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roaddreamer
Jul 31, 2003, 6:38 AM
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This has been on my mind, and I figured perhaps some people here could help (I have also posted it on other forums, some of which are more applicable than this one). Nonetheless, I’d appreciate any advice-both practical and philosophical- that is offered. I’m hoping the length of this post will discourage stupid replies. Anyway, here it is:
I just graduated from high school and I'm slated to head out west (Utah, I live on the east coast) for college....majoring in political science as of now. I’ve had a dream in my head for the last several months. This is probably going to sound both cheesy and wishful at the same time, but oh well. I’ve realized in the last several years that I don’t think I’ll be happy with a normal life as I see it….getting married, having kids, etc. Not to knock the lifestyle, I wish it made me happy, but I don’t think it will. Everything would be phenomenally easier if it did. Oh well. I’m pretty into rock climbing, kayaking, backpacking, etc. Anything outdoor-sy. Also snowboarding and some other stuff along those lines. I also am into photography (not as much as I’d like), philosophy/political philosophy, and music. Running as well of course.
My dream has become to live on the road for an extended period of time, living from a truck (Suburban most likely), hauling a trailer with my stuff. This trip would last anywhere from 2 years to 20 years, and would take me anywhere I want to go. My only objective is to have the freedom to get up any morning I want, say, “I feel like going here,” and just packing up and driving there. No restrictions, except monetary of course. I would occupy my time in a vast variety of ways. There’s a ton of outdoors stuff I want to do before I die, and that would be one of my primary focuses. I would want to sail in the Pacific Northwest (i.e. Puget Sound), kayak major rivers (no definites yet, but probably ST. Lawrence and lots of small ones), ascend some specific mountains (and others along the way), including a few in the Northwest, in Alaska, and other continents (Australia/New Zealand in particular), spend some time snowboarding and surfing, I would also like to get into mountain biking a bit more, although it would stay pretty recreational because I suck at it. I’d also like to climb some cliffs/rocks, maybe not Yosemite/El Cap and Half Dome (for anyone who’s into climbing), but just find rocks along the way and hit them up if I feel like it. The whole trip would be based on feel, visiting old friends along the way, hooking up with new people with similar interests for various periods of time and then moving on. Seeing the world, both the scenery and the people, experiencing different cultures some, and then exploring what there is to do in each culture. I would spend the remainder of my time writing music, chronicling my trip in photographs and writing (perhaps a few books would come of it, which would not be such a bad thing, although On the Road and Travels With Charley already take up a lot of that genre). I’d also philosophize some along the way, perhaps writing books on political philosophy, of which I read about a lot. I’d spend a lot of time reading/learning, but not in a typical classroom setting. I have figured the thing out financially, and it looks like I can get all the gear I want/need for about $35,000 to start, and once that initial investment is made, I could live with the bare minimums for about $7,000 a year. But I’ll be generous and say $8,000 because I may have other desires along the way. I obviously have no money at the moment, other than the $3,000 I have saved myself toward a college education (mine was going to cost ~$3,500 a year thanks to scholarships/financial aid). I can get more in-depth if anyone has any questions about this, but I don’t want to keep writing. I have some questions for anyone on the board to share their opinion, however.
1. Money----I was originally thinking I would just find temporary work each year when I found I had run out of money….perhaps as a bus boy or something, working tons of hours for a month and then heading out of town again. But I realized this might take a significant period of time, longer than a month each year, to make $7,000 to hold me over. I could also sell some photographs, but I wouldn’t be able to count on much from that. The other option is to play music on the street corners, hoping people will give me change, and maybe buy a cd for $5 or something. I could also try to sell articles to travel/outdoor/adventure magazines like Outside Online, etc but I doubt they’d want more than 2 per year or something, and I don’t know how much magazine articles sell for. Plus I don’t know if they’d want something from an 18 year old kid with no college degree…..if I sent them samples would they even consider it? What’s the pay like? I could also hope to sell books, but that would be way down the line because I haven’t had any experiences to write about yet. Are there any other options for money-making that people see? Any comments on the ones listed above? How much could I expect to make playing music on a street corner in a big city in a night? This is not to mention the original investment of $35,000 that I need to come up with. I could probably get it cheaper if I bought a used truck, but then I’ll eventually have to buy another one, so it works out the same anyway, since no truck will probably stand up to constant driving for 15 years without significant breakdowns (which I included in the 7,000 per year cost of living). The $7,000 includes food, gas (which I’ll be using a lot), occasional accommodations possibly, repairs, new gear, etc.
2. My Education. Assuming I ever feel a need to settle down, or find a place I want to settle down in, I wouldn’t want to work as a manual laborer the rest of my life. I would want to do one of the following things: 1. an adventure/outdoor photographer 2. a cross country coach (ideally college, but also highschool, as a history/civics teacher to high school students) 3. college professor of poli. Sci (my current intended major) 4. Work on staff of politician 5. Outdoor Guide (mountains, rivers, etc). Get paid to help rich people conquer mountains and wild rivers. Obviously I will need a degree for most of these things. But I don’t want to wait another 4 years to get started on this adventure (although I originally thought I could wait that long)….plus if I take option #3, it would be more like 7-8 years and a lot of money in college education seemingly “wasted” if I’m not going to use it for a long time. Are there any schools that offer totally online degree programs for poli. Sci.?? Preferably reputable ones. I know my school offers some courses, but not all that are needed for graduation. Also, are there any that offer master’s and doctoral degrees in poli. Sci via distance learning, independent study or online courses? Because then I could get an education and be out on the road at the same time. That would be ideal, although quite expensive. My other option for money would be to coach college cross country/track, but only coach fall and winter season (maybe give workout plans and communicate via email with an assistant coach during spring), so that would leave me 6 months a year to travel. That would be acceptable, considering I’d actually have money to work with. Or I could find another job that is workable from the road…..any ideas?
Oh, one last question, any ideas for stuff to do……i.e. if any of you are into the outdoors, give me some more ideas/dreams to pursue. I’ve got plenty myself (a list too long to put on this site), but I’m always looking for more interesting stuff, especially since I’m limited in my knowledge of certain geographical areas, particularly foreign countries. They don’t have to be famous things like climb Mt. Everest or climb El Capitan, since those won’t ever happen, but obscure things are cool too. No tourist spots though. Anyways, any help with the practical questions stated above would be extremely helpful, as well as any less-pragmatic, more philosophical thoughts on the trip/life as a whole. Thanks
P.S. This is similar in some aspects to desertclimber's topic, but it's somewhat different....I got some good ideas from that thread though.
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lox
Jul 31, 2003, 7:44 AM
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So is this the part where I get to tell you how to live your life ?!?!
Cuz that's pretty much what you're asking here.
First off, if you want to "live on the road on an extended roadtrip" and get an education and have money, it's just not going to happen. The term dirtbag climber didn't originate from the lucrative and education lifestyle that the endless roadtrip lifestyle provides.
Now... I dunno how much your parents are helping you out right now, but my advice is to take as much help as you can get while you get an education and take as many climbing roadtrips as you can with what you make from having a job on the side. Climbing shop jobs are teh bomb because of the prodeal aspects. Go for the education and you shoudl end up smart enough to make the right choices for you when you get there.
Hey... I can't wait to see the answers you get.
Short of whoring myself out, I haven't found how to do it yet either.
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scuclimber
Jul 31, 2003, 8:22 AM
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Hey,
I'm a Poli Sci/History double major at Santa Clara U. in CA (maybe philosophy minor). GO TO COLLEGE! IF you want to write... your writing skills will improve just by taking freshman English. If you want to write about political philosophy... just reading Locke, Hobbes, Machiavelli, and Rousseau isn't gonna cut it. You need to develop the critical thinking/critical reading skills to take this stuff apart and formulate your own theories about it. When I was a senior in H.S. I was a cocky "know-it-all" (not that it's changed that much, but at least I'm a little better). When I took my first Poli Sci class, I figured out that I didn't know sh!t. Anyway, I don't know if you're asking whether to go to school or not, but I hope I helped. Go to school, get the degree, pay off the loans, then go AWOL. At least that way you'll have the option of being able to live a "normal life" if you change your mind. And you very well might do just that. You may meet a girl who you're crazy about, but who doesn't want to live in a trailer and you have to compromise... who knows? Just so we're on the same level... I live about an hour away from Lake Tahoe. During high school I XC skiied and ran competitively(4:20 1600m, 1:55 800m, see I am a cocky sh!t :wink: ) and I worked as a snowboard instructor at Boreal (a small resort near Truckee). I can't even remember how many times this past winter when I'd check the whether report and it was dumping and I wanted to drop out of school and move to Tahoe or Colorado or wherever. And people do... But I'm "suffering" through it to give myself options. (I say "suffering" b/c in the winter I'm four hours from the hill :? ) Anyway, that's advice from a guy who's gone through what you're going through (and still continues to go through it). Besides... Utah is a great place for outdoor sports... world-class snow, rock climbing, ice climbing, mountain biking, canyoneering, etc. So, there you go...
Colin
P.S.- Feel free to PM me for free advice :wink: .
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skiorclimb
Jul 31, 2003, 8:32 AM
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I would say take 3-6 months on the road and see where it takes you.
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scuclimber
Jul 31, 2003, 8:38 AM
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Wow, I just read the entire post to the bottom... I used to want to teach H.S. history and coach XC and track, but then I got burnt out on XC and just kinda changed my mind. Running 65 miles a week as a freshman in college while the seniors were running 90+ made me not want to do it anymore... plus the time commitment was huge (and SCU doesn't have a track team, those bastards!) Running coaches hardly make any money, by the way, even at the college level... unless you're coaching at Stanford (bastards). So yeah... go to school, meet people, meet girls, meet kindred spirits. I had those same thoughts about writing and photography too. Thoughts such as: "Wouldn't it be great to be a National Geographic Photographer? Or write for Outside?" Jon Krakauer anyone? Galen Rowell (God rest his soul)? Then I realized the odds against becoming a photographer for NatGeo. I'm gonna get a bunch of flack for saying all this sh!t... but whatever :wink: . You also seem like a pretty intellectual guy... even if you end up being a river guide/ski instructor/whatever and you don't "use" your education, knowledge is power. Just go to school for the sake of learning. I found my classes this year so much more interesting than high school classes. I had an honors Environmental Ethics class that was fantastic. All three of my Poli Sci classes were wonderful: Intro to Comparative Politics (emphasis on China, India, and Japan), Intro to International Relations, and Minorities in U.S. Politics (upper division is a bitch). There is no substitute for a REAL professor who is passionate about the material, passionate about teaching, and interested in the students. Even if you could find an online school that offers a Poli Sci degree (which I HIGHLY doubt), you'd be missing out on a lot of stuff... not to mention that you probably wouldn't learn as much and it for sure wouldn't be as interesting.
Colin
P.S.- Again, feel free to PM me. I know EXACTLY what you're going through. Or email me at SCUClimber@hotmail.com.
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scuclimber
Jul 31, 2003, 8:45 AM
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If you're looking for a "reputable" school to get either an undergraduate or graduate from in Poli Sci... you absolutely will not find it online. By "reputable" I'm assuming you want a degree that means something and/or you want to have good profs. Man, this topic just keeps me going because I can relate to it so much.
Colin
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scuclimber
Jul 31, 2003, 8:51 AM
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By the way, just out of curiosity... what school are you going to? Assuming you attend school in the Fall of course.
Colin
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keinangst
Jul 31, 2003, 2:21 PM
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Sounds interesting, and I've entertained ideas like this many times. Mine usually involve world travel and writing as the cornerstone, but the desire is nonetheless very similar.
There were two sticking points that convinced me that the plan wouldn't work out as smoothly as envisioned:
1. Health coverage (sure, NZ, Norway, etc, would be fine---but what about in countries with private healthcare, like the US?)
2. Getting a PT/FT job without a permanent address/work permit. Sure, there are under-the-table gigs, but they usually pay WAY less and you are an expendable employee, and basically a dangerous liability to the employer.
If you have these two covered, I say go for it. Make sure you try the 3-6 month trip first, as mentioned, to see if dirtbagging it is the life you really want. :D
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nobody
Jul 31, 2003, 2:43 PM
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You'll never make enough cash busing tables (or writing freelance or being a street musician) to do this. But if you learn a trade, you can find lucrative work for short periods of time. Carpentry is a popular trade for the outdoor bum - you can sign on with a crew for a few weeks or months and get paid cash, $20 an hour after a few years experience. Then go get an edumication when you're tired of manual labor.
Guiding doesn't pay much. You can make $100 a day on the river, but not easily in your first season. Same with mt jobs like Outward Bound and NOLS. Guiding with private clients will pay about $100+ a day in your first season, but you need more experience than an 18 year old could have to do that. In the winter, the best job will be as a ski patroller - not an instructor or lifty or bartender. Doesn't pay much, but you'll ski a lot and gain invaluable experience that will help with summer jobs.
Or just go to school in a good place like Utah and hit the road in between semesters. Just watch out for student loans. Debt will hold you back from roadtripping after college.
I'd say commit to taking a year off. Move to a good mt town where you
can bang nails during the day and play after work. Save up, go on a few weeks roadtrip, come back and work with a different crew, etc. After that year is up, reassess.
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killclimbz
Jul 31, 2003, 3:32 PM
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You want to do the endless roadtrip and be able to go where you want. My thoughts on this if I could do it over.
1. Go ahead and go to college in SLC. Plenty to do around there for 4 years plus. You shouldn't get bored.
2. You're young. Believe or not there is plenty of time to wait to do this.
3. Choose a field that allows you to travel. Teaching is good but you are restricted to the school year and when the breaks are. Working for Politicians is probably not the way to go. Are you technical minded at all? If an engineering degree can give you a lot of freedom. It's a bitch to learn but once you do the principals don't change much if at all. Engineers can find work just about anywhere in the world if you choose the right field within engineering. Lot's of contract work, big bucks and free time can be had. I have a pal who works less than 6 months a year working on this principal.
The medical field is also another excellent choice and maybe better. Become a nurse, X-ray tech, physical therapist, something in demand. Some fields you could get certified in within a couple of years, others may take around 6 years. Once again they can be a bit of a bitch to learn, but the principals don't change much once you know them. The beauty of these professions is that you can choose to live just about anywhere and find a job. In the case of being a nurse you can find places that will pratically sponsor you for the time you are there. Free housing etc, as long as you are willing to sign a contract stating you will be there for x & x amount of time. You can truly find work worldwide in these areas.
4. I already stated this but you're young. You can find work that will support your habit nicely. Look into what is demand that allows you to be geographically free. Take the time to learn them, then enjoy a lifetime of adventuring how you want to. There a professions out there that do allow this with a fairly nice standard of living. Dirtbagging it is a blast but what happens when all your shit starts wearing out and all you are doing is bussing tables, washing dishes, or pounding nails? It becomes really hard to support your habit and you could find yourself stuck.
5. If you fail at any career you choose, find out you have no aptitude for it, and realize you are just going to be a worthless bum from year to year. You can always start dirtbagging it then. What does it matter if you are 21, 24, or older when you come to this decision? At least you know you tried and where to go with your life.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
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thrillseeker05
Jul 31, 2003, 4:01 PM
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You have touched way to many topics here to just sum everything up and tell you straight out what you aught to do.
Some people believe you should head off to college and get and education.. this is very true.
Yet I have observed many and have seen many dreams come and go along the way. You are 18 (I assume) or close to it.
There are a few things to consider. First and foremost you need to understand that there are times in your life that are going to bring along MAJOR changes. The dreams you have now will not be the dreams you have at age 25, 35, 45, or 65. some will develop more into reality some will dissipate into foolish ideas.
Another is that you need to realize that, aside from money and education.. the only real asset you have right now is TIME. and thus I give you my philosophical advice…..
Take the time NOW to explore the world and yourself. The idea that we spend our entire lives working so we can be old and retired when our bodies can no longer climb mountains and surf oceans is ass-backwards in my opinion.
When you get older your body doesn’t have the energy and strength as when you were 20. yet your mind is keen and you are wiser from the life you have traveled. So, wouldn’t it be more logical to play hard now, travel the world, climb the mountains, and live on limits while you are young. then work an 8-5 job and take classes and settle down as you get older?
It is just a dream… yet when I sit at this computer all day … watching the hours slip into days wishing I had gone to Prague or climbed in Italy, or sailed to Easter Island, I often wonder if I should have tired to do it differently.
Being 18 you have the chance to question that.
Good luck.
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givemeshorebreak
Jul 31, 2003, 5:19 PM
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Hey, I am right there with you bro. I am almost 20 yrs. old and am at the prime of my life, or so I hear from everyone older than me.
I too have been bitten many times by the "get out and see the world you've been blessed with" bug/thing/disease. There is not much more that I would want to do than learn to sail, and apply it, climb El Cap, live in New Zealand for at least a year, live in Austrailia for at least a year, travel across the ocean on a freighter where the trip is at least a month, learn to spearfish, learn to scubadive, live in Yosemite Valley like the old Masters of climbing, see the world and all it's treasures. To do this takes so much more than I am able to give right now.
I am not talking about money. I'm talking about commitment. How do you know what you will and will not want in 5, 10, 15 years from now? Why give up a quality education, in an area reknowned for it's outdoor adventure opportunities, to pursure elusive satisfaction on an adventure that requires so much commitment?
Ask yourself why you want to do this. What are the reasons for it? What are you looking for? Cause I think that the reasons you come up with, better be worth closing a lot of doors.
I say this:
stay in school and get an education. At least keep your options open buddy.
Yes, watch out for student loans, it's never good to be in debt to anyone.
You get breaks during the school year that are long enough to go on some soul searching without closing doors. Work during the year and save the money. At your first long break go on that two month road trip and see what you think.
These thoughts of mine are obviously all biased and based from the experiences that I've had myself. My goals and what I want out of life are far different from what you want out of life I would expect. Think about it bro. PM me if you want anything else.
Peace
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alwaysforward
Jul 31, 2003, 5:23 PM
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I'm in the same position too, questioning university, so don't get me wrong but alot of what your saying is naive. People who dedicate their lives to writing have very difficult times getting published let alone by the big magazines so you most likely won't. Photography is probably just as hard.
And from my experience, people who refer to a broad spectrum of thought as being "philosophical' usually don't know anything about philosophy. This may sound harsh, but if you think your coming up with new ideas in philosophy and political science, enough that you could probably write a book, you haven't read enough. Your 'new' thoughts aren't worth anything unless you've read all the major thinkers in that area so you can expand on that. I found that out when my 'original' thoughts were 400 years old.
Sounds fun, i'm serious, but don't be naive about this stuff.
Still, you have my encouragement, don't get locked into a 9-5.
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elvislegs
Jul 31, 2003, 5:38 PM
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Lox Wrote:In reply to: Short of whoring myself out, I haven't found how to do it yet either
... you say "whoring myself out" like it's a bad thing.
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maculated
Jul 31, 2003, 6:00 PM
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Trust me, you get out of high school and you have this whole cool life ahead of you and you're like, "What now?"
Well, I never had a choice, it was college. And you know, college is the best. You won't realize it until you're out, but it is the best time of your life if you let it be: you have a lot of free time, your classes are way better than going to work, you have a ton of people your age concentrated in one area, etc, etc.
When I was in college, I was climbing a lot more than I am now, even when I was road tripping and working part time. Easy to connect with people, etc.
Then, and I don't know why everyone on this site wants to do its: go do your trip afterwards. Take a year off from real life-work and do what feels right. You'll figure out if your living out of your van and trailer works. I tried it, it didn't work for me. The end.
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petsfed
Jul 31, 2003, 6:21 PM
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First and foremost, get it out of your head that you will still think the same after your first day in college. Priorities will change. You might throw politics to the wind. Unlike a lot of my friends, I've kept the same major for two whole semesters. Probably will keep it through grad school. College is an excellent time to simply explore, figure out what you want and follow that. I once thought like you (usually after good road trips). Who needs this school stuff anyway, right? But the more I work (I'm a research assistant to an Astronomer), the more I like what I do.
I'm not trying to dissuade you from the road tripping lifestyle. I'm trying to tell you that this is a huge choice and being without a home (off the grid, as it were) has a lot of negative aspects. You will be disconnected from family and friends. No doubt about that. If you don't have any permanent travelling companions, lonliness will keep you company. You won't be up to date on current events, and if the draft gets reinstated, well that could be rather awkward couldn't it? You will have no mailbox, you won't be able to have a credit card, and getting more than a construction job could be difficult (outdoor type stores tend to be more understanding than JC Penny).
Roadtripping is not as cheap as it seems. I can live for a month on 40 dollars if I don't have to worry about gas. With gas I can't live a week for that cheap. Wherever you go, you will only skim the surface of what's to be found there. I've made it a point in my life to discover the hidden areas near where I live. That takes time though, time you likely won't have.
You're looking to pull a Chris McCandless (hopefully without dieing in some misbegotten bus in Alaska, but that's a side issue) which may seem reasonable now, but it will piss a lot of people off, first your family, and maybe the locals too.
Even if your soul is screaming for that freedom, try other things first. Go to college, meet people, learn to mountain bike, and if you're still deadset on the vagabond lifestyle, then go. But don't cut yourself off from the world because you have some Quioxtic conquest complex.
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thrillseeker05
Jul 31, 2003, 6:33 PM
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Petsfed.... well said.
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watersprite
Jul 31, 2003, 7:30 PM
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what he said..
[imc src='http://www.physics.utoronto.ca/~brock/climbing/skeleton1.jpg']
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soma
Jul 31, 2003, 7:48 PM
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Do what you want to do. Stand by your decisions even if you would make a different one if you had a chance (but remember that). Be nice to people. Say thank you. Chew with your mouth closed (this is REALLY important). Experiment. Don't be afraid to do new things / people / substances :) Find some one to love and cherish them.
The worst thing I could think of in life is to regret not following a dream.
Maybe you could get a degree in English / writing and could get paid to write about your life.
Dave
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soma
Jul 31, 2003, 8:02 PM
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In reply to: Even if your soul is screaming for that freedom, try other things first. Go to college, meet people, learn to mountain bike, and if you're still deadset on the vagabond lifestyle, then go. But don't cut yourself off from the world because you have some Quioxtic conquest complex.
I really like your post but... What feels like a long time ago now, I had just finished my first year of University and knew that I had to go on destination / returning date unknown trip. I learned more about myself and the human condition in that year hitching around southern Africa than any year in University. I also learned that I would not spend the rest of my life traveling. But some of the people I know would not be happy / complete with out continuous traveling (fair enough that I think many of them are borderline this or that).
If you are set on doing something there is no reason not to. Parents and friends will "get over it" and if they don't it is their error. Just don't continue doing something if you are no longer enjoying it.
The most pure and insightful moments in life did not come from my research in grad school..
Dave
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mbond
Jul 31, 2003, 8:14 PM
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I am going to pretend I actually read the entire post, and say this:
If you want to do it, do it now, before you think better of it.
If you go to college, you will regret not doing it.
If you do it, you will regret not going to college.
What you want will change a lot over the next five-ten years. Do what will make you happy, but try not to close any doors.
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petsfed
Jul 31, 2003, 8:15 PM
Post #22 of 40
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Apologies for some confusion from my advice. My recommendation is not to throw this idea out the window. My advice rather is that if you spend life on the road for the next 2-20 years you could cut yourself off from oppourtunities that may never arise again. You can always get in the car and keep driving until you run out of road or gas. You can't always meet people you might in college, or various other domestic activites. The other key is that most people under 20 (myself included) simply lack the ability to be truly self-sufficient. Those that can would not contemplate what you are suggesting because they've been living it for too long. There is a difference between being thrifty and self-sufficient (as I learned when my employer accidentally forgot to hire me for the month of june on). Keep that in mind. And I stand by my advice. See the world with a safety net first. Its not like you're trapped in the dorms or the class rooms when you go off to college. And hey, you might even warm up to the idea of settling down and having kids, as saddening as that may be.
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gumbieclimber
Jul 31, 2003, 8:36 PM
Post #23 of 40
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beyond cliche, but really, go where your heart wants to take you....youll meet a increasingly large amount of cool people along the way if you just wear your heart on your sleeve and really believe in what you believe...go to public libraries to become as knowledgable as you wish to be, because what are titles anyways, as long as your comfortable with you self its all good. Just go for it. Im thinking of doing the same and with a pure mind and heart, and good intentions you can do all of what you want to do all over the world on a single dollar for the rest of your life. It just depends on what your willing to sacrafice. If your truly enjoying life and doing what you do with good reason then whats stopping you. Our world has become far too complicated and people are becoming too afraid of going out and seizing the moment. FUCK everyone who disagrees. i gaurantee youll find plenty of people along the way more than willing to help out our join you for a while on you journey, because isnt that what life is really all about. Too many people talk but cant back it up. JUST GO! I have some of the same aspirations and will be on an undetermined trip as far as where, how long but if you email me at savorycassar26@hotmail.com i should be able to get in touch with you along the way....tying up loose ends but will be on my way come summer. ENJOY IT and PEACE OUT. :D
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sroehlk
Jul 31, 2003, 8:48 PM
Post #24 of 40
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GO TO COLLEGE
You've received some great advice so far! You're already slated to go out to Utah for college - stick with that plan. I had a great time in college and now have my 4-year degree that no one can take away. Once you get to college think of all the people you'll meet, interesting classes, trips, organizations, the list really goes on and on.
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killclimbz
Jul 31, 2003, 8:53 PM
Post #25 of 40
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I would consider petsfed advice. You can go now and possibly miss some important opportunities. A few years is not going to waste your youth and could very well pay off with a lifetime of climbing, river rafting, and adventuring in general. I think someone mentioned staying away from student loans, credit cards etc. Do, there is no better way to tie yourself down than to get into debt. Otherwise, learn something useful stay true to the plan and in a few years you might find yourself doing the lifetime roadtrip in style.
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gretchino
Jul 31, 2003, 9:07 PM
Post #26 of 40
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This may be my lame sense of practicality speaking up, but have you included health insurance into the $35,000 a year thingy?? Since you're so active, you ARE going to get hurt. You WILL need health insurance.
While I'm on it, GO TO COLLEGE! Good god man! Get your degree, then play around! The longer you put off school, the harder it will be to go back!
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micahmcguire
Jul 31, 2003, 9:33 PM
Post #27 of 40
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i've seen a damn lot of people do just what you are talking about (I think, it was a long few pages of reading!)-going on the road for awhile and then trying to go back to school. The thing about that is, once you're out of school, once you break that continuity between high school-college-grad school-so on, you make it infinitlyharder to take the next step. The progression as I have seen it usually goes something like this:
-person graduated HS and wants to take a year off for a road trip or something
-person has saved up lots of money, or gotten some sort of scholarship, and definitly gotten into a decent school someplace
-person goes on road trip, spends alot of their college money, becomes used to not being in school, likes it
-person thinks about going to college, but the college they were accepted to no longer wants them, their money is all-but-spent, and they generally get rather complacent about the whole affair. nothing is easier than doing nothing you know.
anyhow, I would say 9 out of 10 people I've known who've decided to "take a year off of school" have wound up never going back to school. if you're gonna entertain that notion, be careful. don't trade education for experience. education makes experience so much more valuable.
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maculated
Jul 31, 2003, 9:41 PM
Post #28 of 40
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I heartily support goin' to college and seeing if it is for you. If you dig it, or think enough of it, then great. Then you can dirtbag all you want. I know that in my travels, my college education gets me good work, so it is worth it.
Two of my good friends in Mammoth started college but just decided it wasn't for them. They are very happy now, but they tried it out.
People say you don't need to worry about your parents. They are wrong. If you vagabond, your parents will have to pony up from time to time. Fact of life.
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empty
Jul 31, 2003, 11:03 PM
Post #29 of 40
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Wow, the unanimity of responses on going to college surprises me.
And I'm going to agree. Getting a good education is something I've
never regretted and the value, no matter what you end up doing,
is visible daily. While I know it's different for everyone but I think that
it gets harder to go to school as you get older. It's a good transition
into adulthood.
What I'd like to add is SUMMER! Go to college, work part-time, save
the dough and use those summers off to dirtbag. It'll feed your soul and
give you a taste of what you might want to pursue after school. Try
and have it all, education and bumming around.
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bertman
Jul 31, 2003, 11:46 PM
Post #30 of 40
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I feel ya, bro. I have the same dreams.
I once read in a book about a guy who started a printing shop in california right out of high school. saved up his senior year, bought a few xerox machines, and within about 7 or 8 years he had built it into a pretty profitable business. He then got an offer for his company and the building it was in for about $4 million. He accepted, handed over $1 million to each of four different money managers (to diversify a bit) and then sailed off into the clear blue sea, only coming back once a year to check on his portfolio.
This, is my dream. I live in a pretty affluent area, and know some people that have had similar experiences building and then selling their businesses, investing in real estate, etc. and for the people i've talked to it seemed to pay off.
I may not be affluent myself, in fact my parents are on the verge of bankruptcy, but I am only a senior in high school so i have about a year left before officially beginning my own life. I have been reading many business books, and have experimented by starting my own small business with a few friends, and i think i have a pretty good idea of what i'm going to do.
I want to start a business near where I live now, move to a rural area about a half hour away so i can live on very little income, build the business for a few years so I can amass a large sum of money, sell the business, move out to utah or wyoming and start a small mountaineering shop and live off of the rest of the money for the rest of my life, and have the freedom to go anywhere I please, whenever I please, and do whatever I please.
Sorry if I have gone on a tangent about my own dreams, but I thought you might be interested, as you may get some good ideas from it.
Let me say that the best way that I know of, after talking with many affluent people around me, to gain freedom in this respect is through starting a business to bring in lots of income, invest that money in real estate (such as rental properties), and live on the smallest amount of money you can for a few years. Be careful to stay away from get-rich-quick schemes though, because once you start to research real estate or business, you will be flooded with gurus like carleton sheets promising you the moon in one week with outdated methods that may not work.
It is harder than it may seem, as 9 out of 10 businesses fail within 5 years, but if you are persistent, and make wise decisions, then by the time you are 25 you can very easily have the money you are talking about, plus the money to live on $10,000/year for even 10 years without having to worry about being a bus boy.
Before you go out and follow my advice to the tee, however, remember that I am only 17 and speak only from the knowledge that I have gained from talking to people in my area who have been successful. I did not write this out of personal experience.
Sorry if I have taken up so much space in this thread :?
o yea and i still plan on going to college... didnt mean to leave that out ;)
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roaddreamer
Aug 1, 2003, 6:35 AM
Post #31 of 40
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I'm going to try to respond to some questions/points in as comprehensive a manner as I can....obviously it's hard since there are so many posts....thanks for all the responses.
SCUClimber: I am planning to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, where I'll be a walk-on on their team. I got a scholarship (academics) to cover tuition (which is only $1500 per semester), so I have to cover housing, books and food (but I also got two other private $1000 scholarships), hopefully debt won't be much of an issue. Grad school on the other hand....
Keinangst: Thanks, I hadn't thought of health insurance. And I would mostly be in the U.S. where it would be an issue. Could I stay on my parents' health insurance? How long am I allowed to stay on their's? I don't think they'd mind supporting me a little in that way, since they wouldn't want me to break my leg and not be able to see a doctor.
killclimbz: The problem with travelling much during my break is that I'm training pretty heavily for cross country/track year-round. I don't have all that much time to do stuff I want to do this summer (enough, but not as much as I'd like) because I'm running 90+ miles per week, in addition to working a little. If I did this, I would obviously be giving up running, which sucks, but if I go to school, I guess I could still give up running. That's a decision I'll have to make eventually (maybe after my first year, so I know what it will be like)....if I did that I'd have significantly more time to do stuff around Provo Canyon and what not. I don't tend to study all that much, although that might change in order to keep the scholarship.
Also, I have no interest in engineering or medicine, but thanks for the suggestion. I suck at higher-level math and hate science these days.
thrillseeker05: You wrote "Take the time NOW to explore the world and yourself. The idea that we spend our entire lives working so we can be old and retired when our bodies can no longer climb mountains and surf oceans is ass-backwards in my opinion." I agree wholeheartedly, I have often ranted about this myself. But where do you come up with the money to start with? You need an advance loan on your future earnings, you know? Any ideas?
Givemeshorebreak: I could work during the year and go road-tripping/adventuring during the breaks, but I am running and have no time to work (as I said above)....running consumes about 4.5 hrs. per day, not to mention meets w/travel. If I give up running and work part-time at the rock gym or something, I still doubt I could make enough money to buy a truck and a little gear to go for an adventure. Damn I wish my parents would give me the car that I've been driving for a year.
alwaysforward: Believe me, I know that most of the stuff I have thought of has already been written/thought of a long time ago. I don't want to tout my accomplishments/what I've read on the board, but I think I'm more than well-read, for my age. Not to say I am well-read in the grand scheme of things, but for my age, I'd say I'm doing pretty damn well. It's one of the things I enjoy, pride myself on and probably something I'd spend a lot of time doing if I lived a life of freedom as I have laid out. I may be naive, but there have to be new ideas out there. You can't limit humanity like that....reminds me of "The Fountainhead" all the people saying that classical architecture is better than modern architecture, just because it is. They said all the great designs had been done, there was almost no point to designing anything else, just make a cheap knockoff of some classical columns. There is always something new. But maybe that is not the route for me, it is just something that interests me deeply. If nothing else I'll continue reading a lot, shaping my personal philosophy, and continue trying to live my life by it.
PetsFed: It's not that I'm deadset on a vagabond lifestyle. Ideally I would travel in a bit more comfort and eat good food all the time. But I was trying to be realistic with what I could afford and trying to be as cost-efficient as possible. And I think I'll discover more than just the surface of an area. I don't plan on just rolling up to the crag, climbing, getting some food and leaving town. I definitely want to see what nightlife there is, what sunday mornings are like in smaller towns, etc.....I wouldn't be against spending 2-3 months or more in one small town, just doing whatever. Also, about the money issue....$7000 yearly works out to $134 a week to live on. I don't have my paper that I wrote this out on handy, but I figured in gas, food, possible truck/gear repairs, and a couple other things (no health insurance....didn't think of it). But I won't be driving 7 days a week. Maybe 1 in 7, so it shouldn't be all that bad. I'll stay in one spot for awhile, and if I'm busy on a long hiking/backpacking or kayaking trip, I could be out on my own away from my truck for multiple weeks. I really do think $7000 is sufficient per year, assuming no other costs jump up (like health insurance). That's what I'm looking for, people to point out flaws, so I can correct them, and for people to point out places I can save money (like vegetable oil-powered cars....I've heard of them but know nothing about them.....do you pay for the vegetable oil, how much does the conversion cost, what kind of gas mileage, can you drive like normal??) As for companionship....I have actually entertained notions of getting a dog (I was always more of a cat person, but a dog seems more practical in this case)....aside from that, I know I would be visiting friends a lot, family some (not as much though hopefully), and hopefully meeting some new people. Some of my friends have said they'd want to come out for a few weeks maybe, so that would be cool, although it's doubtful that many will actually follow through. I would also assume I'd meet some people on here and other internet forums or through local gear shops who would want to conquer a specific few climbs, or visit a certain area, or kayak a certain river, etc. They would all be brief things most likely, although who knows, maybe I'd eventually find someone who wanted to hang with me permanently.
Soma: You wrote "The worst thing I could think of in life is to regret not following a dream." I agree, again wholeheartedly, that's why I'm really considering this.
gumbieclimber: I'll keep you posted, we may have to meet up somewhere.
sroehlk: You wrote "You've received some great advice so far! You're already slated to go out to Utah for college - stick with that plan. I had a great time in college and now have my 4-year degree that no one can take away. Once you get to college think of all the people you'll meet, interesting classes, trips, organizations, the list really goes on and on."
Perhaps that is one of the problems, I'm not really excited about my school. I got into some better schools than BYU (specifically William and Mary, and Pomona College...among a few others), but none were as cheap as BYU. My sisters all went to BYU and live out there. BYU worked out to about $3500 a year after my scholarships/grant, whereas Pomona was $8000 a year, and W&M was something like $22,000 a year. So from a financial standpoint there was no decision. I'm not excited about a lot of the people there....don't know how familiar you all are with BYU and mormonism, my family is mormon but I realized in the last year that I don't buy into it. NOt to knock it, I just don't think its right. I haven't found anything else that fits my fancy religiously or philosophically yet. For this reason I'm worried about going there and meeting people that I will click with. I don't want to continue living this fake life that I currently lead on sundays, where I pretend I still buy into it and that I'm a good mormon kid, but I'll have to out there. On top of that, 5 days ago my mom told me that her and my dad were moving out to Utah in October, probably within 30 minutes of campus. I can't stand my mom anymore...I love her, but she just won't leave me alone, and I couldn't wait to get away from her. By the way I live in MD, so it was going to be a long way away. But now they'll be close, along with the rest of my family, who in general just piss me off to no end. So maybe that is the reason why I want to pack up and leave. Or I could just stay here with my current friends, although I know everyone says that your high school friendships will not last....that they'll fade (much as I will hate it). I am considering transferring to Pomona in the spring, to get away from my family/mormonism, but they have a not-so-good track team, and its a bit more expensive. I could give up running, but I hate to ask my parents for any more school help when they've put 5 kids through school, and I'd be passing up a scholarship, just to get away from them (and go to a better school). Plus I don't know what reason I'd give them....I can't really say that I just couldn't bear the thought of being that close to my mom for another 4 years (my dad's out of the country a lot, I like him quite a bit, he kind of subtly hinted I shouldn't go to BYU, because he values education---hence the push for Pomona or W&M----but my mom doesn't care, she just wants me to be a good mormon boy). I hope my frustration isn't too, too obvious.
maculated: You wrote "I heartily support goin' to college and seeing if it is for you." I definitely think college is for me, and I think I'll like it, just maybe not at the school I'm going to be at (see just above your name for my rant). I also don't want to use a lot of time and money on a degree if I'm never going to "use" it....I could learn just as much or more possibly with a little less time spent at the local libraries.
bertman: Thanks for the business advice, I have thought about trying to save money and start investing heavily now, so that when I finish grad school I'll have enough to take off for awhile or something along those lines. But then the issue of paying for school kind of does away with that. We'll see. I guess it all kind of hinges on whether I want to keep running, since if I quit I can get a part-time job to fund school/trips and I'll have more time in school to do other stuff.
SCUClimber....do you regret giving up running? I think I will, although right now I don't really care all that much. It's been the one constant in my life for the last 2+ years, and I think I'll end up regretting it. I don't want to try to get back into it 3 years from now and struggle back to where I am today fitness-wise, so I want to make it a clean break and never look back....hence the reason why I want to train hard for a long time, know that I got every ounce of potential out of myself, and retire from the sport to other things without any regret/worry. But that may take ahwile. Do you regret quitting running? By the way I'm not as fast as you were in high school....I ran 4:33 and 9:39 this year....I am training hard as hell right now though....90+ miles per week most of this summer,...that probably has something to do with why I'm tired of it.
Also.....any suggestions on living cheaper would be appreciated, whether I go or not, since some day I'll probably use them. Stuff like eating in soup kitchens occasionally, using veggie power for car, etc.
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scuclimber
Aug 1, 2003, 8:39 AM
Post #32 of 40
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You shoulda gone to Pomona man... :wink: I have a friend who goes there and loves it. That school is ranked by Princeton Review to have the "happiest students" in the country. I was dead set on going to Claremont-McKenna for a while... they gave me $33,000 a year, all told. Incidentally, Claremont's track team is good. They're one of the top D. III teams in the country if I remember right. California rules.
Yeah, giving up running was the hardest decision I've ever made in my life. I kinda had a love-hate relationship with XC. I miss running every day. I've been meaning to start running a bit just for kicks, but I'm lazy. I'm pretty sure I'm going to Grad school, hopefully Georgetown or NYU. You may know that GT has the number one international relations school in the country. I'm gunning for that. I just found out that it's a Jesuit school as well and Santa Clara is a Jesuit school, so hopefully I'll get a leg up from that. In response to the religosity (is that a word? :wink: ) of BYU... I go to SCU, but I'm not a Roman Catholic. I know BYU is different, but you can get by if you wanted to. I have a non-Mormon adult friend that went there because his best friend was Mormon and he was an avid skiier. He dropped out after his sophomore year, but loved his time there.
I think you'll have to make a choice between running and having a life. Running at the Division I level is a whole new world, believe me. You may love it, or you may hate it, but I knew I had to make a choice. I still have three years of eligibility left though... do you know how good the Georgetown track team is? Being that you're from MD, I thought you might know.
Anyway, I'm sticking to my advice about going to school. Even after all you've said about BYU and your family and religious reservations. Going to a "public library" and reading to learn is not the same as going to college. And about the loans and staying away from them. If you go to a good school and your parents aren't loaded, you either have to take them out, or work your ass off. You can't do XC and track and work at the same time, that's another reason I quit, so I could work to help pay for my education. If we had a track team I could be on scholarship damnit!!! (I'm a little bitter about this, can't you tell?) SCU's combined tuition and fees this year comes out to about $38k... ouch. I'm hopefully gonna do some clerical work at a law firm my friend works at... $10 an hour, but it's in the right field of study and would look good on a Grad school app. I went to SCU for the academics though. I'm in the honors program and most of my classes have <15 students in them. And my profs are fantastic. I'd say you should transfer to Pomona ASAP just for that reason. Having good profs makes or breaks a class and the better a school is, the better the profs are b/c the higher tuition of private schools pays their salaries. My advisor in the Poli Sci department helped negotiate the SALT II treaty with the Soviets back in the '80s. Next year I'm taking Leon Panetta's class. He comes to teach at SCU during the Fall Quarter, the rest of the time he lives in D.C. He was Clinton's Chief-of-Staff, by the way. Those are the kind of people you'd be learning from if you went to a good school. And from what I can tell about you from this posting, that would be really exciting to you.
Anyway, good luck man. And keep me posted on your thoughts, I'm very interested.
Colin
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scuclimber
Aug 1, 2003, 8:48 AM
Post #33 of 40
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In response to the part about "getting every ounce of potential": I know I can run faster than 1:55and 4:20. With college-training and maturity, I think I could run 1:50 and 4:10 or better. I haven't gotten to do that yet (I'm getting nostalgic as I type this). But I'm serious about running in grad school. Right now there are just too many other things to do. Working, partying (not that you'd be partying much at BYU :wink: ), climbing, snowboarding, skiing, surfing, singing in the school choir, being involved in clubs. There are so many exciting things to do at SCU that running has taken the back seat. Running was my life all four years of high school. I was always training, always. I never got to do anything else. When I got to college and saw all the cool things to do... I suffered through the season man. I couldn't wait for November 16th... the date of the NCAA West Regionals, our last meet. I drove home that day, after the races... and went up to the ski hill the next. I didn't go home all fall. Or do much else besides run and study. It sucked. So anyway, running is on hold for now until I try a bunch of other stuff, then I'm hoping to go back to it. That's my plan. We'll see about yours. :D
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wing_cutter
Aug 1, 2003, 4:06 PM
Post #34 of 40
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My grandfather used to always say "maturity about ones responsibilities is true freedom". Of course if someone deems himself free of responsibilities....
I once had the idea of being a waiter and traveling the world working in little cafes here and there and just experiencing the "world". Then I decided to go to college where I took economics and now I am in business, have matured, see the realities of this world and have come to the realization that "freedom" comes in many forms.
You may feel free traveling the country in a van...
Then again your friend who goes to college and becomes financially stable will feel free with he is 50 years old (or perhaps younger!) when his house is paid off, he no longer has to work, has a small cottage with a boat and can travel the world in moderate comfort....
Of course some consider true freedom the idea of having lived a life striving to make the best decisions with the choices and opportunities ones life presents. I know too many people who have major regrets about past decisions... truly they are not free.
I don't wish to tell you how to think or what to do but I do feel fine with the bit of advise to not sacrifice your future for the present.
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roaddreamer
Aug 1, 2003, 4:27 PM
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SCUClimber: Yeah I'm really regretting not going to Pomona. It's a small school and it cost a bit more, but I can't believe I decided against it. Do you know the policy for transferring after one semester? I assume it will be a lot easier since I was already accepted for Fall 2003 to get in for Spring 2004, is that true? I knew Pomona's team was good on a div. III level, but I was told I would make varsity freshman year, and I didn't want to be the clear-cut #1 by my junior year. I experienced that in high school, and I'm tired of it. I was hoping to be on a team where I was surrounded, even in my senior year, by guys around my same ability level.
By the way, Georgetown's track team is awesome....they were 16th I believe in NCAA cross this year, and they've got all-americans in the 800 and I believe the 1500. More importantly, they welcome post-collegiates to train with them for track workouts. I have a friend who has run 13:40's for 5K who is like 25, went to James Madison, but asked the GTown coach if he could run their track workouts with them, and he said they have a huge group who does. So you'll be in good hands there. By the way, go to GTown, not NYU, the opportunities for internship/job applications here are much greater considering its 12 blocks from Federal Triangle. I applied to Gtown, got wait-listed then denied, so I know a lot about the school.
wing_cutter: That's true, there are many different forms of freedom. You sound like my Dad or my economics teacher.....which is not an insult. My Dad is very concerned about his kids having economic freedom, that's why when I told him I wanted to study poli sci (and my sisters majored in elementary education, and other such stuff) he didn't like it....he wanted me to be an investment banker. But he's still cool about stuff like this a little bit. Anyway, the freedom I really miss is quite simply a no-obligation lifestyle. I don't need to be free to buy tons of stuff (although it would be nice) like someone could who has complete financial freedom. But I do want to be able to pack up, move around, and generally know that I can leave and not worry about anything for awhile because there is no job, family, kids, church, or other obligations that I must attend to.
To Everyone Else: As of now I am definitely leaning toward going to school. If I stay at BYU, and continue running, I've already figured out that I can take a day-long or even overnight trip every other week. I have every other saturday off from running, so I could pack up friday night, leave, and not come home until sunday morning if I wanted, every other weekend. Aside from that, my classes are scheduled so that I can probably go to the rock gym or some other thing like that twice a week. Maybe I can get a job at the rock gym those nights, so I won't have to pay for access. Or maybe I'll get a job in an outdoors store for the discounts. We'll see. As of now that's not sounding too bad, with my parents so close I'll be able to borrow the car every other weekend to head out someplace. However, I am definitely considering transferring to Pomona College (or even possibly William & Mary...although the price tag makes me think that is doubtful)....a few questions about that:
1. Do I have to re-apply (i.e. rewrite essays, fill out the same forms??) or, because I was already accepted once, can I just get in for spring 2004?
2. More importantly, what reasoning should I provide my parents for wanting to transfer? I feel bad saying that it's because they're so close, as well as that I don't like the mormon atmosphere (they don't know about my realization that I don't believe in mormonism....I'd like to keep it that way for awhile at least).....maybe I just need to flat out tell them that. Any great programs at Pomona that I could say I just had to get into....worthy of a transfer? Anyways, thanks for all the feedback, it's not exactly what I expected (the vast majority telling me to go to college).....but I appreciate it.
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bertman
Aug 1, 2003, 4:35 PM
Post #36 of 40
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Registered: Jul 17, 2003
Posts: 184
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there is a saying, i dont know who said it, but it goes "Later in life, you will regret the things you didnt do more than the ones you did"
With that in mind, I say go to college, because you will most likely regret it someday if you dont. Then follow your dream. The last thing I would want is to be on my deathbed at age 80 knowing that I lived the same life that the average joe did, without doing something extroardinary, without following my dreams. A life spent in the rat race to me is not a life worth living, and I can tell you are the same way. Go to college, keep your options open in case you change your mind, and then follow your dreams with no regrets.
I am not speaking about any particular replies in this thread, but when older people tell you their view on life, that is just what it is... their view. They may be 40 with wife/kids/job, and have "matured" to the point where they believe your idea is foolish, but that may be because they lived years of their life in an opposite way of life, and never knew the other point of view. So what i am saying is when someone says that your idea is foolish or cant be done, look at their point of view before following advice.
Once again, I am only 17, and thus have not had experience in the real world as of yet, so i may be completely wrong, but that is just my opinion
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killclimbz
Aug 1, 2003, 4:57 PM
Post #37 of 40
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Registered: May 6, 2000
Posts: 1964
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I think everyone agrees with "following your dream " on this thread, but are also recommending that you give college a try. If you are running as much as you do how do you plan to make ends meet when you are on the road? There are going to have to be long periods where you work a lot and don't get to do much else. Working the amount of running you like to do in the equation sounds unrealistic to me. That's kewl if you are not scientifically or mathematically minded. They were just suggestions on fields that allow you a great amount of freedom. Writing can do that for you too. If that is a strong skill you have go to college and develope it as much as you can. If you are successful you can definitely make a living out of it. If you are lucking and talented enough you can do much more. Being in college will probably allow you the time to get the running in you want to boot.
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estherator
Aug 1, 2003, 5:55 PM
Post #38 of 40
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Registered: Aug 7, 2002
Posts: 526
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Okay, first I'd like to respond to the school thing. Don't be in a big hurry unless you are 100 percent sure that the degree you are pursuing is the one you want, ESPECIALLY if you will have to take out any loans to complete it. It will chain you down. And most at 18 are not positive how they really want to spend the rest of their life. You go through a lot of changes in priorities and in interests as you strike out on your own and really begin to discover who you are and what you are made of. School will always be there when you decide you want it, as will a career. Student loans are relatively easy to get after you reach a certain age. (25 or 27 was the magic number as I recall)
As far as making money goes, and spending it:
1. The H&R Block course is offered every autumn. If you become a certified tax preparer, you can make your own hours (say three 10-hr days, eg) It pays $10/hr, but you get a fat enough bonus at the end of the season that, if you budget well, oyu should be able to live on for the remaining 9 months of the year. (And yes, you can use you certification anywhere in the country)
2. Plan on staying in one area for a while, and exploring that area. If you are in one or two locales per season, you'll spend alot less on travel than if you are constantly state-hopping. Chase the seasons.
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millie4690
Aug 1, 2003, 6:55 PM
Post #39 of 40
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Registered: Sep 29, 2002
Posts: 23
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I didn't read all three pages of replies, but here's what I have to say to your cockamamie scheme...
Live it up, do all you can, all you want, and all your heart desires until your body won't let you anymore. I'm 21, 2 years away from getting my secondary ed. certificate, and I'm heading west in September. My plans are still pretty sketchy, but I'm pretty set on Montana for winter and Bishop in the spring of 2004. As of today, I have a car that's in dire need of a total make-over (inside and out), and all of $250 saved up, until I have to pay my car insurance bill.
If I were thinking rationally and logically, I would stay here in lovely, flat, Michigan and finish school, get a job/career and then try to travel on holidays and perhaps a random weekend when I don't have much school work to tend to. But, what I do know for certain is that, while Michigan is a beautiful state and a wonderful place for many people to live and enjoy, it is not the ideal place for me. In 5 weeks, I'm going to pack whatever I can fit into my car, say some good byes and go where ever I want to for how ever long I want to stay to do what ever I want to do (within reason, of course). As for possible jobs I can do, I'm able to wait tables, play/teach a bit of African drum and dance, and I'm learning as much as I can about construction work until I leave.
My advice is to follow your heart. Even though my head is telling me that the "smart," safe thing to do is to stay here in Michigan and finish school and all that jazz, I know in my heart that I will not and will never be happy if I stay here, knowing that I could have left. I also know that I have a family and a group of fantastic friends that will take me in if things do not go as good as I hope they might. What ever happens, I know it will be one hell of an adventure, and I will have a blast no matter what.
What ever happens is what is supposed to happen. Where ever I end up is where I am supposed to be.
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scuclimber
Aug 2, 2003, 7:26 AM
Post #40 of 40
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Registered: Jun 30, 2003
Posts: 1007
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About the transferring thing... I put in a transfer app to UC Davis last year. Even though I love SCU, my (now ex) GF and I were desperate to go to school together. Anyway, I know with UCs if they accept you as a freshman, then you are accepted for a certain amount of time afterwards, so I got in automatically (not like I wouldn't get in anyway). However, it may be different with Pomona. When my ex called SCU's FinAid and admissions offices to see about transferring, they wouldn't give her as much aid anymore because she didn't take their initial offer. If I was you, I would call admissions at Pomona and tell them your predicament and ask what their transfer policy is. I doubt you'd be able to transfer in after just one semester. You'd probably be able to after a year. But all schools are different with their policies about that stuff, the only way to be sure is to call them. I'd say call over email.
I checked out GTown's track site last night... they had a couple guys run 1:48 in the 800... dang. I was thinking about this earlier today... you're running 90+ miles per week right now? You're just asking for injury. The seniors on the SCU team were training that hard and they were plagued by injuries. Be smart about it. Did the BYU coach tell you to run that kind of mileage? I peaked at around 60-65 and I ran a 26:15 8k at Stanford in October. You don't need that kind of mileage as a freshman.
In regards to going to Pomona... don't let your mom hold you back. Go wherever you want to and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. She might be pissed for a while, but she loves you and eventually she'll understand. Pomona College is awesome. The location is great for climbing. The best SoCal crags are nearby, or so I here. Joshua Tree isn't too far. And you're out of the congestion of LA... you just have to deal with the poor air quality. Big Bear and skiing is only an hour away, more or less. I'd say go for it man. I can't even stress enough what a good experience you'd find there. Is it still ranked 10th in the country for small liberal arts schools? Anyway, I'd highly suggest calling them soon, even if you're not sure what you want yet, just to know what your options are in that direction. Btw, just out of curiosity... are you an Eagle Scout? I figured that growing up in a Mormon family, you must have been a Boy Scout. And you're interested in outdoor recreation, so it would fit perfectly. I got my award my sophomore year, before life started getting crazy with so much stuff to do. Anyway, keep posted on your thoughts.
Colin
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