Military Life
What is it?
A career in the army, navy or air force. You can join the military at any time after you turn 18. You can join the military right out of high school or you can choose to join after college or university. ROTC (Registered Officer Training Program) is a tuition program in which the military will pay your way through college or university and in return you engage in limited military service while in school and full time service after graduation for a predetermined period of time.
Is it right for you?
This is for you if you thrive in a strict and structured environment, like helping people, have a sense of adventure and want to travel. ROTC is also a great way to pay for university and ensure that you will have a job immediately after graduation.
Military life is not for everyone. Military service often puts you in high-risk situations and your life is often in danger even if you are not in a war zone. Depending on what type of service you choose even training can carry life-or-limb risks. Also, it is common for military service people to engage in peacekeeping missions that are anything but peaceful.
Whether you are deployed to a recognized war zone like the Middle East or are sent on a peacekeeping mission a military career carries unusual risks. It also has incredible benefits. You get to see the world because military life involves travel. You get to see places in the world that many people do not ever get to see and in ways that most people can’t imagine. You get to help people in some of the most crisis-laden places on earth. You also get to learn crazy-fun skills that can’t be learned anywhere else without you having to pay for it like; skydiving, scuba diving, piloting aircraft, driving heavy armored equipment, target shooting, to name a few. You don’t just work in the military, it is a way of life. As the commercials state, it really is the toughest job you will ever love.
A Word to the Wise
Like public service, a military career is not for the faint of heart. In many ways service men and women are the police of the world. You put your life at risk when you are sent on deployment and depending on the type of military career you pursue your life can be put on the line during training as well. You will see some incredible things and there is a very real chance that you will see some terrible things as well. A military career is not an easy one on body, mind or soul.
Straight to Work
What is it?
You get a job right out of high school or you continue doing a job you had while in school, maybe moving to a full time position instead of a part time one.
Is it right for you?
This is for you if you want to work to save for school, are not sure what you want to do with your life yet and need to keep busy while you sort it out, or if you have already have a job with growth opportunities that could make it a great life-long career. A career has three key components that a job does not; it offers room to grow and advance, it has increasing earning potential as time goes on and you gain experience, and it is something you take personal pride and satisfaction in doing. A job just pays the bills. If you are lucky enough to get on a real career path right out of high school that is great but if you are just a taking a job so that have something to do and as a way to earn some cash you may come to regret it.
People opt to work right out of school for a variety of reasons and for many people it is a good temporary choice but unless your job offers room for advancement it is not a career choice, it is just something to do. The only danger in choosing to work after school rather than seek specialized training is that you run the risk of waking up one day in a dead end job. Let’s put it this way; that job at the fast food joint may have been great while you were in high school and it may give you spending money while you live at home but it is not a solid career choice and is unlikely to offer you many opportunities for advancement. While it is a great short term thing to do while you plan your future if it is all you ever do you may become dissatisfied.
A Word to the Wise
While there is nothing wrong with jumping right in to the workforce after high school be weary of accepting just any old job in order to bring home a paycheck. While you are still young you have so many opportunities to take advantage of that working in a dead end job or accepting a seemingly high paying position with no future is simply a waste. This is your life; make the best of it.
More Choices
University, College or Career Training
Trade School or Public Service