community college and it will apply to a whole score of possible jobs.

ORIGINAL: t-max97

I'm 15 (16 in a couple weeks) and thinking about trying to get a private pilot's license. I want to get one because I think it would be awesome to just hop in a plane and go fly when and wherever you want, I think just flying in general would be awesome. It would be awesome to eventually own a plane and after some research it doesn't look like it has to be as expensive as you would think. The obvious downside is it cost's alot to get your license (probably around $7,000) and how often would I really use it? On the other hand you only live once and why would you not do something you want to do just because of money if you can? Two of my great granddads where pilots, one even built his own plane and one was an aircraft mechanic, so it's kind in my blood lol. Any input?

ORIGINAL: rgburrill

"I want to be a pilot but I don't like school".
"I want tofly planes and own my ownbut I don't want a job that can pay for it.."
"I want to have fun all my life and not get stuck working."

That about sum it up? Ah, the blind enthusiasm of youth.

ORIGINAL: cfircav8r

You seem to like airplanes. Look into the Georgia Air National Guard. They fly C-130's and you can get a full time federal employee (not military during the week) job with all the benefits and great pay. They will train you, help pay for any additional schooling you may want to get, including flight training, and you only have to go 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. The Guard is not like active duty, you get to have a real life and you have options that don't come along in civilian companies. Pick the right job when you join and you can get on with an airline fairly easily, and if you wish to be a pilot they get many of their pilots from the enlisted ranks and again they will train you. Our unit hired on average two a year.

ORIGINAL: Rob2160


Hey T-max, enjoyed reading your post.. perhaps I can give you my background and it will help you decide... I learned to fly at 16, owned a plane at 23... but I'll get to that shortly...

The most relevant thing in your post is 'YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE'' I couldn't agree more.. if you want something.. this is the life to get it.. you don't get second chances and life is not a trial experience.. it is the real thing... If you want it GO FOR IT....

Now I will give you my background so perhaps you can proceed more wisely than I did.. ...

I loved aircraft ever since I was a small boy (Born in 1964 and now 48 years old)

At 14 I got into RC aircraft and have been in the hobby ever since..

at 16 I started real flying lessons, in a Cessna 150 and obtained my Private license

I needed a steady income to pay for flying lessons so joined the State Police Force at age 20...

Finished my Commercial Licence at age 21.. became an instructor at age 22, instrument rating at age 23 - all self funded...

I stayed with the Police Force for 23 years, the last 13 with the Aviation Unit as a Fixed Wing Pilot initially, crew trainer and later Rotary pilot for a few years..

At 23 I was offered an aircraft and bought a Robin 2160 which I put online with a local flying school.. it was cool having my own aircraft at 23 and even flying it regularly as an instructor

(The whole time I was still in the Police Force - instructing on my free days.)

In 1987 I paid $85,000 for the Robin.. sold it in 2002 for $65,000 - It was a great experience... however.. in hindsight.. in 1987 I could have bought a 3 bedroom house for $85,000 and it wouild be worth almost a million $ today.. so perhaps that is one thing I would change if I could do it again....

Property appreciates, planes depreciate.. (Mum told me this when I was 23 but I didn't care.. I answered her with, yeah but you can't fly a house....) LOL.. the foolishness of youth...

But anyway.. 5 years ago I left the Police and became a corporate pilot and currently travel the world, I am presently in the Maldives and Europe tomorrow... The Back to Australia the following week..

As for College.. I never went.. and now have a better salary than all my school mates who went to college.. so you are 100% correct in your conclusion.. don't go to college unless your final occupation requires it..

Just another word of advice.. it costs money to get your pilot licence, but if you only have a private licence it will cost money to maintain it.. Most people don't factor that into the decision process.

In Australia you have to do 3 take offs and 3 landings every 90 days by law, but most schools will require that every 60 days and some every 30 for their insurance before you can hire an aicraft from them..

Flying just one hour per month is a financial committment you should be aware of to maintain your licence. If you become commerical, then others pay you to fly and that is much easier....

Hope that helps and goodl luck.. you have your life ahead of you so chase all your dreams and goals and don't have regrets when you get older..

For many years I was in the Police and working patrol cars, we worked with different people every day, and 90% of the men I worked with had dreamed of being a pilot but never had the motivation to take action to make it happen.. Many used the excuse that they ''got married'' ''had kids'' or ''had to get a Mortgage''

In truth they made those choices... If you want to fly... Go for it!.

PS.. just read the post above mine.. yeah you guys are SO lucky having the National Guard.. sounds like a perfect option to learn to fly..

ORIGINAL: Rob2160


98% of readers would agree with you.. the other 2% are probably pilots.

Blind enthusiasm is usually how most people achieve their dreams..

Ignore all the criticism and keep focussed on what you want in life, regardless of how many people tell you its ridiculous...

I was a young son of a factory worker....

I dreamed to become a policeman..

Mum Told me I was not suited to being a Police Officer..

I did join and lasted 23 years, ending up as a Sergeant, Helicopter Pilot and Air Crash Investigator..

I dreamed to become a pilot.. virtually all my friends at school said it was impossible..

I did it anyway.. Now USA and Australian ATP Jet ratings and fly a large corporate jet internationally for a living.

I am a pilot and I hated school

He didn't actually say he doesnt want a job.. just that owning a plane would be cool... yes.. I did that too.. it was cool.

I want to have fun all my life too, so I chose jobs that I considered fun.. I'm 48 and still having fun..

I want to spend my last day on earth with a head full of happy memories, not a bank account full of unspent dollars.

Don't criticise the boy for having a dream....