I need some life advice

[ttmadness]

Hey guys, I'm a pretty long time (4 years) browser of KB and make the odd post now and then.

Reflecting back, it seems this forum has come a long way from a message board for organising illegal activity and promoting street hooning to a more sensible place, or a place that's at least aware of the behaviors and perceptions people have towards motorcycling. Reading through the off topic section in these couple of years I've come across a variety of life related topics; people asking for help, people contemplating career changes, people dealing with divorce and bike theft, personal loss and catastrophe etc. Well it looks like it's my turn now and I am writing here because I do not know many experienced people well enough or places to go that can provide me with a bit of advice and insight. Perhaps I am just writing this to answer my own questions; anyway without further ado, here's my issue...

I'm 21, have no idea what to do with my life now. I feel if I don't do something I'll be caught in a downwards spiral.

In school I stayed through for 7th form with the intention of going to the NZ Air Force but near the end I met a girl who it turns out I've now been with for 4 years. Due to this I turned down moving out of Auckland with the air force and decided to stay here and see how things turned out... ''hey only 18, plenty of time to fuck about right?'' I went out job hunting and landed a job almost straight away in DSE, worked it for a year then changed to a job in security monitoring and customer service. Paid board to my parents and still had plenty of money to ball around.

I did well in school with foreign languages and so decided to attend uni to persue a career teaching Mandarin, which was always the most interesting subject in school for me. I figured this way I could stay with my girlfriend and further the relationship. As it turned out, I did very well and ended up competing over there for New Zealand in the university world finals, went on TV and all kinds of jazz. Got a scholarship to study over there so I stayed for a further 7 months or so. We both got through being apart and keeping a relationship, though it was a lot easier for me as I was busy teaching English in the Uni, doing various translation work and generally living it up- travelling everywhere, having adventure left right and center. However, in the end I learnt I couldn't see myself being a teacher forever. Now I'm at 21, and thinking ''hey there's really not so much time to fuck about now.''

I came back struggling for motivation to finish my studies, knowing it wasn't going to take me where I really wanted. I would definitely need more qualifications in order to gain any viable options for work in that field. Still, I have no regrets with what I've done as I have many priceless memories and a skill that while not employable on it's own, is used all the time and will stay with me for life.

I love machines (namely bikes of course!), reading about the design of them, the performance engineering and physics behind tyres and suspension. Tweaking, modifying and observing change- things I can't get enough.

My dad is a senior QS overseas but has never been enthusiastic about me going down that route. Even though it's a respectable income I don't think he particularly enjoys it anyway. Would anyone recommend it?

Studying engineering? I'm not sure if engineering can really provide a line of work accomodating these interests in New Zealand. I reckon the motivation would need to be very high to complete such an intense degree and I think there would need to be a specific goal aimed for. I do fear of becoming a uni drone in that factory learning environment I'll also add.

Do an apprenticeship and become a mechanic? While it seems all fun and games now, I hear about people saying it's a different story when 20 years later you've hit a roof and are still repairing some person's old clapped out rust bucket wishing you were designing the things instead.

Become a welder or other tradesman?

What would you do again if you were my age?

I am from the UK and have seen quite a bit of the world. I don't want to bum around... I feel I am privileged to live here in NZ and wish to do contribute and do my part for the country, become a respectable member of society. The place is everything I could ever wish for and don't want to live anywhere else. I'm still actively trying to rid out the last remnants of my accent and become a true kiwi!

If anyone can relate and possibly share some experience and stories that would be great for me. Christ I realise i've just typed up my entire life story. Really sorry about this fucking long drama and I know it could have been a lot shorter. Oh well, no harm to ask right?

[PrincessBandit]

Interesting to see your perspective on how the site has changed over the years. I think it's great that members here share way more than simply motorbike stuff and many do seem to be genuinely sympathetic and helpful to those in need.
I'm sure there will be plenty of advice offered (and probably some piss taking along the way, 'cos there are some here who just can't help themselves); but on the whole you are bound to get something helpful out of responses to your post. (Sorry, I can't offer any...)

[Usarka]

I've always thought that 16-22 is too young to work out what you want to do with your life. A good question is to ask yourself - what will I regret not doing?

[Quasi]

wow - for one so young, you already seem to have such a level head on your shoulders and some great insight. why the hell you are asking us for advise beats me
but - you are young - the world is yours, you have so many opportunities ahead of you. I sense that you probably have some inkling of where your direction lies and just need some affirmation that you are heading in the right direction, on the right path. Languages - this is an incredible gift to have. Perhaps this is where your future lies.
Regardless - all the best for whatever you choose

[Fatt Max]

I've always thought that 16-22 is too young to work out what you want to do with your life. A good question is to ask yourself - what will I regret not doing?

That would be my angle mate. I have these regrets and to be honest they haunt me (I'm in my 40's now, fuck that eh).

I say, look at your life, see what you would kick yourself for not doing then go do that. You will make mistakes along the way, you will balls things up, you will thinlk 'Oh fo fuck sake, I am such a twat' but all of that is nothing to be afraid of.

Because at the same time you will do amazing things and rack up some life experinces that only you could have done. Dont get hung up on 'where is my life going' thoughts, instead, work on the 'Im glad my life has been there'.

I am from the UK, have been in this country for 14 years. The decision to emigrate was made easier cos my wife is a kiwi but believe me, the decision was made with a lot of trepadation. But, I went on the basis that if I didnt I would never know.

Good luck mate and keep it steady

[SMOKEU]

I'm the same age as the OP and I have no idea what I'm going to do with life. Take your time and really think about it - don't just jump into a course because the money and job prospects seem good. I did exactly that, twice and have nothing to show for it because the bullshit courses I did had few prospects, looking back on things. You could sign up for an temp agency and get a different job through them every couple of weeks. This will give you a lot of exposure to the job markets and will give you an idea as to what you want to do, and what you don't want to do. You're still young and have the rest of your life to figure out what you want to do.

[ttmadness]

don't just jump into a course because the money and job prospects seem good. I did exactly that, twice and have nothing to show for it because the bullshit courses I did had few prospects, looking back on things.

It's exactly that which makes me hesitate big time submitting myself to the factory tertiary environment. Hard to see the prospects of it sometimes... engineering is surely not in that group though.

[ellipsis]

I've always thought that 16-22 is too young to work out what you want to do with your life. A good question is to ask yourself - what will I regret not doing?

....thats a cool post...worth getting to grips with...the worlds a hard old slippery place..but a real playground...depends what the game you choose is...early to bed early to rise...the only definite, is a pine box...

[Pussy]

Do NZCE.
I reckon it would be a rewarding career

[Edbear]

wow - for one so young, you already seem to have such a level head on your shoulders and some great insight. why the hell you are asking us for advise beats me
but - you are young - the world is yours, you have so many opportunities ahead of you. I sense that you probably have some inkling of where your direction lies and just need some affirmation that you are heading in the right direction, on the right path. Languages - this is an incredible gift to have. Perhaps this is where your future lies.
Regardless - all the best for whatever you choose

I agree, especially knowing Chinese Mandarin which is more widely spoken than Cantonese. As a short term job while you explore openings, call centers and customer service businesses like the Telco's, banks, insurance companies, etc are always looking for foreign language speakers. You could also approach Multi-national companies and offer your services.

Check with employment agencies like Madison, and surf Seek for vacancies requiring Mandarin speakers.

[ttmadness]

Do NZCE.
I reckon it would be a rewarding career

I've heard of 150- 200k salary in NZ with civil. I won't get far driven by money though, I know that for a fact.

Originally Posted by Quasi
wow - for one so young, you already seem to have such a level head on your shoulders and some great insight. why the hell you are asking us for advise beats me
but - you are young - the world is yours, you have so many opportunities ahead of you. I sense that you probably have some inkling of where your direction lies and just need some affirmation that you are heading in the right direction, on the right path. Languages - this is an incredible gift to have. Perhaps this is where your future lies.
Regardless - all the best for whatever you chooseI agree, especially knowing Chinese Mandarin which is more widely spoken than Cantonese. As a short term job while you explore openings, call centers and customer service businesses like the Telco's, banks, insurance companies, etc are always looking for foreign language speakers. You could also approach Multi-national companies and offer your services.

Check with employment agencies like Madison, and surf Seek for vacancies requiring Mandarin speakers.

Cheers mate, I don't know if you live in Auckland or not, but the amount of Chinese here is unreal... I wouldn't be offering any advantage to an employere with towering piles of CV's from asians with perfect spoken english.

[Dave Lobster]

Is the RAF not an option any more?

[skinman]

From an ex trademans point of view (cabinetmaker). Most people seem to do an apprenticeship in whatever as a default thing to do till they work out what they really want to be however end up staying in the trade till they get near the top of the ladder and realise there is not much scope for change or advancement in what ever field they are in at which point retraining is the only option.
This is hard as by then you probably have a wife, house etc and are used to earning a reasonable income.
Being in a trade is fine until your older and it gets hard to lift heavy stuff and crawl into small spaces.
A bike mechanic is probably a trade that you could do till retirement but you would have to be sure that it will keep you happy for that long. I guess moving towards bike customising or development could be interesting but it probably would be quite easy to end up just being a grease monkey.
Qualifications are never a bad thing to have as they do give options later.
Is there some kind of mechanical engineering degree as that may serve as a way in to engine design/development?
In the end what you decide has to be your choice but try to think ahead as to where your choice can lead. If in doubt stay at school and finish a course.

[Smifffy]

First up - a couple of cliches:

- "Some of the most interesting people I know still don't know what they want to do with their lives at 40"

- "The world is your oyster"

If you could be doing anything in the world at age 40-45, what would it be? Anything at all, no ifs, buts or downsides. What would you do? Then take the 1st step to getting there.

As you have already found out the best laid plans for careers can easily be derailed. Don't worry about potential derailments, follow your dreams and if you want them bad enough you will achieve them, otherwise you may discover something more interesting along the way (cf girls Vs airforce.)

Some things you could consider:

The police force - sounds like you're a well rounded guy they could do with, with some good life experience already.

Law - The language affinity could be helpful - you might even be able to do this and the above one at the same time.

Keep doing many and varied things and join the territorials or the navy reserve for a bit of a lark and to "give something to NZ" if that's your thing.

There are plenty of opportunities for good professional engineers in NZ.

In answer to your last question, if I was doing it all again, I think I'd study geology.

Good Luck!!

[scissorhands]

Shame you need to be in Aucks, I would have said go to West Oz for the mining and $$$150k year then see the world for a year.

Mechanics can make good money. Someone bright and energetic can make $2k a week just selling shit at the markets. You dont NEED a career to be financial. I could earn 2k week as a sparkie

If you want to design bikes, you will need a workshop, and some autism would help too