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Thread: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

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    Default Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    I've been in college for 5 years and have been dancing since I was 18. I have yet to graduate and pick a major. IDK what I want to do with my life, and I'm starting to wonder do I even need to finish school?! I feel like I'm wasting so much time and money. I take classes, don't like them, and drop. Or I take random introductory classes and still have no idea what I'm doing in school.

    I want to dance until I'm 30 or so and then maybe start looking for an exit plan. Is that a problem?? Should I try to figure my career out now? Do I even need to be thinking about quitting? I'm so confused... please help!! (22 btw)

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    A degree is something no one will ever be able to take away from you. It certainly won't hurt you in the long run to get one, especially since you can easily pay for it right now with your dancing money. If I were you I would definitely stick with it and follow through, having a degree will open up many doors for you once you are ready to stop dancing.

    I'm actually in a similar position to yours. Been in college for 5 years, moved around a lot, changed my major several times, just never found the time to actually settle down in one spot and commit. The fast easy money I made stripping and some traumatic experiences I had distracted me from education, I didn't really worry about the future and thought school would always be there for me to return to. Now I'm finally ready, have all the money for my education saved up, and am getting rejected by universities because of how competitive admissions to CA schools are now. Had I just worked less and gone to school a couple years ago I'd have gotten in with no problems and be done by now. Don't end up like me! I'm trapped, I want to stop dancing because the industry has gone to shit but can't until I'm finished with school.

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Well also the problem is I don't have a clue what career I would be interested in at this point in my life. I'm starting to think the best option is dance full time while I'm young and hott, and then retire when my body can't take it and go to nursing school.. (maybe 30-35 years old)? I think that's a good plan, but everyone I've talked to (friends & family NOT in the industry) recommend I keep going to school. In the end, I think not being broke is more useful than having a bachelor's degree that doesn't get used. And sure it opens doors, but what if you don't want THOSE doors opened, making 40K a year doing something you hate? No thank you. I can make 40k a year part time by having fun. Sigh. The money is just too easy right now

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Since you obviously don't know what exactly you want to do forever, in the meantime stop hemorrhaging money for classes you end up dropping. I would say that, generally, yes, you need a degree. Or at least, statistically speaking, having a degree will cut your chance of unemployment in half in later life when you get injured or burned out or saggy (and you will at some point). So unless you plan to pull a Melonie and invest like a motherfucker, or you start a business that takes off, or marry a super rich guy who doesn't end up trading you in for a hotter model at some point, you want a fallback option.

    Try looking at some of the one or two-year technical degrees available at your local community college. I recently checked them out just to do it, and I could spend 1 year to become a Medical Lab tech ($30-40k salary) or a DSS ($40-60k salary). Those are only two options. Do your research and pick something you kinda sorta would be ok with. That way, you won't be left high and dry when you're over dancing but you won't be wasting money on a degree that gets you shitty jobs you hate.

    And you can always do you nursing thing later. In fact I think that is a badass idea and there's no reason you can't dance a bunch now, save $$$, and then not have to work during school. But if you want to appease family and have a real safety net, just take the 12 classes or w/e to get a marketable skill.

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Yeah, definitely stop wasting your money on classes you keep dropping. I have to say though, introductory classes don't necessarily paint the best picture of the degree you'll get. I just finished my BA and majored in communications. My introductory classes in first year were boring as hell and didn't give me much confidence in the major choice I'd made (I literally picked it because I knew what I didn't want to study, and CMN seemed like the most lucrative option of the few majors that remained). Luckily I worked with a girl who was in her third year of the same program and she assured me that it gets interesting and you really get to explore the different aspects of the field. I stuck it out and loved my major come second year. What I'm trying to say is, you can't just let the first few classes of an introductory course be your only information about a major. They're boring and basic because they just cover the fundamentals so everyone is on the same page when it comes time to get to the interesting and substantial learning.

    That being said, it sounds like this type of university setting isn't for you. I would recommend paying a visit to a bunch of college and career fairs to speak with people in a variety fields and get a better idea of what's out there and what it takes to get there. This will also give you a better idea of whether or not nursing is for you - wouldn't it suck to get injured, burnt out, or not be able to dance anymore for whatever other reason, but then end up hating your backup plan and being stuck doing something you hate? If after talking to some professionals you think nursing sounds like a good back up, I don't think it would hurt to take a class or two (certainly not a full-time load) now to see how you feel about it.

    The problem with putting this decision off until you can't dance anymore is that then you really can get stuck. Of course, if you're wise with your money and are saving and investing, at least you'll have a nest egg to fall back on to give you some time to figure it out. But do keep in mind that it's not so easy to start a career in your 30s. You'll be competing against kids in their 20s who don't have a huge gap in your resume.

    Perhaps even volunteering with a cause or field that's interesting to you every so often would be beneficial? You'll be building yourself a network, learning about something important to you, and you never know if that can translate into a job or not. There are plenty of jobs out there you don't realize are out there, and this is a good method of learning about the ones that might appeal to you.

    Best of luck in whatever you decide to do though!

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    I agree with not putting your money into school right now. It is necessary, depending on what you want to do...and you dont even know what to do. Being a "career student" is fine, if you can afford it and donr mind putting money into just being in school for the sake of it. But I would suggest, to wait until you know, and then you can take action.

    I just see it way too much, that someone ends up with a degree in a field they wernt even sure about, working in a whole different field that they cant even use their degree in, and basically just busy working because they cant afford not to, and cant afford to go back to school and still in debt for the degree that they have, now that they know what it is they want to do. Even though I have nothing at all against a degree, seeing how most of my friends are stuck in that cycle (mid-30's) makes me glad I didnt go to college right out of high school. Whenever they start talking about it, its depressing..and they consider me the lucky one cause I dont have the debt that they do, yet make just as much or more, and still able to go to school when Im ready to.

    I only just figured out what it is I would like to do about a year ago..the hilarity is, its something Ive had an interest in all my life but never thought about actually doing until a few years ago (forensics). Out of school my plan was to study phychology, then accounting, then law, then I decided screw it and joined the Army

    At least now, I can afford to go and apply for loans and what have you for something that really will be worthwhile, because Im so sure of what it is I want to do. And you know, even if I end up not going into that field for whatever reason (the job market is tough, I know...and my schedule over these past 10 years have spoiled me), I will at the least, really enjoy studying it.
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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    School is really, really, really overrated. So no, school is not needed, but a trade is. Find out what you're good at. Market yourself. Build your personal brand. Employers care a million times more about your internships, motivation, creativity, and related work experience than they do about a piece of paper or where you went to school.

    Natural Talent > Degree
    Internships > Degree
    Motivation, Creativity > Degree
    Degree > Lazy, unmotivated, and doing nothing with your life unless you plan to stay that way

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Quote Originally Posted by lexxx View Post
    I'm starting to think the best option is dance full time while I'm young and hott, and then retire when my body can't take it and go to nursing school.. (maybe 30-35 years old)? I think that's a good plan, but everyone I've talked to (friends & family NOT in the industry) recommend I keep going to school.
    You're basing your life plan on a precarious assumption.

    I don't mean to scare you but there are about a million different things that can happen to you today that could put you out of commission as far as stripping is concerned.

    Life is pretty surprising.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay12 View Post
    ^What Sophia said.
    Quote Originally Posted by yoda57us View Post
    I wish there was an "auto-like" setting that I could just have applied to all of your posts Sophia....

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    School is important, as long as you get a degree in something that you can make a living off of. People who get majors in history or art are not going to have an easy time finding work. Technology, medicine, law, engineering, etc are degrees that are useful and will have a purpose in 20 years.

    If you don't get a degree, then get a certificate or trade from a school. Some people are able to find work from internships, job shadowing, or being naturally talented but I'd rather not leave anything to chance. If you aren't going to go to school then decide what field you want to work in and start working toward getting your foot in the door. Jobs that do not require degrees but rather require networking, internships, etc are typically harder to get into.
    If you are willing to do for one year what other's won't, you can spend a lifetime doing what other's cant.


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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Quote Originally Posted by lexxx View Post
    I've been in college for 5 years and have been dancing since I was 18. I have yet to graduate and pick a major. IDK what I want to do with my life, and I'm starting to wonder do I even need to finish school?! I feel like I'm wasting so much time and money. I take classes, don't like them, and drop. Or I take random introductory classes and still have no idea what I'm doing in school.

    I want to dance until I'm 30 or so and then maybe start looking for an exit plan. Is that a problem?? Should I try to figure my career out now? Do I even need to be thinking about quitting? I'm so confused... please help!! (22 btw)
    1. You've been in college for 5 years and you haven't picked a major? How far along are you in your degree? Are you considered a Junior/Senior or something else?

    2. People go through several careers over the course of their lives. Choosing a particular path is not a life-sentence.

    3. As I mentioned in my previous post, life doesn't always go according to plan. But what's worse is that you're being really wishy-washy by saying "I want to dance until I'm 30 or so and then maybe start looking for an exit plan..." That is all good and well, but do you think you'll have a better idea of what you want to pursue at that point? You might end up in exactly the same spot you are in now. I haven't ever had a EUREKA! moment where the clouds parted and I knew exactly what I should do with my life. I just do my best to evaluate my interests/talents and cross reference that with my expectations and circumstances/opportunities in order to make a sensible choice.

    4. You say "And sure it opens doors, but what if I don't want THOSE doors opened, making 40K a year doing something I hate? No thank you. I can make 40k a year part time by having fun"...

    This is wayyyyy too dramatic and much too skewed.
    You're assuming that anything that isn't stripping is not fun, that you'd hate anything else, and that you'd make less money automatically.
    You're missing the fact that many folks that hate their jobs make tons of money. Some people that find a passion and love their vocation make less money than strippers. Some people like their job well enough and make as much money as dancers.... some make less... some make more. It spans the spectrum. Things aren't so black & white.

    5. I'm glad that dancing is lucrative for you now. I wouldn't advise you to quit. I do suggest that you complete you Bachelors degree.... if you are interested in nursing consider taking Biology courses, Chemistry courses, etc. so that you have a solid background in the field and a diploma in your hand.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay12 View Post
    ^What Sophia said.
    Quote Originally Posted by yoda57us View Post
    I wish there was an "auto-like" setting that I could just have applied to all of your posts Sophia....

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    I can tell you from first had experience choosing a career path at age 30 is not any easier than age 20. In fact its much harder. After years of making good money and doing whatever you want, not having to use your brain in an academic sense. Purposely putting off study for that long will put you at a serious disadvantage. I did a degree age 19-21 and started this one at 28 and it is at least 50x harder now. Every aspect of the life I once knew suffers. My memory and concentration is not what it used to be (I have to work 2-3x harder than my younger classmates to achieve the same result). I have so many more responsibilities than a 20 year old so my stress levels are constantly insane. I would recommend stopping what you are currently doing and give yourself 1 year to figure out what you want to do. Research careers, talk to people in those industries, volunteer, etc... work out what makes you passionate and then study in that career asap.

    It sounds like you have been dancing for several years already. I personally found dancing a breeze at the start but as I get older, it becomes harder and harder. I drink more and take too many drugs and honestly if I had nothing else in my late twenties I would have become one of "those" strippers. You could be a totally different person, but as time with no goal wears on...for me I go into self-destructive mode. Just something to consider. As I said you may have a totally different experience, but for me dancing was never meant to be for this long.

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Fuck school. Party and be happy. I wasted my youth working and studying hard. Y'know what I got for it? A perfect GPA and an empty life. I never went to a party in 5.5 years of college. I never "hooked up." I never socialized and matured as much as I should have. I worked my ass off under the ridiculous, parentally-force-fed notion that academic success and career success in some way leads to happiness. It doesn't. A nice pay check doesn't hold you when you're feeling lonely. Work on developing a wide social network of good friends. Work on love. Work on happiness. Then you'll know what it means to be "successful."
    Quote Originally Posted by _Avery_ View Post
    omg, why is it so huge?!! lol lol

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    I really have to smile at the varying advice here....if you werent confused as to what to do before...are ya now? hehe!

    You know..I never knew what I wanted to be. As a kid, when someone would ask me what I want to be when I grow up..I would say I wanted to be a fireman, only because the girls all said things like nurse, teacher or mother...and I didnt want to be like all the other girls, so I chose something completely opposite. When I was in hs, I tossed around ideas of what I wanted to do, based on income since I still had no clue. Like I said, I joined the Army instead of going to college, and ever since then, Ive always maintained "I dont know what I wanna be when I grow up!"

    Now, most of my frineds think Im nuts, most of them went to college, and are all about job security. Most of them have done the go to college, rack on student loan debts, get a car payment, buy a house with mortage...and they are all miserable. Well, except one who for sure is happy...he did what he always wanted to do and is filthy rich on top of it lol But my point and advice is, dont go through the motions because it seems like the right thing to do. There is absolutely nothing wrong with not knowing what you want to do...for all we know, your career path doesnt even exist yet. Thats what I tell kiddo...when I was a freshman in school, there was no such thing as a web designer...but thats how I made my living for the past 10 years. I fell into it purely by accident, and I didnt look at it as "what I do" until I realized Id been doing it for so long.

    Sure anything can happen to end your dancing career, but anything can happen to anyone at any time...and hey, at least you have a rough draft of a plan. I didnt start doing that til about a year ago, and I still managed to take very good care of myself and kiddo...Ironically, its not til I decided to take my path seriously and start focusing on what I want to do that my life and financial situation fell apart. I think Im just not meant for planning or structure lol! Anywayzlies..Dont feel pressured to come up with the rest of your life *right now*
    Don't blink. Don't even blink. Blink and you're dead. Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink!

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    God/dess sammii's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Quote Originally Posted by GlamourRouge View Post
    School is really, really, really overrated. So no, school is not needed, but a trade is.
    I completely agree, and most of the trade licenses don't take longer than 2 years. I read somewhere that you're better off going to school for a trade license, rather than a 4 year degree. There are many degrees that are a complete waste of money, imo ... like political science, music, acting ... they most likely won't get you anywhere. The reason I never went to college, is because it's a waste of money. If I ever go to school, it will be for cosmetology, because it's easy to find a job as a cosmetologist and the schooling doesn't take long, but I'll likely not go to school at all.

    If I'm 30 and struggling financially, I'll go to school. If my SO earns a lot of money, then I'll just be a stay-at-home wife. Right now, it just doesn't make sense for me to go to school. I'm still young.

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Most people don't know what they want to do. You're not alone, but what you've been doing sounds like an enormous waste of time/money. I have a friend like you and he just couldn't be bothered to finish his work in the classes he had no interest in. I understand 100%, but because he has such a terrible record, he's having a hell of a time getting into any schools now, and he can't even get loans because of how poorly he did when he was previously eligible for assistance.

    I can't tell you if school is "right," but if you decide to invest in college again and you haven't already finished your core, I recommend that you go to a university with a variety of degree plans and concentrate on your core curriculum. Even if you've no clue what you want by the time you finish it, you can transfer to any number of places with your core complete once you do figure it out. Few things are as frustrating as knowing what you want, having the motivation to go take the classes, then realizing you need some annoying as hell classes like ENGL 1301 and remedial math before you can even think about enrolling in courses that interest you.

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    If you're going to get a degree/diploma at either kind of institution, make sure you get it in something that will get you a job after you're done. Just about ANY kind of Business degree will do. Specifically in Finance or accounting. The USA and Canada are turning into a "Financial Services" sector of the world. Manufacturing has left over seas to cheaper labour. We'll trust some illiterate person in a 3rd World country to build our products but no one will trust them when it comes to accounting for money/financial transactions.

    Any degree obtained in "Humanities", or "Arts & Science" are good for nothing. Forget taking "Psychology" or any kind of crap like that. You used to be able to find a job in Government with useless stuff like this, but since the downturn in the economy, Government is hacking and slashing Public Sector jobs to reduce wasteful costs.

    Myself, I finished a Business Degree with a Major in Accounting and Minor in Business Law. I've NEVER had trouble finding work. EVER. I could quit my job tomorrow and find another accounting job at a competitor within a couple of weeks. Accounting jobs tend to be "Recession Proof" because no matter which way the market is going...........up or down.............someones going to be need to calculate the "Gains" or "Losses" and hence, other peoples fuck-ups.

    As a side job, I sometimes do other peoples income taxes for a simple $30 per claim.

    Yeah, it's boring and repetitive (closing monthly books), but so what. You want money, accounting is the way to go.

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Quote Originally Posted by lestat1 View Post
    Fuck school. Party and be happy. I wasted my youth working and studying hard. Y'know what I got for it? A perfect GPA and an empty life. I never went to a party in 5.5 years of college. I never "hooked up." I never socialized and matured as much as I should have. I worked my ass off under the ridiculous, parentally-force-fed notion that academic success and career success in some way leads to happiness. It doesn't. A nice pay check doesn't hold you when you're feeling lonely. Work on developing a wide social network of good friends. Work on love. Work on happiness. Then you'll know what it means to be "successful."
    I think that is an extreme viewpoint. A college degree doesn't guarantee employment, but it helps. If you have a good job and are financially secure then you will have an easier time affording your life and leisure time. Friends and "hooking up/partying" are fun...but those same party party friends and "hook ups" won't care if you can't afford to eat/pay your rent (nor will they have the financial means to help).

    I think finding balance is key. Work, attend school, find time for yourself. That is what is most important. You shouldn't be all work and no play, or all play and no work. Even still, my friends that work all the time and never get out have it more 'together' than my friends who are unemployed, fuck anything that walks, and spend time getting high/wasted--those people have nothing, and are never going anywhere in life, they are always looking for the next hustle or scam to buy themselves another week of fun--that's not a way to live.

    I would rather work and go to school all the time and never go out (what I do now) than go out all the time but be unemployed and uneducated.
    If you are willing to do for one year what other's won't, you can spend a lifetime doing what other's cant.


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    Featured Member LaurenAus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    ^ yes balance. Work and study during the week and party on the weekends. It's not about only having one or the other.

    Lexx there isn't a perfect career just find one that you at least like, and can utilize some of your strengths for. Internships usually want to see a degree or know that you are in college so now is the perfect time for you to try out different internships. And take some career tests.

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jessie_tinydancer View Post
    You could be a totally different person, but as time with no goal wears on...for me I go into self-destructive mode. Just something to consider.
    I totally agree with this. I've only been out of school about a year, and even though I'm having fun with my life and free time, I feel useless otherwise. Which makes me fall into depression a lot easier and then I really become useless. Especially when all your peers are moving on to bigger and better things, it can suck to feel like you're being left behind in a stagnant job that even you realize you don't want to do for longer than a few more years. Don't get me wrong, I am fully enjoying the benefits of dancing right now, but every time I blow money on something, I feel a little sad because I wish I was putting it toward achieving an actual goal. Which leads into this, which I also agree with completely:

    Quote Originally Posted by Sophia_Starina View Post
    As I mentioned in my previous post, life doesn't always go according to plan. But what's worse is that you're being really wishy-washy by saying "I want to dance until I'm 30 or so and then maybe start looking for an exit plan..." That is all good and well, but do you think you'll have a better idea of what you want to pursue at that point? You might end up in exactly the same spot you are in now.
    If your plan is to dance for several more years and then go back to school for something you really want to do, you need a more solid plan than this. You don't need to know exactly what you want to do once you exit dancing, but you should be spending these years, as others said, doing internships, volunteer work, attending career fairs, etc. Without exploring your options, you'll hit 30, still have no idea what you want to pursue, and since you had no clear goal in mind the entire time you were dancing, it will be harder for you to buckle down and save that fast money for the future.

    Story time: I have a friend from high school who decided to put off college because she didn't know what she wanted to study and she had a better paying job than most college graduates. For 5 years now, she's been saying she'll go to school eventually, but she just has no clue what she wants to do and she really doesn't want to give up the money. Well, in the last couple months, burn out has hit big time. She's already used up this year's vacation time just to get away from her job - a job she used to go on and on about loving. She hates it and is dying to quit, but she still doesn't know what she would do after she quit. She's spent the last 5 years saying "oh, yeah, eventually, when I figure out what I want" but she's done absolutely nothing in terms of researching anything that could interest her. And do you think she's saved any money for schooling or unemployment time? Nope. She's gotten so used to making so much money and blowing it that she worries how she'll fare suddenly having to live more frugally. So she still doesn't know, she now hates her high paying job, and feels stuck because she wandered around for years, apparently waiting for inspiration to "strike." It doesn't work that way. Every class or job that you try out and decide isn't for you isn't just wasted time and money. It's an important step in figuring out what you like and don't like. For every subject you realize you hate, you're getting closer to finding the one you love.

    I still have no idea what I want to do with my life. But I have to at least make an effort to explore different options every month, otherwise, no matter how much money I'm making, I feel like I'm going nowhere. And even though I sometimes lament over feeling like my university degree was a useless waste of money, I know it wasn't. When I do want to go back to school for something I actually like, I'll be one step ahead, having completed all my lower level classes, and I'll be able to just move onto graduate school to what really interests me without schlepping through courses that I never completed. So I find comfort in that.
    I'm no career expert, and I can't decide for you whether you'd be better off in school or quitting for now. But whatever you decide to do, build a better proactive plan than waiting around for a few years, just hoping that by 30, you'll know what you want.
    Last edited by Aurora_Sunset; 03-09-2012 at 10:58 AM.
    Don't try to win over the haters. You are not the Jerk Whisperer.

    Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.






  26. #20
    God/dess Sophia_Starina's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Quote Originally Posted by sammii View Post
    There are many degrees that are a complete waste of money, imo ... like political science, music, acting ... they most likely won't get you anywhere.
    Wow. Wwwwwwhat the heck? You'd be amazed how many people parlay a Humanities degree into successful careers.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay12 View Post
    ^What Sophia said.
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    I wish there was an "auto-like" setting that I could just have applied to all of your posts Sophia....

  27. #21
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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    ^ it's true. Boils down to the individual and their own beliefs and determination. I have friends who have majored in anthropology who now have careers in marketing or management so sometimes it doesn't matter what your actual degree is in. Also I disagree that it doesn't matter what school you go to. I have a friend who got her anthropology degree from Cornell and she was competing with a bunch of applications for an internet marketing travel job and she got hired. Her boss admitted it was because of the University she attended.

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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Quote Originally Posted by LaurenAus View Post
    ^ it's true. Boils down to the individual and their own beliefs and determination. I have friends who have majored in anthropology who now have careers in marketing or management so sometimes it doesn't matter what your actual degree is in. Also I disagree that it doesn't matter what school you go to. I have a friend who got her anthropology degree from Cornell and she was competing with a bunch of applications for an internet marketing travel job and she got hired. Her boss admitted it was because of the University she attended.
    True. And if you compare average starting salaries based on the university attended you'd be shocked. Keep in mind the position is the same! In my state, State School Diploma kids would get about $66,000. The Ivy League kids got up to $189,000. Granted, I'm talking about Law students... but still.... that is a huge gap.

    I attended state school... so that statistic stuck with me.

    Over all, Ivy kids make 34% more than State kids in the first 10 years of their careers... according to this: http://www.newser.com/story/33918/iv...tay-ahead.html

    And this: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121746658635199271.html
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay12 View Post
    ^What Sophia said.
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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    I think school is very helpful. I dislike school, but when I stripped for a year without anything to back me up (other job, nor school), I was bored in tears, and got very depressed due to only stripping. I decided to go back to school. Even though I dont know what I want to do in school, I know I want to stick to business - Find a common program that easily transfers into other paths. A degree will help you get knowlegde that other people wouldnt have. My dad went to law school but didnt finish his last year, but now he owns 3 properties and 1 successful business, thats what school taught him. Without it he wouldnt know how to run these things. Its knowledge you take to your daily life.

    Since you dont know what you want to do.. Figure out what section youd to be on - medical, business, law, etc and take a program towards that path. I think its useless to take programs you arent going to finish or drop - its a waste of money. If you finished them on the other hand, it shows your employer you took your time and achieved this. Same with a bachelors so what if you cant find a job within the first 3-6monts? Thats VERY common whether its 2000 or 2012. Thats life. The fact that you took your time and finished those 4-6 years shows your employer you did it. A friend of mine, took hospitality in college and now works in a bank! He started on a low position, but the bank gave him the experinece, and he knew what he had to take in order to go up the ladder. He took a liscensing course that the bank paid for and now has a higher postion. It just shows a degree will get you anywhere, doesnt matter what it is, you just need to know what field to go to and then what to look for if you want to go higher. Over time your interviewers will recommend you somewhere, get you the networks, suggest you help even if you dont fit the job you have the interview for. If you have the right skills they will see through that.

    Its hard for a student to get a job, with NO experience. So you strip till you're 30 - 35.. Then what? You have a few degrees, you go look for a job and have no experience and a big gap in your resume. Unless you're going for your ex. doctors. Your employers will wonder why you have such a gap. School will help no matter what. It doesnt matter that you dont know what you want to do. Finish your degree in something common - business, medical, science, etc. It will get you a job somewhere. Stripping is forever, an education is something you need to earn and work for. You can go back to stripping anytime.
    Last edited by Kisca; 03-09-2012 at 11:44 AM.

  30. #24
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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    Quote Originally Posted by lestat1 View Post
    Fuck school. Party and be happy. I wasted my youth working and studying hard. Y'know what I got for it? A perfect GPA and an empty life. I never went to a party in 5.5 years of college. I never "hooked up." I never socialized and matured as much as I should have. I worked my ass off under the ridiculous, parentally-force-fed notion that academic success and career success in some way leads to happiness. It doesn't. A nice pay check doesn't hold you when you're feeling lonely. Work on developing a wide social network of good friends. Work on love. Work on happiness. Then you'll know what it means to be "successful."
    Dude.... school isn't about parties or hooking-up. School is about jumping through the required hoops to get ahead in life. I took anywhere from 15-21 credits each and every term so I did not have time to party. I worked my butt off during the breaks, though I usually took a class or two during the winter intersessions/summers.

    I happend to graduate with a perfect GPA as well.

    I'm in school, yet again, because I'm pursuing a different path. But my GPA, my awards, recognitions, and accolades are testament to my attitude that I will never settle for anything less than success. That goes for stripping, academics, civilian-work, etc... Employers and peers recognize that. A great track record will never work against you.

    I'm sorry if you are unhappy. I am sure my twins and I can cheer you up ( o )( o )

    But seriously, don't live vicariously through a misguided young woman like "lexxx", she needs to stay on a straight and narrow path and finish her damn degree (5 years in the making).

    Afterwards she will be able to do what she feels is right.... but she will always have a backup plan by her side.

    Muchos Besitos, Lestat1. xoxoxoxo
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay12 View Post
    ^What Sophia said.
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  31. #25
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    Default Re: Is school necessary? Do I need an exit plan?

    I have both and bachelors and a masters in communications and it can be both negative and positive. Because communications is a broad field I have gotten jobs in pr, radio, film, and related and jumped into training which is something I never considered at all (or even knew about). I have gotten jobs even based on where I attended school. During college and especially graduate school I was extremely studious where grades mattered especially since I was considered getting a Ph.D. I'm not going to lie though, I know many people with degrees who are unemployed courtesy of the economy and others are working jobs that don't require degrees.

    You mention dancing until 30 or so THEN going to school but here's the thing, you never know how things happen. What if you get hurt or get tired of dancing? It always sounds glamourous as first but then things happen and one realizes it isn't. I too considered dropping out of school to dance because it was far more "fun" than a boring office job but then I started seeing older women trapped in the industry unable to get out because they had no skills. That's why I decided to keep going to school and it paid off when I finally had enough of the dancing bs and was able to walk out. If I didn't have the degree I couldn't do that. However dancing does have one advantage the corporate world has and it's the ability to make as possible. Women are still discriminated against in jobs and the farther they go up the worst it becomes. I couldn't begin to tell you the stories I heard and things I saw with women moving up in their careers. Pretty horrendous. This is why I see a lot of highly educated women I know who leave the corporate world either to stay at home, switch fields to a non corporate job, or start a business.

    So yes school is necessary if you want to leave the dancing world but not necessarily college. Maybe a job training would be good for you? What I did while dancing later on is work a "normal" job then dance a few times at night. That worked well for me because I was making great money but still getting experience.

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