The reaction is the same if you reply “I want to be a fireman” or an astronaut or a cowboy- - - - go for it.
I was hit with the same predicament when I was of the age. I’ve always wanted to be an engineer my whole life, but growing up in San Diego, it was just too far for me to go to L.A. for a job with the railroad. I then found girls, and I liked girls. Therefore a career in the railroad once again was put on the back burner. I then attended college and worked in construction to get by. Now I’m 29, married with a son, and would love more than anything to power a train, but I know that there is no way that I can change careers now to start at the bottom of the pay pyramid and have my family survive. About two months ago I was playing around and got myself an interview with Union Pacific. Every part of me wanted to go, even my dad, who has never really been into trains, wanted me to go. I ended up canceling the interview, because I knew the wife was against it. I now live with regret and knew that I needed to start early to fulfill my dream.
Learn from me and go for your dream before it is too late (or is it). But remember, you can never regret an education. We can’t take our trains with us when we die (no matter how much I try to convince my wife otherwise), but we can take what we have learned. But, Dude, life is about being happy, or life isn’t worth living. Don’t follow my example, and do what YOU want. Good Luck!
It most certainly is: when I told my high school guidance counselor that I planned to become a firefighter, she actually asked me “why I wanted to throw my life away like that? Didn’t I want to go to college and get a real job?” Looking back as a decorated Captain with 21 years in, I don’t regret a thing…
remember the old addage
Those that can, do
Those that can’t, teach
Those that can’t teach, teach gym
now add to that,
Those that can do niether, counsel.
My high school counseler was completely worthless, never bothered to encourage me to go to college, or tried to gear me towards any kind of trade whatsoever. When I expressed an avid interest in architecture, they just shrugged, like they were silently saying “Why are you wasting my time?”
Worthless, Got no support from high school, I had to go to JC to take all the classes they supposedly already taught me but were completely inadequate for college prep. Went on to university and got my BA no thanks to them.
Bottom line, follow your bliss.
If that leads to college so be it,
if it leads you to the cab of a shiny DASH-9, good for you.
I would definetly do it NOW , once your out of high school. My reasoning is this. Wanting a thing, is often not the same as Having a thing.
You may find that being an engineer is very different from what you thought, and that the hours, schedules, time away from home, etc. do not fit you in the long run. Better to find out when your still young enough to change careers should you decide to do something else. At least you will have tried, instead of never attempted.
Colleges will always be there.