Never thought I'd be doing that

I'm a sophomore in college right now and I've got my major picked out and a career path in my head, but I know it's most likely not going to be anything like that.

Focus: What have you done after the age of 25 (seems like a good number) that before 25 you could have never imagined yourself doing?

 

I never thought I would drive a "cheap" car. My first car was a farm truck with about 200k miles and I hated it. It was tan, ugly, didn't have 4x4 or even A/C. I was working in sales and made a pile of money and bought a Bronco, 4x4, Eddie Bauer Edition at the age of 20. It had every available option and I loved everything about it. I swore to myself that I would never buy some cheap ass car and that I'd buy another awesome truck when this one died- maybe a F250 or supercrew F150. More and more parts broke on the Bronco. The power windowws didn't go up and down correctly. The A/C was a pain in the ass. The leather seats were cracked and rotting. It rattled. God almighty it rattled. Every single interior panel didn't fit right any longer. The (replaced) transmission puked fluid whenever I drove more than 100 miles. The (rebuilt) engine was underpowered. I drove that Bronco until it was practically worthless. I sold it for $1050 and I'm shocked that I got that much for it. The man who bought it had to haul it off with a trailer because a bearing and presumably an axle were both shot. This is in addition to other major, unavoidable repairs. My new car is a 1996 Isuzu Rodeo with 130k. It has manual windows, door locks, and transmission. I don't think it actually has any other factory options. The cool part about it is everything works- everything. I need about $400 in front end parts and new shocks, but that's about it. It cost me $2,200. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to buy a new car but I can't justify the ~$500/mo. on a 4x4 pickup. It's just not that cool to me any more.

Edit: I also never thought that the idea of staying out until three or four in the morning would ever stop being cool. It's not cool any more. Not at all. Thanks, 30. You've saved me a lot of cash.

 

At 25 I was working as a journeyman carpenter and figured I'd probably do that rest of my life, then the building boom went bust and there was no more work. I decided that since I had a solid background in construction I'd get into glass work since people are always going to break windows and need shower doors, I did that till I was about 30 and injured my back.

Shit.

It sank in that I wasn't as young as I used to be, and that at 6'7" working as a human forklift probably wasn't a very good idea. It was about this time that computers were gaining in popularity and I had a small talent with them, I took a few classes to hone my skills and off I went, taking an entry level tech support job and within a few years I was running a small network.

At 39 or 40 I burned out on computers and sold my house in Vegas to move back home to Idaho for a few years. I ended up working for a friend in his hardware store just for something to do (And ended up running his Unix network just for shits and giggles.)

After a couple of years of that I sold everything off again and moved to Mississippi to build and run a flea market with my father. I was introduced to all sorts of things I'd never done before and I was in heaven. Other then driving a semi when I was 21 I'd never operated heavy equipment in my life, but I always figured if my father can do it, so can I. Within 2 months I was operating a road grader, a front end loader, and a back hoe with no training whatsoever. In fact when I bought the back hoe neither my father or I had ever operated one, it took me about an hour of screwing with it and I had that shit down. Also down here I learned to run a sawmill and bad back and all I was even pulling green chain. I loved every moment of it after being stuck in an office for so many years. On top of all of this we built and ran a mud racing track.

Then dad passed away. That kind of took the wind out of my sails, so I went and got my CDL and went back to driving a semi. That lasted about 2 1/2 months. It's a cool experience, but I discovered I hated being away from home just as much as I did when I was 21.

I have absolutely no idea what will happen next. Some people crave security, but I'm one of those that gets bored easily needs constant change and new challenges.

 

I had grown up working on ferry boats carting people back and forth to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. I got my first Capitan's license at 21(100 ton) right after I left college. Having no desire to get a "real" job and loving the water I thought this would be my career path, and for the next five or six years it was.

I moved to Florida that fall(because who wants to freeze their nuts off all winter on Cape Cod) and got a couple of jobs right out of the gate. I work as a Capitan for a couple of different casino boat companies and on a paddlewheel dinner cruise boat. At the time I thought this was great, and as the years went by I diligently upgraded my license(first to 500 ton, then to 1600 ton) thinking that one day I'd be skippering cruise ships down in the Caribbean or some such nonsense.

This lasted until I was about 27 and the company I worked for was sending the ship to the Brooklyn shipyards to run out of there. I, not wanting to move back up north, decided to take a little time off before getting on a LPG(petroleum tanker) to the Med in order to keep upgrading my license.

During my down time I took a part time job working as a bartender at a little beach bar. Easy and fun. I quickly realized I could make a shit-ton of money doing this and it was all cash, no headaches, virtually no responsibility. I was quickly promoted to bar manager while still retaining my shifts and getting back on a ship soon became only a memory. I managed to save more money than I had ever been able to in my life and, as a result, bought a house and further entrenched myself in to this little community.

This little bar soon grew into a rather large sports/beach bar and grill and about four years ago I bought the operation from my former boss.

So here I sit at thirty seven a bar owner. What will happen next? Who knows? But for right now I'm enjoying the perks.

 

I was a professional dancer and dance teacher until I was 25. Over the years I had various odd jobs at night/on weekends, but ballet was my life. Up until that point I figured I'd ride it out as long as my body could handle it and retire to be a mom. I started dancing when I was 8, and I loved it. It was all I ever really pictured myself doing. I literally couldn't think of anything else I'd like to do. But, due to an unexpected and unfortunate turn of events I made a major life change. I moved back to Texas and went back to school. Now, I'm a physical therapy tech and Pilates instructor at an outpatient clinic. Also, I'm finishing up science prereqs and applying to PT school next fall.

I never, ever thought I would be headed in this direction. It's crazy, but even though I never planned on becoming a physical therapist, everything in my past points directly towards it. It makes perfect sense that I would do that for a living, and I actually really enjoy working with patients every day. You never know where your passions or life will lead you.

 

Never, ever would I have guessed that I would end up back in the same remote, bum fuck Egypt, rural area that I grew up in, and be enjoying the shit out of it.

 

Fucking a 40yr old woman. Not only that but enjoying it immensely.

 

My best friend, who has been dating a girl for a little over a year, called me a few weeks ago after taking her to Niagra Falls for her birthday weekend. We spoke for a few minutes when he suddenly blurted it out:

Him: I need a favor.
TTF: Sure. What's up?
Him: Well, in about a year from now will you... ummm... uhhh...
TTF: Be your best man?
Him: No, but I am engaged. And I do want you to be in the wedding.
TTF: (Feeling a bit hurt) Congrats. So what's my role?
Him: The priest.
TTF: WHAT!?!

He went on to explain that because he and his fiance aren't remotely religious, and don't want a complete stranger marrying them, that after talking it over decided that I would be the best option. I have no idea why he thinks this is a good idea considering it's a guarantee that I'll lose my shit as soon as he looks at me, but how could I possibly say no? I have until May to get qualified to perform a wedding.

 

Focus: Come see me in 15 years and you can convince me of the benefits of being a WalMart greeter. Oh and to save you any further embarrassment, McDonalds Hamburger University isn't really a "college".

 

I never would have thought that I would have stopped drinking. It's amazing how harmless fun can turn into something so nasty.

 

At 27 I am about to design, build, and run a test lab for the largest publishing company in the UK. My job (after commissioning) will be to test and ultimately break every component I can get my hands on. This will include all sorts of cool shit that I'd never get to see as a 'civilian'.

Two years ago I was settling down into a job in the nuclear industry, having given up on my dream of working in the cycle industry. I picked up a couple of design contracts with some bike companies, did a little bit of writing and got my name out there. Having talked with enough people about what I did for my main job, and my ideas for the cycle industry I got a call out of the blue outlining the project, and that I'm the guy they want to do it. This month I'm handing in my notice, then heading for a weekend to the facility in Italy where they test Ducati and Ferrari components.

I wouldn't have got the new job without the previous nuclear experience. I guess the lesson here is that even if you're not doing what you want to end up doing, there's no reason why it can't contribute. Keep it all in context, people.

 

I'm 26 and working in Tripoli, Libya as a contracts administrator. I consult on invoicing issues between service contractors, project managers, and the Libyan Jamahiriya. I studied economics in undergrad, sold financial products after college, got a graduate degree in finance to learn to design them, and then like many, reinvented myself after the economic, uh, tumult. Definitely didn't think I would be a contracts guy, definitely didn't think I'd be living in Northern Africa, and DEFINITELY didn't think I'd willingly give up civil liberties--namely dating and drinking

My advice is to (1) major in something worth majoring in and (2) work during undergrad. I guarantee you that your career path won't turn out like you envision (and kudos for already recognizing that), but getting a degree in engineering or education will help you get a job in situations like this. And, seriously, don't be one of those guys holding a piece of paper with no experience telling future employers, "I graduated college, pay me more!" unless you're going to graduate an Ivy with a 3.9 GPA.

 

I was a biology major in undergrad and didn't really know what I wanted to do with the degree until senior year. On an impulse decision during my senior year of college, I decided to go to graduate school for microbiology. When I entered graduate school at 22, I thought I would be studying something like E. coli or another common bacterium. Well, I started off with E. coli, but then changed labs when I turned 25 into an environmental microbiology lab.

Now I'm studying marine microbiology and I've been on 3 research cruises - two month-long trips and one 8-day trip. I never imagined I would do anything like this in my life. Hell, I didn't even know research cruises existed. I figured microbiology would be all lab work and no field work. I always find it amazing that I've been at sea for over 70 days just because I changed labs. Thanks to the change in labs, I've been to Seattle/Ketchikan, Alaska and Bermuda for the two month-long cruises (the third having left from the University of Rhode Island, so no fun travel on that one). I've also been to Sante Fe, Boston, and Nice, France for three scientific conferences.

Now I'm 28 and it's been a pretty intense ride over the last 6 and a half years. I'll be finishing this academic year (hopefully before May) with my Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology with a concentration in microbiology at the ripe old age of 29.

 

Just ask Leopold and Lobe.

Focus:

I never thought I'd have a slipped disc at 28 or a cane at 30.

I also never would have guessed 10 years ago in WV, with dreams of being a screenwriter in Los Angeles, that I'd end up in Texas working for a bank, with my brother as my roommate, and that it would take this long for us (it's a dream of his too) to get started in earnest. Fucking amazing how fast the times goes.

 

Welcome to Hazelden Mike.

Your first few days you will be in detox, the remainder of the time you will be in group setting.

 

I'm 34 now. Right out of high school I got a clerkship at a law firm and started studying. Like most lawyers find out, it was nothing like I expected. I had a flair for certain things in there, but I hated the office politics, the partners were assholes and the clients were often a step below that. I was basically waiting to become old, cynical and drowned in a bottle like the rest of them.

My brother and a friend had started a little lending company that needed help with contracts and procedures. One of my talents was cobbling together legal text so they asked me to come on board. At the time I thought it was a good idea because my brother is on of those people who can't help but make money, but I was working full time and studying nights so it completely killed me for a while.

Seven years ago I walked out the door of the legal office and didn't look back. The little company had grown to 30 offices in four states and was paying me more money for less effort than the law firm gig. Since that time we've also grown an internet billing business that's taking off internationally, bought substantial real estate holdings, got into property development and are currently starting up advertising businesses in Thailand and the Philippines; and I work better hours than most wage slaves.

 

Ok I'm only 22 but here goes. This past May I finished a degree in Economics and Math at NYU and now.....I'm working in a factory. My job consists of loading up a bagging machine. I then drop an item into the bag, press a button to seal it. I then repeat this elaborate process. Then I repeat it again about 20,000 more times.

My coworkers include a one armed man, a man who speaks no English, and the guy who trained me is in jail for stabbing a guy to death. Never could I have ever imagined I'd be doing this at any point in my life.