What's so funny?

[vsmith]

remember the old addage

Those that can, do
Those that can't, teach
Those that can't teach, teach gym


now add to that,
Those that can do niether, counsel.

My high school counseler was completely worthless, never bothered to encourage me to go to college, or tried to gear me towards any kind of trade whatsoever. When I expressed an avid interest in architecture, they just shrugged, like they were silently saying "Why are you wasting my time?"

Worthless, Got no support from high school, I had to go to JC to take all the classes they supposedly already taught me but were completely inadequate for college prep. Went on to university and got my BA no thanks to them.

Bottom line, follow your bliss.
If that leads to college so be it,
if it leads you to the cab of a shiny DASH-9, good for you.

I would definetly do it NOW , once your out of high school. My reasoning is this. Wanting a thing, is often not the same as Having a thing.

You may find that being an engineer is very different from what you thought, and that the hours, schedules, time away from home, etc. do not fit you in the long run. Better to find out when your still young enough to change careers should you decide to do something else. At least you will have tried, instead of never attempted.

Colleges will always be there.

[cyeargin]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

The reaction is the same if you reply "I want to be a fireman" or an astronaut or a cowboy- - - - go for it.

It most certainly is: when I told my high school guidance counselor that I planned to become a firefighter, she actually asked me "why I wanted to throw my life away like that? Didn't I want to go to college and get a real job?" Looking back as a decorated Captain with 21 years in, I don't regret a thing...

[zgardner18]

I was hit with the same predicament when I was of the age. I've always wanted to be an engineer my whole life, but growing up in San Diego, it was just too far for me to go to L.A. for a job with the railroad. I then found girls, and I liked girls. Therefore a career in the railroad once again was put on the back burner. I then attended college and worked in construction to get by. Now I'm 29, married with a son, and would love more than anything to power a train, but I know that there is no way that I can change careers now to start at the bottom of the pay pyramid and have my family survive. About two months ago I was playing around and got myself an interview with Union Pacific. Every part of me wanted to go, even my dad, who has never really been into trains, wanted me to go. I ended up canceling the interview, because I knew the wife was against it. I now live with regret and knew that I needed to start early to fulfill my dream.

Learn from me and go for your dream before it is too late (or is it). But remember, you can never regret an education. We can't take our trains with us when we die (no matter how much I try to convince my wife otherwise), but we can take what we have learned. But, Dude, life is about being happy, or life isn't worth living. Don't follow my example, and do what YOU want. Good Luck!

[tatans]

The reaction is the same if you reply "I want to be a fireman" or an astronaut or a cowboy- - - - go for it.

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rockymidlandrr

Our councelors here at McAdory (home of Bo Jackson) are only seen once a year for about 30 minutes, other than that they are holed up in their offices doing nothing.

Aren't you glad you want to actually do something with your life, rather than be a teacher/counselor who does nothing...? [}:)]

[rockymidlandrr]

I'm a junior in High School and my friends know that I love trains. When the topic of a carreer comes up, they know what I will say. When a teacher will ask me I will tell them I will be an Engineer, not the one who builds things (thats what most people think about when you say engineer) but the one who takes a half-mile 7000 ton, 9000 horsepower train and runs with it and has the best job in the world. Our councelors here at McAdory (home of Bo Jackson) are only seen once a year for about 30 minutes, other than that they are holed up in their offices doing nothing. My career choice is OK with my parents, but they want me to go to college first, so I will for them. For the others with me, stand strong and be proud of what you want to beand don't let your dream go.


------------------------------------
Michael Stephens
McCalla, Alabama

[youngengineer]

College is an indespensible part of growing up, while I am a locomotive engineer, Ialso have a bussiness minor, and I am within a year of a masters degree, I gave up the corporate world to do what I love, I also understand the realities of railroading, long hours, trips away from home, missing time with the kids. What I do today I would never give up, but things do happen.

[wallyworld]

Dont misunderstand what I am saying, a college education is not a drawback in my book. It gives you more options, especially if you want to move up beyond being an engineer should you chose to do this.Or, the reality of unpredictable hours conflicting with any relationship-sleep deprivation- waiting to build seniority-All of these factors weigh in. Measure three times-cut once.

[Anonymous]

Most people don't give trains a seconds thought. They think about what inferior train knowledge they have and compare that to what they think of a "train driver" .People ask me all the time what I want to do for a career and I tell them I want to be an engineer. Then they ask what kind? Is a colledge education really a drawback from working on the railroad? If you were applying for a job it looks good on a resume especially if your applying with a bunch of people who don't have a college educatoin.[swg]

[wallyworld]

I am not a college graduate and I am 56 years old-non railroader-I learned by doing-industrial engineering-construction project management- facility maintenance management- all of which I have had no problem with nor my employers with me.
Dont be discouraged.

[blhanel]

Amen, Jim.

[eolafan]

There is an old saying I like very much...which goes like this:

"WORK TO LIVE, DON'T LIVE TO WORK"

[germanium]

Doesn't this arise from an assumption (or presumption) in many people's minds that someone attending college in inherently more intelligent than someone who hasn't attended college ? For those of us who've lived in the real world, this is an unwarranted belief, and also a form of snobbery.
If you want to be an engineer, then DO IT, and *** THE SNOBS !!!!!!

[CShaveRR]

My bio says a little about this...

[Anonymous]

I have found through the years that college is considerably overrated. If it were not for all the people that make a living from the "College is a requirement to succeed in life " scam most people would not even talk about going.

[Anonymous]

well all i say is for me its not about the money, its if you love doing it.

[fuzzybroken]

To most people, saying you want to be a railroader translates to "I wanna play choo-choo" -- not the "desire to be in control of a giant machine in charge of thousands of tons of merchandise" as you said. It's kinda sad though that people think that! Railroading is serious business! Most stuff wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for a railroad.

Of course, the downside to railroading is the schedule, which may also be a reason why most people don't know any railroaders...

[coborn35]

On the slight chance I become a rail, I will for sure have a college degree to fall back on, like Mr. Schultz.
College is worth it, because frankly, money aint everything.

[pat390]

yes i get this a LOT. Even my teachers do not encourage it, my high school is quite literally obsessed with everythign college, unfortunately the only people that realize it is not a bad choice is my family, i have just learned to ignore them or respond with i wont have student loans to pay off for years after i graduate and be making generally more money than you. A girl in my class told me her uncle, an engineer for Amtrak makes more than all of his siblings, who are all college graduates, if that isnt proof that people are narrow minded, i dont know what is.

please pardon my ranting, this is a hot subject for me

pat

[solzrules]

Kudos to the above, gentlemen. The career you are chosing is far more rewarding then a desk job and a college degree. Most high school guidance counselers will not advocate industrial arts to any kids. The basic theme is if you don't go to college you aren't worth anything. Nobody mentions to these kids that there are guys working in construction, transportation, manufacturing and so on that are making 50-80 g's per year. You can't make that kind of a wage right out of college. Unless your some kind of child prodigy. Haven't met a lot of those.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan

When people are confronted by somebody like you who has chosen a relatively unusual career (there are relatively few RR engineers when compared, say, to salesmen) they frequently have a reaction such as the one you are experiencing. Do not give their reaction a second thought, being an engineer is a necessary, old and noble profession...KEEP PERSUING YOUR DREAM!

Thank you so much for the encouragment!!!! [:)]

[eolafan]

When people are confronted by somebody like you who has chosen a relatively unusual career (there are relatively few RR engineers when compared, say, to salesmen) they frequently have a reaction such as the one you are experiencing. Do not give their reaction a second thought, being an engineer is a necessary, old and noble profession...KEEP PERSUING YOUR DREAM!

[CMSTPP]

I get the same reaction from most people too. I don't understand myself, but I usually ask whats so funny. I also ask them if they know how much a locomotive engineer gets. And then when they hear the 25 to 30 dollar an hour wage they just gasp. Locomotive engineers have so much more than most jobs it's almost crazy. The benefits are unbelieveable.
Try asking them these questions and they will mostly keep there mouth shut.

James

[Anonymous]

I am a senior about to graduate from high school. Every time someone asks me what my future plans are I reply that I want to be a locomotive engineer and 99% of the time a get a slight chuckle or a " oh, your serious". What is the big deal about having the desire to be in control of a giant machine in charge of thousands of tons of merchandise? I just don't get it. Well... can anyone relate or just tell me what the big deal is ????[:(]