Are my parents to strict?

[MossRoad]

I worked for a software development company for many years. I could count on one hand the programmers that actually had a degree in computer science. Things may be changing now, but I have not seen many people actually work in the career they educated themselves for. Take your time and take a second look. Every business and most public services have to deal with budgets, human resources, project management in addition to the technical skill (computer programming, firefighting, law enforcement, emergency medicine) required to carry out their job. Raising cows and farming take quite a bit of business acumen. As an IT manager I was required more and more to get into disciplines I never educated myself for. Maybe someone else can chime in and expand on this thought.

I have an associates degree in TV and radio repair. Who'd have thunk 30 years ago that TVs and radios would no longer be repairable??? I also have an associates degree in industrial electronics. Again, there ain't much left to repair component wise anymore. Fortunately, I took a job at a newspaper right out of school. I know they'll be around for ever.... :laughing:

Soooo,,,, shortly after I joined the newspaper, I was migrated to these newfangled computers because their power supplies and cooling systems constantly need repair....... grrrb! :laughing:

Fortunately, during that time, I learned to support software installation and maintenance because every desk has a computer with software installed and updated on each machine and lots of servers are required in-house to support all those desktops..... until we switch to thin clients, cloud computing and hosted services..... double grrrb! grrrb! :laughing: :laughing:

My point is.... I know virtually no one that is doing exactly what they went to school for 10 years out of school. My job has changed drastically over the last 25 years at the same company. Heck, my job title is changing again in the next couple weeks to systems analyst. Gotta adapt, change or be left behind. :thumbsup:

 

[texasjohn]

Cub, this thread is giving you good insight into the nature of people, in general. Do not take the doubters personally. They can't help it.

There seems to be something in the nature of man which supports cynicism, negativity, conspiracy theories and suspicion. For some people, no amount of facts and information will allow them to reach a realistic, rational conclusion but rather they are confirmed "doubting Thomas's."

Let me give you some examples:
Could moon landings have been faked? Some still think so - CNN
Some people actually believe the earth is flat.
List of conspiracy theories - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I could go on, but why bother. Check the links to see how pervasive this attitude is across any topic or time, historic or modern.

You know you are a real person with true concerns regarding how to best proceed with your own life, given your current situation.
Many TBN'ers believe you as evidenced by a huge number of very carefully written, extensive and insightful replies.
A small number are doubting Thomas's. Always have been. Always will be. This is true of any topic! A small, negative comment is just that: small!

I truly hope that these few do not discourage you from participating in TBN, or worse, give rise to doubt or guilt in yourself.

Your desire to responsibly move from dependence on parental resources toward personal independence, both emotional and financial, is healthy and an experience you have in common with every other TBN member. Many have honestly shared a small portion of their own life story and given you their best advice based on their own life experiences while recognizing your own uniqueness and importance. Expressions of strong encouragement and great confidence in you and your abilities have been forthcoming and numerous. These are not given lightly, but are studied comments with the weight of years of experience and expertise behind them. You can justifiably feel good about these. You would do well to read all these posts multiple times...their wisdom is strong and takes a while to assimilate.

The black cloud of suspicion has darkened a miniscule number of posts. Such comments are easily made, carry no justifying explanation, and can carry forcefully to you only if you let them. A painful part of growing up is deciding which comments to take seriously and which are specious and should carry no impact to you. Self awareness and self confidence are good things...and the foundation of making good decisions...and these forces are strong in you and growing. May these forces remain strong in you throughout the path you are now charting!

Why is everyone starting to think I'm playing people? I'm legit. Everything is real and I've been, and will continue to be 100% honest. I also wanted to apologize for not replying much or not saying much when I reply. I feel bad that I don't. I'm really just taking everything in, everyone's advice and opinions and support. It's gave me a a lot to think about.

 

[Cub124]

Cub, this thread is giving you good insight into the nature of people, in general. Do not take the doubters personally. They can't help it.

There seems to be something in the nature of man which supports cynicism, negativity, conspiracy theories and suspicion. For some people, no amount of facts and information will allow them to reach a realistic, rational conclusion but rather they are confirmed "doubting Thomas's."

Let me give you some examples:
Could moon landings have been faked? Some still think so - CNN
Some people actually believe the earth is flat.
List of conspiracy theories - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I could go on, but why bother.

You know you are a real person with true concerns regarding how to best proceed with your own life, given your current situation.
Many TBN'ers believe you as evidenced by a huge number of very carefully written, extensive and insightful replies.
A small number are doubting Thomas's. Always have been. Always will be. This is true of any topic! A small, negative comment is just that: small!

I truly hope that these few do not discourage you from participating in TBN, or worse, give rise to doubt or guilt in yourself.

Your desire to responsibly move from dependence on parental resources toward personal independence, both emotional and financial, is healthy and an experience you have in common with every other TBN member. Many have honestly shared a small portion of their own life story and given you their best advice based on their own life experiences while recognizing your own uniqueness and importance. Expressions of strong encouragement and great confidence in you and your abilities have been forthcoming and numerous. These are not given lightly, but are studied comments with the weight of years of experience and expertise behind them. You can justifiably feel good about these. You would do well to read all these posts multiple times...their wisdom is strong and takes a while to assimilate.

The black cloud of suspicion has darkened a miniscule number of posts. Such comments are easily made, carry no justifying explanation, and can carry forcefully to you only if you let them. A painful part of growing up is deciding which comments to take seriously and which are specious and should carry no impact to you. Self awareness and self confidence are good things...and the foundation of making good decisions...and these forces are strong in you and growing. May these forces remain strong in you throughout the path you are now charting!

I'm just afraid more people are going to begin to doubt me.

 

[texasjohn]

powerpace, I too have looked thru all his posts. In 3 years, 14 threads started covering topics such as his small tractor mower, tractor repair, trail blazer and repairs, Stihl cultivator, repairs and planting grass. Sounds like as a teenager he's been doing yard work, riding a 4 wheeler and maintaining the equipment. Things I'd hope teenagers would learn how to do...

I disagree with your implication that his join date was planned years in advance in anticipation of this thread. His prior threads have all been TBN tractor topics related and, to me, display a certain inexperience, which would be consistent with his age, although, true, he only reveals his age in this current thread. I kinda think there are many other TBN threads which neither reveal the OP's age nor whom they might be living with...not a condition of membership, although some posters choose to do so. Called privacy, maybe? Also, if you were posting on such an obviously adult dominated forum, as TBN is, would you be telling people you are 15? 16? 17? Living with your parents?

In this thread, he has been forthcoming because of his concerns regarding his future plans and seeking insight from more adult members. Hmm....what else would someone do if they were actually 17 and living under restrictive conditions? I could think of quite a few forms of rebellion that would be more self destructive than posting on TBN looking for ideas and advice.

Actually, many of the "new tidbits" are in response to questions regarding why doesn't he do xxx... Of course, his first post gives some background, but that is succinct and factual. I didn't hear a whine or self pity in them. And, how is he supposed to substantiate checking with the military??? Should he be giving dates, times, rank and serial numbers of his contacts?? I really don't think that's necessary.

And, he is a volunteer fireman...again, are we all supposed to give address, dates of meetings, etc. on TBN for every comment we make so we can explore the veracity of a statement?

Net, I do believe you are wrong about Cub and I do not see anything devious or inconsistent between this and prior threads on different topics.

 

[wcampbell47]

That is a very good point. A degree in business management or a related field would look really good on a resume for a firefighting position. It would also help with promotion opportunities later down the road.

This gives me hope that you really are looking down the road to expand your horizons to be more than just the guy that rides the back of the truck and yanks out hoses. I have suggested a military school previously because of a real life example. My son graduated USMA Westpoint with a Business Degree. After Westpoint he trained for two years as an Apache pilot. When he got out into the field he was the Executive Officer of a company. He did all those things I mentioned. Budgets (training, fuel, parts, ammo), personnel (pilots, repair techs), project management (establish new operating air fields) as well as flew combat missions. His job requirement then changed to plan missions carried out by several different units. As one poster said .. be light on your feet and change with your environment and the ever changing job requirements. A well rounded education will help you do that. BTW he is now in Brazil running a company that builds living quarters for offshore vessels. Sometimes you just don't know where life will take you. Even if you considered a school with an ROTC unit. The military (at least in the past) has been more than willing to train promising individuals in highly technical skills - officer or enlisted. One young man from my community went from being a breakfast cook to manning a Patriot Missile Battery. Another just out of H.S. after boot camp is now in a Navy electronics school learning to maintain onboard aircraft electronic systems. You might not want to do any of the above, but that is not the point. The point is that you recognize opportunities when they arise and take advantage of them. And to quote Forrest Gump - That's all I have to say about that!

 

[buickanddeere]

I would start by both learning how to spell to,too and two .Also I would suggest using a spell checker.
I do agree that JW's are a weird cult and your well meaning parents have been brain washed by well meaning but doctrinally incorrect spiritual leaders.
Your parents at least care and are trying to ensure you have the best and most trouble free life. As your parents are human, they may from time to time make errors.
You should read about the dirt bag looser parents a physician buddy of mine deals with. You will thank the Almighty for your parents afterwards.

Read here for a frightening account of what your parents don't want for thier child or children.

Labor and Deliverance

 

[irvingj]

"Personally I would opt for the armed services because it will be a good learning experience and it will cut the cords of dependence."

I'll add my support, too, Cub. Hang in there. For me, it was the military that got me out of the house and away from a poor --to put it mildly-- relationship with my step-father; I still feel that the Army was one of the best things to happen to me. My education really began with my first (as a civilian) travel outside the US; after that, the Army was a great experience-- sure, some tough times, but it got me the ^%$ "out of Dodge" and taught me how to stand on my own two feet. Highly recommend that route to find yourself.

As far as schooling, ditto what others have said-- you never know what direction you'll end up taking, and that's very likely to change several times... but it all adds to your personal education and will make you the person you will eventually become; your initial choice(s) may have little to do with what you ultimately end up doing. Best of luck.

 

[dmccarty]

I'm just afraid more people are going to begin to doubt me.

Only a few.

You are ahead of the game compared to MANY adults much less kids in high school. Most people in high school and college don't really have a plan. You know what you want to do and have a couple of plans.

When I was in HS I knew what I wanted to do with my life, I made plans and executed to those plans. Most kids are not so lucky to know what they will be doing in life. I still work in the field I choose but it has had its ups and downs. Jobs, and even careers, can come and go, especially now a days. Getting an education is very important. A job may go away, a house may be lost, heck a marriage can dissolve, but your education is YOURS. A problem with education today is that it has gotten very expensive, so avoiding education debt, is more difficult but very important. Getting the wrong education, and going deeply into debt early in life, is not in one's best interest. However, an education opens doors that are sometimes not even seen by people without a degree. My degree opened doors that I had not even seriously considered. In fact, I would NOT be doing what I do today, if I had had my way but some things are out of your control. On the other hand, I have had been able to have two parallel careers in different fields. One field I would never have even thought about but there was an opportunity and I took it. Having an education made it easier to get accepted and get the required certifications.

Most people going to college do NOT graduate. Just getting a degree is an accomplishment because most people do not finish. I knew some very smart people in HS who were getting much better grades than I and scoring much higher on SAT and ACT exams. They were very likely "smarter" than me whatever "smarter" means. Some of them never graduated from college. They just did not have "it" in them to finish. Nothing more and nothing less. They certainly had the brains and the education, but they were not able to complete the degree. A degree does not make one smarter or better than others but it is an accomplishment. A degree does not make one a success either but it can help one be successful. What is most important is the CHARACTER of the person getting the degree and what THEY will do with their life.

You seem to have two forks in the road to take. A talk with your parents will likely push you down one fork or the other but may also open a third path. Of the two known paths, going into the military or staying at home and getting your firefighter credentials, is going to take a time commitment on your part. Both paths require you to commit a few years of your life to that path. For sure, if you join the USAF, you are in until the end of your commitment to Uncle Sam since any early out will follow you for the rest of your life. Signing up with Uncle Sam maybe the best choice but it should be well thought out choice.

The fact that you are even THINKING about such things is more than most kids are doing at your age. Most kids just go with the flow.

Later,
Dan

 

[Pops15]

Yes I have two dogs. One is really close to me, he does everything with me.

That's something else you need to consider. When you leave, you'll likely leave your pets as well unless you make arrangements for someone else to take them.

 

[texasjohn]

I'll bet his family would take care of them