ASDF Help Thread. [Serious]

[Joe]

You can always count on ASDF.

[Gamma]

Yes, you can.

Except for me. >.>

[Joe]

Yep yep.

[assdef]

I have a problem. I don't know what career path I want to pursue, and I don't know what classes I should pick for next year or senior years, and I'm really horribly worried about it, coz I don't want to pick something, then decide I don't like it later. What should I do?

Dear Life-Direction-Seeking ASDFers,

Sorry I was gone for a few days and y'all post like mad so I don't mean to necroquote but I wanted to offer some advice to my wooly friend here and all of you youngin's that read this forum.

When looking to pick what classes to take - particularly in "high school" (or whatever they call it overseas) - pick the class that you think is the most fun. Don't worry about what is best for your career, or worry about what your parents want you to take (to whatever extent you can), or anything like that - just go with what your gut tells you would be the most fun. Like cooking? Take cooking classes. Like art? Take some art studio. Like music? Play an instrument. Like speaking? Take another language. The classes you take in high school will have very little bearing on your future opportunities simply because it is expected that individuals in your generation will change careers several times over the course of your life, so now is a great time to take every elective possible and try new and different things to find what you like, what's your passion, and what you don't like. And if you find cooking classes to be horribly boring - no worries! Change your path, take something else, you've got all the time in the world to find out what you want to be when you grow up. Hell, I know people in their 40s and 50s that STILL don't know what they want to be when they grow up. It's not a decision you have to make right now, and whatever decisions you make - even if they are the wrong ones - you can change and make up for in high school, at university, and beyond.

Even when you get to University the only thing that will really ever carry a tremendous amount of weight when you look to get a job is the prestige of the school you go to. If an employer recognizes your school because it's Harvard, or Australian National University, or Oxford, or whatever, that will absolutely open doors for you. But what is more likely to land you a job is the fact that you know and graduated with someone, or the person you interview with is a fellow alumnus of your school, or some personal connection like that.

All throughout high school I took business classes and then when I went to college I majored in business administration because I thought it was the right thing to do to set me up for success and get me a job and all that happy crap. One of the best moments of my life happened halfway through my junior year of college when I realized how much I hated business classes, and so I started taking literature classes, creative writing, film studies, and all sorts of fun creative electives instead. The reason I switched? Because those were the classes I thought were fun, interesting, challenging, and really enjoyed going to. And I can guarantee you that the things I learned in those electives did a lot more for me in preparing me for a career than any of the business classes I took because I thought that's what the "right" thing to do, and that I was "supposed" to take business.

I know this is soapbox preaching coming from a cooky old man, and there will be people that tell you to be practical and think practically about your future, but there is something significant to be said about remembering to have fun when you're young, even when it feels like the weight of the entire world is on your shoulders and so much is being expected of you by so many people - at the end of the day it never really matters what other people want for you, it's all about what you want for yourself. So spend some time figuring out what that is, and the only way to do that is try everything and learn from your mistakes.

I'll shutup now. Go knock'em dead.

Your humble servant,

assdef

[lunar_furor]

I agree with him. TRUST ME you DON'T want to rush into college... especially if the only reason you want to is to make mommy and daddy happy.

[Arkannine]

I have a problem. I don't know what career path I want to pursue, and I don't know what classes I should pick for next year or senior years, and I'm really horribly worried about it, coz I don't want to pick something, then decide I don't like it later. What should I do?

Dear Life-Direction-Seeking ASDFers,

Sorry I was gone for a few days and y'all post like mad so I don't mean to necroquote but I wanted to offer some advice to my wooly friend here and all of you youngin's that read this forum.

When looking to pick what classes to take - particularly in "high school" (or whatever they call it overseas) - pick the class that you think is the most fun. Don't worry about what is best for your career, or worry about what your parents want you to take (to whatever extent you can), or anything like that - just go with what your gut tells you would be the most fun. Like cooking? Take cooking classes. Like art? Take some art studio. Like music? Play an instrument. Like speaking? Take another language. The classes you take in high school will have very little bearing on your future opportunities simply because it is expected that individuals in your generation will change careers several times over the course of your life, so now is a great time to take every elective possible and try new and different things to find what you like, what's your passion, and what you don't like. And if you find cooking classes to be horribly boring - no worries! Change your path, take something else, you've got all the time in the world to find out what you want to be when you grow up. Hell, I know people in their 40s and 50s that STILL don't know what they want to be when they grow up. It's not a decision you have to make right now, and whatever decisions you make - even if they are the wrong ones - you can change and make up for in high school, at university, and beyond.

Even when you get to University the only thing that will really ever carry a tremendous amount of weight when you look to get a job is the prestige of the school you go to. If an employer recognizes your school because it's Harvard, or Australian National University, or Oxford, or whatever, that will absolutely open doors for you. But what is more likely to land you a job is the fact that you know and graduated with someone, or the person you interview with is a fellow alumnus of your school, or some personal connection like that.

All throughout high school I took business classes and then when I went to college I majored in business administration because I thought it was the right thing to do to set me up for success and get me a job and all that happy crap. One of the best moments of my life happened halfway through my junior year of college when I realized how much I hated business classes, and so I started taking literature classes, creative writing, film studies, and all sorts of fun creative electives instead. The reason I switched? Because those were the classes I thought were fun, interesting, challenging, and really enjoyed going to. And I can guarantee you that the things I learned in those electives did a lot more for me in preparing me for a career than any of the business classes I took because I thought that's what the "right" thing to do, and that I was "supposed" to take business.

I know this is soapbox preaching coming from a cooky old man, and there will be people that tell you to be practical and think practically about your future, but there is something significant to be said about remembering to have fun when you're young, even when it feels like the weight of the entire world is on your shoulders and so much is being expected of you by so many people - at the end of the day it never really matters what other people want for you, it's all about what you want for yourself. So spend some time figuring out what that is, and the only way to do that is try everything and learn from your mistakes.

I'll shutup now. Go knock'em dead.

Your humble servant,

assdef

[Flying Sheep]

I have a problem. I don't know what career path I want to pursue, and I don't know what classes I should pick for next year or senior years, and I'm really horribly worried about it, coz I don't want to pick something, then decide I don't like it later. What should I do?

Dear Life-Direction-Seeking ASDFers,

Sorry I was gone for a few days and y'all post like mad so I don't mean to necroquote but I wanted to offer some advice to my wooly friend here and all of you youngin's that read this forum.

When looking to pick what classes to take - particularly in "high school" (or whatever they call it overseas) - pick the class that you think is the most fun. Don't worry about what is best for your career, or worry about what your parents want you to take (to whatever extent you can), or anything like that - just go with what your gut tells you would be the most fun. Like cooking? Take cooking classes. Like art? Take some art studio. Like music? Play an instrument. Like speaking? Take another language. The classes you take in high school will have very little bearing on your future opportunities simply because it is expected that individuals in your generation will change careers several times over the course of your life, so now is a great time to take every elective possible and try new and different things to find what you like, what's your passion, and what you don't like. And if you find cooking classes to be horribly boring - no worries! Change your path, take something else, you've got all the time in the world to find out what you want to be when you grow up. Hell, I know people in their 40s and 50s that STILL don't know what they want to be when they grow up. It's not a decision you have to make right now, and whatever decisions you make - even if they are the wrong ones - you can change and make up for in high school, at university, and beyond.

Even when you get to University the only thing that will really ever carry a tremendous amount of weight when you look to get a job is the prestige of the school you go to. If an employer recognizes your school because it's Harvard, or Australian National University, or Oxford, or whatever, that will absolutely open doors for you. But what is more likely to land you a job is the fact that you know and graduated with someone, or the person you interview with is a fellow alumnus of your school, or some personal connection like that.

All throughout high school I took business classes and then when I went to college I majored in business administration because I thought it was the right thing to do to set me up for success and get me a job and all that happy crap. One of the best moments of my life happened halfway through my junior year of college when I realized how much I hated business classes, and so I started taking literature classes, creative writing, film studies, and all sorts of fun creative electives instead. The reason I switched? Because those were the classes I thought were fun, interesting, challenging, and really enjoyed going to. And I can guarantee you that the things I learned in those electives did a lot more for me in preparing me for a career than any of the business classes I took because I thought that's what the "right" thing to do, and that I was "supposed" to take business.

I know this is soapbox preaching coming from a cooky old man, and there will be people that tell you to be practical and think practically about your future, but there is something significant to be said about remembering to have fun when you're young, even when it feels like the weight of the entire world is on your shoulders and so much is being expected of you by so many people - at the end of the day it never really matters what other people want for you, it's all about what you want for yourself. So spend some time figuring out what that is, and the only way to do that is try everything and learn from your mistakes.

I'll shutup now. Go knock'em dead.

Your humble servant,

assdef

Alright, I think I will. I s'pose I don't really know anything about doing college or any of that, and no idea how it works, so that's really all I got. Thank you so much. Outta curiousity, what's your job atm?

I agree with him. TRUST ME you DON'T want to rush into college... especially if the only reason you want to is to make mommy and daddy happy.

Hah, my parents can go die in a hole. They want me to be a fucking surgeon, and there's no way in hell that's happening. And I'm not quite sure what you mean by not rushing into college...

[assdef]

Today I was suddenly reminded of a Baz Luhrman song that he wrote based off of a graduation speech a Chicago Tribune newspaper columnist wrote in 1997. The song is called, "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)":

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
Wear Sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists
whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice now:

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth;
oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you
and how fabulous you really looked.... You’re not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind;
the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts;
don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind...the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults;
if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives,
some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t,
maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t,
maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
What ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either –
your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can.
Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it,
it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Dance...even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past
and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get,
the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander,
you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble,
and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal,
wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen....

[Gamma]

Dear Life-Direction-Seeking ASDFers,

Sorry I was gone for a few days and y'all post like mad so I don't mean to necroquote but I wanted to offer some advice to my wooly friend here and all of you youngin's that read this forum.

When looking to pick what classes to take - particularly in "high school" (or whatever they call it overseas) - pick the class that you think is the most fun. Don't worry about what is best for your career, or worry about what your parents want you to take (to whatever extent you can), or anything like that - just go with what your gut tells you would be the most fun. Like cooking? Take cooking classes. Like art? Take some art studio. Like music? Play an instrument. Like speaking? Take another language. The classes you take in high school will have very little bearing on your future opportunities simply because it is expected that individuals in your generation will change careers several times over the course of your life, so now is a great time to take every elective possible and try new and different things to find what you like, what's your passion, and what you don't like. And if you find cooking classes to be horribly boring - no worries! Change your path, take something else, you've got all the time in the world to find out what you want to be when you grow up. Hell, I know people in their 40s and 50s that STILL don't know what they want to be when they grow up. It's not a decision you have to make right now, and whatever decisions you make - even if they are the wrong ones - you can change and make up for in high school, at university, and beyond.

Even when you get to University the only thing that will really ever carry a tremendous amount of weight when you look to get a job is the prestige of the school you go to. If an employer recognizes your school because it's Harvard, or Australian National University, or Oxford, or whatever, that will absolutely open doors for you. But what is more likely to land you a job is the fact that you know and graduated with someone, or the person you interview with is a fellow alumnus of your school, or some personal connection like that.

All throughout high school I took business classes and then when I went to college I majored in business administration because I thought it was the right thing to do to set me up for success and get me a job and all that happy crap. One of the best moments of my life happened halfway through my junior year of college when I realized how much I hated business classes, and so I started taking literature classes, creative writing, film studies, and all sorts of fun creative electives instead. The reason I switched? Because those were the classes I thought were fun, interesting, challenging, and really enjoyed going to. And I can guarantee you that the things I learned in those electives did a lot more for me in preparing me for a career than any of the business classes I took because I thought that's what the "right" thing to do, and that I was "supposed" to take business.

I know this is soapbox preaching coming from a cooky old man, and there will be people that tell you to be practical and think practically about your future, but there is something significant to be said about remembering to have fun when you're young, even when it feels like the weight of the entire world is on your shoulders and so much is being expected of you by so many people - at the end of the day it never really matters what other people want for you, it's all about what you want for yourself. So spend some time figuring out what that is, and the only way to do that is try everything and learn from your mistakes.

I'll shutup now. Go knock'em dead.

Your humble servant,

assdef

This owns. You should publish it.

[Joe]

It is. What do you mean by publish?

[Gamma]

Put it somewhere more publicly known than here.

[Joe]

Put it somewhere more publicly known than here.

Which is unfortunate......but yeah that's a good idea.

[Gamma]

Anybody got problems?

[assdef]

This owns. You should publish it.

Why thank you my ASDF friend with the greco-alphabetic nomenclature! However, I am confident there is much better written but generally similar advice previously published by authors much smarter and more eloquent than I.

[lunar_furor]

Beautifully put.

[Gamma]

This owns. You should publish it.

Why thank you my ASDF friend with the greco-alphabetic nomenclature! However, I am confident there is much better written but generally similar advice previously published by authors much smarter and more eloquent than I.

So? That doesn't mean you shouldn't publish it. I'm serious.

[Joe]

Well, it's his decision.

[lunar_furor]

He'd have to be careful to make sure no one else has anything like it published copy written or anything like that, it'd cost a lot of money and such too just saying.

[Gamma]

I doubt anyone would get too fussy about some random pep talk by some even randomer guy being posted on the web. Unless he got popularity.

[Joe]

Off-Topic? What does this have to do with helping people?