lateralized
New member
I am at a turning point in my life. I am 29 with 2 kids. I have a good paying job as a drivers ed teacher. It's the best job I have ever had, but isn't what I want to do forever. Ive been teaching for 3 years, and with the company for 9. I have been in the Army Reserves for almost 7 years and have yet to use any of my college benefits (they dont last forever). I have told my boss that even if I dont go to college in the fall (which is my plan) that I am not working here anymore. I cant take being in the car all day especially since its an hour and fifteen minute commute each way on top of my drive hours with the students.
So, I am in the application process for USM as either a Mechanical Engineering or Physics major. These are two fields that I am pretty psyched about. I always loved physics and the sciences in high school. My grandfather was a mechanical engineer and I have always been interesed in that field. I am an engineer in the Army as well (civil) and have enjoyed my work there. I do enjoy math, but its really a means to a scientific end to me. In other words, applied math is cool.
But, there is the question from Office Space that I have thought about a lot ...
Peter Gibbons: Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what you'd do if you had a million dollars and you didn't have to work. And invariably what you'd say was supposed to be your career. So, if you wanted to fix old cars then you're supposed to be an auto mechanic.
Samir: So what did you say?
Peter Gibbons: I never had an answer. I guess that's why I'm working at Initech.
Michael Bolton: No, you're working at Initech because that question is bull**** to begin with. If everyone listened to her, there'd be no janitors, because no one would clean **** up if they had a million dollars.
If I had a million dollars I would mod cars all day. I would take classes on fiberglass molding and auto painting and buy everything I needed to customize vehicles and start a customization shop. This does not seem like an unrealistic dream to me.
I understand that now is NOT the time to start a business. Maybe it will be by the time I get out of school, but maybe not. I get really excited about this dream in a way that mechanical engineering does not affect me. The shop would specialize in everything aftermarket, possibly with specialists in each area as it grows, tinting, paint, body, vinyl, performance, etc. I would love to know how to do all this stuff myself, but I am starting from scratch at a later age than would be ideal.
I know this is an unrealistic fantasy but it makes it hard to consider the more realistic careers with this in my head. I dont see any reason I shouldnt go for it, its certainly not impossbile. I would have to start small, possibly fixing up some cars from auction and reselling them to build capitol and allowing for time to find the right location and equipment. I am not gonna have my own TV show in a year or anything, but by offering a discount to websites such as this one and mainevwscene.com and so on, or taking a show car to autox/rallyx events I could build a reputation. I do understand that Maine is not an ideal location for this. I am considering buying a home in the next few years (yes, I saw the post about the $8k from the gov't) and have considered moving a little farther south (kennebunk/wells/york) for reasons other than this idea. However, a shop in this area would give me access to the car scenes in southern Maine, seacoast New Hampshire and Northern Mass.
I am a fairly intelligent person
... or so I am told ... and I have a design oriented mind. I think i can do this. But I have a family to provide for and taking risks may not be an option. This dream would require me to use my money and time for school on an automotive tech school, business degree and extra classes in working with fiberglass/auto paint/body work (custom wide body kits ftw
). I understand I could easily wind up working at a dealership forever if I never get the capitol or loans to get off the ground. However, there are far worse fates in life such as being a drivers ed teacher forever, or becoming a mechanical engineer and getting bored with it.
I don't know that I am really looking for advice, as this is an important decision and I need to work it out for myself. But, I certainly wouldnt mind some additional opinions on this. I am not going to be offended if you tell me this is retarded, so do not adjust your responses to cater to my sensitivity. Thanks - Ben
So, I am in the application process for USM as either a Mechanical Engineering or Physics major. These are two fields that I am pretty psyched about. I always loved physics and the sciences in high school. My grandfather was a mechanical engineer and I have always been interesed in that field. I am an engineer in the Army as well (civil) and have enjoyed my work there. I do enjoy math, but its really a means to a scientific end to me. In other words, applied math is cool.
But, there is the question from Office Space that I have thought about a lot ...
Peter Gibbons: Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what you'd do if you had a million dollars and you didn't have to work. And invariably what you'd say was supposed to be your career. So, if you wanted to fix old cars then you're supposed to be an auto mechanic.
Samir: So what did you say?
Peter Gibbons: I never had an answer. I guess that's why I'm working at Initech.
Michael Bolton: No, you're working at Initech because that question is bull**** to begin with. If everyone listened to her, there'd be no janitors, because no one would clean **** up if they had a million dollars.
If I had a million dollars I would mod cars all day. I would take classes on fiberglass molding and auto painting and buy everything I needed to customize vehicles and start a customization shop. This does not seem like an unrealistic dream to me.
I understand that now is NOT the time to start a business. Maybe it will be by the time I get out of school, but maybe not. I get really excited about this dream in a way that mechanical engineering does not affect me. The shop would specialize in everything aftermarket, possibly with specialists in each area as it grows, tinting, paint, body, vinyl, performance, etc. I would love to know how to do all this stuff myself, but I am starting from scratch at a later age than would be ideal.
I know this is an unrealistic fantasy but it makes it hard to consider the more realistic careers with this in my head. I dont see any reason I shouldnt go for it, its certainly not impossbile. I would have to start small, possibly fixing up some cars from auction and reselling them to build capitol and allowing for time to find the right location and equipment. I am not gonna have my own TV show in a year or anything, but by offering a discount to websites such as this one and mainevwscene.com and so on, or taking a show car to autox/rallyx events I could build a reputation. I do understand that Maine is not an ideal location for this. I am considering buying a home in the next few years (yes, I saw the post about the $8k from the gov't) and have considered moving a little farther south (kennebunk/wells/york) for reasons other than this idea. However, a shop in this area would give me access to the car scenes in southern Maine, seacoast New Hampshire and Northern Mass.
I am a fairly intelligent person
I don't know that I am really looking for advice, as this is an important decision and I need to work it out for myself. But, I certainly wouldnt mind some additional opinions on this. I am not going to be offended if you tell me this is retarded, so do not adjust your responses to cater to my sensitivity. Thanks - Ben
get off the treadmill of "normal "life ,as quick as posible...All physical reality starts with a thought..
gardener/landscaper]With Inspiration and perspiration one can acheive anything:iam:.Id wish you luck-but there is no such thing.
wzrd
