The "Try Something Else" philosophy.

[bentstrider]

When will people learn that you can't always run from a daunting task?

Seems like anytime I talk with other drivers about getting on with a larger carrier, they laugh and say, "Do something else kid, go back to school."

I look into their suggestion and go to the local, community college over here to get some info in regards to the A/S in Nursing.

Right away, the counselors pretty much do the same thing, tell me the horrors of how many classes you got to take, you can't work full time/if you choose not to get financial aid you're screwed on grades, are you really up to this?., etc

Then they offer up some smaller, certification course that will most likely have a potential employer telling me I've got to have a B/S for the job and tell me to "try something else" again.

I don't know about everyone else, but this tired philosophy will probably end up getting me cell-time if it doesn't stop, or at least reduce itself.

[Uturn2001]

There are quite a few careers that require a very high level of determination and dedication to be even remotely successful at,and there are others where the pay is often not equal to the effort or sacrifices made.

Medical professions fall into the first, trucking often into the latter.

In addition to the dedication and determination it takes to get through schooling for nursing, physical therapy, etc there are a very finite spaces available every year in these courses and the failure rate is very high through either students simply quitting or due to poor grades. For these, and other reasons, school counselors tend to paint a tough picture of what it will take to get in and graduate in order to try to weed out those who do not have what it takes from the word go.

[BlooMoose]

Don't listen to anyone regarding your future. Figure out what it is you really want to do, then do what it takes to do it. Nobody else can tell you what you're up to doing. You can be honest with yourself. My opinion of what they might be saying is..."there is a waiting list to get into nursing school (I might be speaking out of turn here...but there is a waiting list here and in a lot of other big areas that I know if) so we'd like you to apply for financial aid and then enroll in whatever program we offer you...regardless of what program you want to be in."

Nursing is a good field that does require dedication and it is ALWAYS something you can fall back on in the event your "dream" job(s) fall through.

[Uturn2001]

Nursing is a good field that does require dedication and it is ALWAYS something you can fall back on in the event your "dream" job(s) fall through.

My wife is a nursing student, and sadly I have spent more time in hospitals, clinics and doctor's offices in the past few years than anyone has a right to. Between the two I feel that I am well qualified to say that if nursing is not a person's dream job then don't waste your time, the instructor's time, and burden the patients by going into it. Trucking can be a fall back job, but any job that directly impacts people's lives should never be a fall back.

[Windwalker]

Sure, trucking can be a "Fall Back" job... If you fall back on it within six months of leaving it.

Otherwise, you're like a Polock after a "Coffee Break"...
Ya gotta be RE-TRAINED:eek:

[bentstrider]

Only other reason I consider nursing a good field is due to the fact that work could be found almost anywhere.
You could either work in a big city, or a small town in the middle of BFE.

I'm also told "engineering" is a good field, but then I'd be spending too much money repeating math classes to get better at, get too old, then find out that work is only limited to urban areas.
That and too much, "artistic-creativity" seems to be required for that.

Anywho, I'm still only intending on going for the "Associates of Science, Nursing Degree".
People tell me the Bachelor's is more, worthwhile, but I'm 25, and I just want to get to work quicker.
That and management is something I don't feel like being a part of.

Another career-choice I may consider restarting is law-enforcement.
Except if I keep running into the path of liberal-leaning psychological-interviewers(found out the one who failed me for CDCR graduated UC Berkeley), I may just move to a state where crime & punishment is taken more literally for criminals.

On another note, I personally think giving up my CDL because of one accident, would be a bad idea.

[Trukrswyfe]

It doesn't just have to be nursing, you can be a surgical tech, respiratory therapist or even a radiologist. Nursing is a universal job like you said but just know you will do the grunt work, which is playing with people's poo and other bodily fluids that aren't nice.

Think about it, respiratory is primarily the lungs. Sure that includes muccus and blood, but compared to pee and poo it's a cake walk. Nurses have to work into the job, that includes nursing home internship.Can you say Nightmare?:eek:. Just remember that it's not the nursing jobs you see most often that you will get.

If you're young and fit enough, go for First Responder Paramedic. Similar to nursing but at least you get to feel more masculine. I would even do phlebotomy over nursing, it's not just poking people but getting them on the first poke.

[bentstrider]

Sounds okay, but here in California, you're required to get an EMT-Basic certification and work in that capacity for six months before you're even let into the Community College Paramedic program.
Not to mention you've also got to test for another endorsement, the "Emergency Vehicle:Ambulance" endorsement.

The way I look at it, I actually want to stay in driving due to it being a solitary job.
But, the way the Wackonomy is going right now, I'm wondering if I'll have to sacrifice that philosophy to stay afloat.

I've looked into other careers requiring degrees and they all seem to involve working with a team of some sort.

The nursing aspect seemed okay due to the mentioned aspect of jobs in all areas, so despite what you mentioned truckrswyfe, I'd still take the risk and put money towards it.
I mean, if I could easily pick between moving to a big city, or a small town, then that's all I want to hear.
Not to mention smaller town means, a smaller, likeable team of people to work with.

Engineering and other math-related degrees take alot of time, then once you've got the degree, then it seems as though you're stuck with a 10-30 person team and reside in some urban area for the duration of a project.
After that project is done and you're no longer needed there, moving day awaits.

[Jay B]

I've looked into other careers requiring degrees and they all seem to involve working with a team of some sort.

Everything in life involves working with a team to some extent, even driving you are going to have to be able to deal with dispatchers, lumpers, shipping and receiving clerks, fork lift drivers, crane operators. The only way out of that is going to be to hit the powerball and move to the middle of nowhere and even that won't work unless you can be 100% self sufficient, and you really cannot be.

The nursing aspect seemed okay due to the mentioned aspect of jobs in all areas, so despite what you mentioned truckrswyfe, I'd still take the risk and put money towards it.
I mean, if I could easily pick between moving to a big city, or a small town, then that's all I want to hear.
Not to mention smaller town means, a smaller, likeable team of people to work with.

Smaller likeable teams in small town America? Maybe you will find that "small town friendliness" or maybe you will just get treated like an outsider until your family has lived there for 5 generations.

Engineering and other math-related degrees take alot of time, then once you've got the degree, then it seems as though you're stuck with a 10-30 person team and reside in some urban area for the duration of a project.
After that project is done and you're no longer needed there, moving day awaits.

Not sure what kind of engineering you are talking about here, most engineers I know stay with the same company in the same place for years and years and only change jobs by their own choice.

[CaliTrucker]

Nursing in a small town does not mean you will not have a butt load of headaches at the end of the day. My mom has been a nurse (LVN) in a small town in the middle of nowhere in WY for the last 15 or so years. Everything was alright for her until she decided to go for her RN license so she could be in more of a management position. She is almost done with the program and was set to become the Director of Nursing, but some other nurses who have been there longer but have no drive to do anything else, decided to stab her in the back and got her fired, because they didn't want to work under her. Now she is working at a hospital 45 miles away and hates the commute, especially in the winter.

Small towns tend to leave you with few options as far as places of employment, and god forbid you screw up or do something someone doesn't like, within minutes EVERYONE will know about it.

[bentstrider]

I guess if I do decide to bite the bullet and go for an engineering, or other high-math/science degree, I may consider a community-college-to-university that has a student-body that doesn't take the party/political ideals to the classroom.

It seems that every school I've looked at/gone to in California are too full of party-animals/No-War/tree-huggers.

I was actually thinking about checking out the likes of BYU, or some other theologically-linked school.

I'm not LDS myself, but I tend to refrain from the activities that would end up getting you kicked out of their.

As for how I would pay for it, perhaps a mineral-hauling job in the same state it's in.

[fingerlakes]

Engineering is no great thing either unless you want to move to China or India and work for food.

[bentstrider]

Only reason I'm mentioning engineering is because I wanted to become a fighter-pilot back in high school.
But, after I was told my vision was kind of shot, that sort of threw me off the college-prep course and back into the lackluster-category.

I recently looked at requirements for officer-training and most of them do require a Bachelor's and have an age-limit, but the Army Reserve actually has a provision allowing RN's with only an Associates to also be commissioned as 0-1's.

Seeing as how getting an engineering degree by 35 will probably limit me to some suck, civilian, private-company job, I'm getting closer to saying, get the Associates in Nursing, then get commissioned, then work in a MASH Unit.

Like trucking, an Army-Officer nursing position sure sounds a Helluva lot better than sitting in a downtown office and listening to MetroSexual co-workers gossip.

[Trukrswyfe]

You know what Ben,

Your probably never going to lock it down to one profession till you find out what your passion is....

So it's flying? How bad is your vision? Fighter pilots have to have above average vision but you can get your private pilots license with corrective hardware, glasses or contacts. It can be you activity outside or work, or you can arrange to go to aviation school. Crop dusting is something my husband is somewhat interesting. Good play, private sector, and losts of time off to be with the family.

Before you waste your time and money, take some extra time to really decide what your passion is..

example A. I love my family and I want to be able to support them but at the same time I need something, less physical then jobs I was previously qualified for, (reason you don't need to know) So, my passion to support my family at a job that is more suitable to me is my primary motivation.

My secondary is well what interests me.

Following that I want to pick a profession that, like you, is in demand.

Hence the medical field.

Ben,

Do yourself a favor and check out local seminars or speaking engagements that either tell you how to choice something right for yourself,
or show cases a wide variety of occupations. Then stick with it, otherwise you will be propetually learning but never satisfied.

I might have butchered the spelling and grammar but hopefully you could understand me.

[bentstrider]

Well, I always valued not having to be supervised, so that's why I chose trucking.

I'm well aware that nursing and a whole, mess of other careers are designed to the point where there are multiple supervisors watching you every move.

Another point is the fact that I like to travel around the country, but not the world.
Studying other cultures is fine and good, but I don't see myself being the perfect diplomat.

And lastly, I'm unmarried, don't have any kids, and depending how y'all react, I don't ever see it happening due to the fact that many, potential, significant others have been turned off by my boredom.

One other activity I do seem to enjoy and take stabs at is reading old, articles.

I remember looking through a career guide concerning the Archivist-field.

Sounded quite appealing, and there's only one math requirement involved.

Only downside is that this sector isn't growing as fast as the aforementioned, engineering and nursing fields.

Yeah, money shouldn't looked at as a motivator, but I don't want to spend alot of time job-hunting after graduation.

So, I'm going to keep on trying to get on with a larger company as trucking goes.
If I could make that happen before another six months go by, I'll do it for another 2 years clean, then I'll consider myself fulfilled in this arena.

[Trukrswyfe]

Well, I always valued not having to be supervised, so that's why I chose trucking.

I'm well aware that nursing and a whole, mess of other careers are designed to the point where there are multiple supervisors watching you every move.

Another point is the fact that I like to travel around the country, but not the world.
Studying other cultures is fine and good, but I don't see myself being the perfect diplomat.

And lastly, I'm unmarried, don't have any kids, and depending how y'all react, I don't ever see it happening due to the fact that many, potential, significant others have been turned off by my boredom.

Meaning you are boring or other's easily bore you? You could manager an off season campground, peace quiet, no supervisor, just drug runners coming to collect their product..

One other activity I do seem to enjoy and take stabs at is reading old, articles.

I remember looking through a career guide concerning the Archivist-field.

You could be a history detective...... Is there a particular era that interests you more than the rest? Like like the 49's gold rush period. But that isn't all that old.

Sounded quite appealing, and there's only one math requirement involved.

Only downside is that this sector isn't growing as fast as the aforementioned, engineering and nursing fields.

Yeah, money shouldn't looked at as a motivator, but I don't want to spend alot of time job-hunting after graduation.

So, I'm going to keep on trying to get on with a larger company as trucking goes.
If I could make that happen before another six months go by, I'll do it for another 2 years clean, then I'll consider myself fulfilled in this arena.

Well .... you still need a dream even if you truck driving..... Dr. Jones studied artifacts and was a boring old teacher till he put on the hat and his trusty whip.

[bentstrider]

Meaning you are boring or other's easily bore you? You could manager an off season campground, peace quiet, no supervisor, just drug runners coming to collect their product..

You could be a history detective...... Is there a particular era that interests you more than the rest? Like like the 49's gold rush period. But that isn't all that old.


Well .... you still need a dream even if you truck driving..... Dr. Jones studied artifacts and was a boring old teacher till he put on the hat and his trusty whip.

Well, that's a better way of putting things.
Bloomoose gave me a decent, suggestion for a school in New Mexico.
The Department of Corrections out there always seems to need people and doesn't seem to have such a painful, selection process based on some touchy psych.

If the big companies still frown on me for that one accident, I'll take a trip out there, go through all the testing, and hopefully get on as a CO out there.
Then use money from that job to get some credits in for a CS degree or something.

NMT seems to be a pretty, middle-of-the-road school as far as the politics of the students go.
None of that Anti-Gun, Pro-EnvironNut ideals you'd get out of NO-Cal schools.
And all the schools in So-Cal, are too expensive.

So, looks like New Mexico is within my sights for the future.

It's just a matter of when.

[GMAN]

You seem to be uncertain as to what you really want to do with your life. There are personality profile tests you can take which might provide some guidance. Some are available on line and others are available at most colleges at no charge for enrolled students. One is called the "Strong Test." Even if you paid for one of these tests on line it would be worth it to you if it helped to focus your goals. It took my sister 8 years to get her RN. She went to school while working and taking care of her young child. She got her Masters a few years ago and is currently considering getting her doctorate. She earns a very good living. If you go into a profession strictly for the money you will be a very unhappy individual. You need to find something that you will enjoy and go for it. You can work and pay for your college as you go. I worked at least one job the entire time I went to college full time. You can work full time and go to college full time. It isn't easy and I would not recommend it. It would be much better to do one of them part time. There is always a way to work things out if you want them badly enough. It is a matter of prioritizing. Find what you want to do and then formulate a plan to get you to your objectives.

[bentstrider]

Yes, I am uncertain as to what I really want to do.
But, the real fact of the matter is narrowing it down to which career won't get me stressed out to the brink of not wanting to work.

Also, we have to be realistic about the money aspect.
Yes, if you go into something just for the money, then it's kind of wrong.
But, then again, I don't want to be known as that one guy who's surviving off of "residual funds from a job he had six months ago".
To me, relatively steady and stable income/work levels are all I need.
I could easily survive off of $2000/month and be happy.

As for career-searching, the tests may be free, but in order to really find what you want, this involves physically going to the area where the particular job is performed and observe.
Then there's also the whole, school aspect of everything.
Books, classes, and other supplies aren't cheap.
And I would most rather work, than depend on government-aid to pay for school.

Part-time schooling/full-time work may take longer, but after looking into a place like "New Mexico School of Mines/Tech", 132 units for a BS in Civil Engineering would still only take me 6 years if I plugged 25 units/year.
That there alone got me to thinking that it wouldn't be that bad.
At least I could move there, get a trucking job and finish a degree quicker than doing full-time at a California school.

Finally, I'll close off this portion by reiterating the fact that I fully intend to keep my CDL, but would also like to have and maintain some type of other certification/degree as backup.
Pre-req's/math-refreshers included.

[bentstrider]

I talked to the recruiters at Swift and they're well aware of what got me fired from there.
They did tell me to hang in there for another three weeks to get the six months they say I need to get rehired.
But, just in case this goes South, I plan on following the advice of one of the other board-posters in here and start the path to getting a Paramedic/Firefighter certification.

In addition, I'm also going to look towards staying on the law-enforcement path of things by applying in other states(AZ, NM, TX) that seem to be less stringent when it comes to psychiatric testing in their hiring.

I figured if I am forced to change careers due to things not working out for me in this realm of work, I'd rather stick to jobs with a bit of an "edge".

I could go to college and work towards a Bachelors, or higher, but it seems the only careers you get out of any degree is an "office/indoor/no-action job".

I'd rather wait until I'm 50-70 to do that.