What collge or Trade School (including Communtiy) did you go to and what did you study?
My narrowed choices are,
1. Kendal Art and Design in GR
2. School Craft, Fire Techonologies
3. Modoc (not gonna happen but I can dream)
4. Heavy Equipment Operating School in Howell at M43 and M59
5. Washtenaw Community for Home Building
6. Hire out on a railroad, I used to think I really wanted to drive trains, but I want to chase girls and stay around South Lyon for a while. So the Union Pacific is gonna have to wait for this wanna be hogger or conductor.
My family is preasuring me towards Ford but I want nothing to do with an office job unless it has to do with photos. I want to be out doors.
What College or Trade school did you go to
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Raildudes dad
- Roadmaster
- Posts: 4756
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:12 am
- Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Michigan Tech in Houghton MI - Studied civil engineering because I was interested in road construction ever since I was 10 - 11 years old. I've designed roads & bridges and supervised their construction for the local road commission since 1972 except for a 10 year stint supervising the Road Commission Maintenance division (89-99). I truly enjoy my job and look forward to going to work every morning. My advice - do something you enjoy doing, you will never regret your choice.
Where are you in life? Have you recently graduated high school?
There's a lot to be said for working outdoors. However, the office type jobs have their perks. When you're 50+ do you really want to be out and about operating heavy machinery? What effects will the job have on your health? Are you sure that you want to be outside on the bitter or sloppy days?
I went to Mississippi State University and got my B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. I now work for Gulfstream Aerospace. I do structural design and analysis of aircraft structures.
You are correct that being cooped up in an office all day can get tedious. However, most of the time I'd much rather be inside in the a/c instead of out in the sweltering heat or rain. I did just spend some time out at Edwards AFB in California so I do get out of the office sometimes to work on things.
You could get into civil engineering and build bridges and highways or maybe even work on railroad projects. You could work out a position where you get into the field a lot to supervise construction without having to be outside all day or perform manual labor.
Just keep in mind that your health can take a downturn at any time and you'll want a contingency plan to fall back on. This country is headed away from industrialization, so think about that. Job security is important.
Also, realize how much money you're going to require to live comfortably , and factor that into your decision. Take the gross salary and multiply by .65 to see approximately what you take home at each paycheck after taxes. You'll be surprised how far a "decent" salary *wont* go.
I think the most important thing is to get an education that will allow you to be flexible. Try not to box yourself into just being able to do one thing. A 4-year degree will make you eligible for just about any job you might want. The older you get, the harder it will be to go back to school as you get more responsibilities.
There's a lot to be said for working outdoors. However, the office type jobs have their perks. When you're 50+ do you really want to be out and about operating heavy machinery? What effects will the job have on your health? Are you sure that you want to be outside on the bitter or sloppy days?
I went to Mississippi State University and got my B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. I now work for Gulfstream Aerospace. I do structural design and analysis of aircraft structures.
You are correct that being cooped up in an office all day can get tedious. However, most of the time I'd much rather be inside in the a/c instead of out in the sweltering heat or rain. I did just spend some time out at Edwards AFB in California so I do get out of the office sometimes to work on things.
You could get into civil engineering and build bridges and highways or maybe even work on railroad projects. You could work out a position where you get into the field a lot to supervise construction without having to be outside all day or perform manual labor.
Just keep in mind that your health can take a downturn at any time and you'll want a contingency plan to fall back on. This country is headed away from industrialization, so think about that. Job security is important.
Also, realize how much money you're going to require to live comfortably , and factor that into your decision. Take the gross salary and multiply by .65 to see approximately what you take home at each paycheck after taxes. You'll be surprised how far a "decent" salary *wont* go.
I think the most important thing is to get an education that will allow you to be flexible. Try not to box yourself into just being able to do one thing. A 4-year degree will make you eligible for just about any job you might want. The older you get, the harder it will be to go back to school as you get more responsibilities.
Last edited by markvz on Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Raildudes dad
- Roadmaster
- Posts: 4756
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:12 am
- Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Macomb Community and Walsh College. Degree in Marketing.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
A1,
My opinion is that if there's room for advancement, follow your dream and beg borrow or steal (ok not steal) the money to go do what you want. Just don't leap blindly.
Put aside your love of trains and really think about how your life will be working for the railroad. Consider that there will be times that you'll be out in bitter cold, snow, rain and heat. You'll be called out at odd hours when you'd really rather be sleeping. If you have a significant other, she will probably be frustrated with you at times for your line of work. Also, if you plan on raising children, I hear that railroading isn't the most condusive career.
I really love aircraft and I love my job, but I'd still be upset if my weekened plans got cancelled for me or I got a call at 2 am. Being subjected to bad circumstances is just the same whether you love or hate the subject matter. In fact, those circumstances can change your opinion and ruin your hobby. Rememeber that being miserably tired, hot or cold is just the same whether you're walking a train or walking to class.
Just be sure that you have a "plan B" in case you get on with the UP and decide it's not what you expected. What would you do in that case?
Work all the issues out and then don't let anything hold you back from accomplishing your plan. Just plan on not everything going according to plan.
Go for your dreams, but remember that your dreams probably (and really should) extend beyond what you do at work. You may have to compromise on some things in order to make other parts of your dream (wife, kids, comfort?) come true. If you sacrifice the rest of your plans to pursue a career, be ready for a rude awakening if that career doesn't work out.
I'm really hoping that all works out well for you. If working for the UP is what you want to do, do it now and don't look back.
My opinion is that if there's room for advancement, follow your dream and beg borrow or steal (ok not steal) the money to go do what you want. Just don't leap blindly.
Put aside your love of trains and really think about how your life will be working for the railroad. Consider that there will be times that you'll be out in bitter cold, snow, rain and heat. You'll be called out at odd hours when you'd really rather be sleeping. If you have a significant other, she will probably be frustrated with you at times for your line of work. Also, if you plan on raising children, I hear that railroading isn't the most condusive career.
I really love aircraft and I love my job, but I'd still be upset if my weekened plans got cancelled for me or I got a call at 2 am. Being subjected to bad circumstances is just the same whether you love or hate the subject matter. In fact, those circumstances can change your opinion and ruin your hobby. Rememeber that being miserably tired, hot or cold is just the same whether you're walking a train or walking to class.
Just be sure that you have a "plan B" in case you get on with the UP and decide it's not what you expected. What would you do in that case?
Work all the issues out and then don't let anything hold you back from accomplishing your plan. Just plan on not everything going according to plan.
Go for your dreams, but remember that your dreams probably (and really should) extend beyond what you do at work. You may have to compromise on some things in order to make other parts of your dream (wife, kids, comfort?) come true. If you sacrifice the rest of your plans to pursue a career, be ready for a rude awakening if that career doesn't work out.
I'm really hoping that all works out well for you. If working for the UP is what you want to do, do it now and don't look back.
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CAT345C
- RedNeck Train Chaser
- Posts: 4142
- Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:42 pm
- Location: Buffalo Location
- Contact:
Well not particually the UP I was just reading in on their webpage. I love all types of weather mostly the fun snow stuff. I pass guys all the time on the road driving pavers, or bulldozers and they are out their from 7 am to 7 pm most of the time, going back and fourth. I get very board after a while of driving back and fourth no matter what it is. I see these Lyon Twp. Fire fighters racing in their cars to the station to get a fire truck and think wow, thats cool. I see Hanger or pictures of Matt highballing or stuck with the front truck off the rails and think wow thats cool. I proablly should go into Auto Mechanics but I don't want to. I have pretty much rebuilt my 97' escort and almost the same with my 92' ranger, need starter this weekend and two new spindels. Some people are born to be president, some are born to work in a factory, some are born to minulate the public eye (media) and some were born to be railroaders like me. Thanks for all you input guys it will not be wasted.
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SousaKerry
- ALCOHAULIC
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:47 pm
- Location: Somewhere north of Jackson but south of Leslie
- Contact:
Just don't do what I did Graduate highschool have no plans go to a Vo-tech school cause your dad said it would be a good idea work in a few crap hole machine shops, take a few night classes in CAD,CAM at a community colledge, get in a good shop that closed down on me after 4 years, bounce arround go back to CC for industrial electricity, change jobs to get away from some guy you don't like then get fired, switc lines of work to be a superviser in a wharehouse get fired again, move to michigan change carrers again get into Quality and bounce arround a few more places. all that equals 10 jobs in 12 years 2 home in 2 states and nothing to show for it but a story that's really boring.
The point, pick something you love and stick with it!
Find someone who is doing what you want to do for 10-20 years and look at their lifestyle do they have what you want, or are they just broke and faking it with credit? that tells alot about a carrer.
Sousa aka "poster boy for what not to do"
The point, pick something you love and stick with it!
Find someone who is doing what you want to do for 10-20 years and look at their lifestyle do they have what you want, or are they just broke and faking it with credit? that tells alot about a carrer.
Sousa aka "poster boy for what not to do"
What smells like lube oil and diesel.... Oh wait it's just my "Locomotive Breath"
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SDavey
- BANHAMMERED
- Posts: 443
- Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:41 am
- Location: Bay City, Michigan
- Contact:
I myself am attending Central Michigan University, graduating this year with a broadcasting degree.
I saw that you were considering taking fire classes at Schoolcraft CC. My dad is a firefighter and jobs in that field are few and far between at this point in Michigan. Most departments are across the state are actually laying off full time employees, and this can also be true for police officers as well.
I saw that you were considering taking fire classes at Schoolcraft CC. My dad is a firefighter and jobs in that field are few and far between at this point in Michigan. Most departments are across the state are actually laying off full time employees, and this can also be true for police officers as well.
First thing Mike follow your dreams, l hated school and wanted nothing to do with college. School wasnt a challenge for me. I was bored to death, always wanted to be outdoors doing somthing.
So whatever you do, do somthing you love to do.
Pumped gas at my dad gas station 4 years old to 12 years old.
Worked on my grandpas farm 12 years old- 18 years old. (wanted to be a farmer but reality sunk in.)
Graduated from school and worked at a feed store for 9+ years,(was planning on owning the business until I realised I didnt like being inside most of the time) and took firefighter classes first responder classes worked as paid on call firefighter during those years also.(I didnt like the time away from my family)
also(fire departments will pay for your schooling in return for your services.)
Hired into the DPW department 18 years ago, the township also paid for my classes to be licenced for water treatment, and water distribution. Great benefits retirement ect. Should be moving into the depatment head position in the next couple of years. Retiring in 13 years at 82% of my pay. I will be 57 at that time then go into a consulting type role if I feel like it. (Best thing I ever did, lots of outdoor work, challenges, somthing different all the time).
Again do something you like you will never regret it.
So whatever you do, do somthing you love to do.
Pumped gas at my dad gas station 4 years old to 12 years old.
Worked on my grandpas farm 12 years old- 18 years old. (wanted to be a farmer but reality sunk in.)
Graduated from school and worked at a feed store for 9+ years,(was planning on owning the business until I realised I didnt like being inside most of the time) and took firefighter classes first responder classes worked as paid on call firefighter during those years also.(I didnt like the time away from my family)
also(fire departments will pay for your schooling in return for your services.)
Hired into the DPW department 18 years ago, the township also paid for my classes to be licenced for water treatment, and water distribution. Great benefits retirement ect. Should be moving into the depatment head position in the next couple of years. Retiring in 13 years at 82% of my pay. I will be 57 at that time then go into a consulting type role if I feel like it. (Best thing I ever did, lots of outdoor work, challenges, somthing different all the time).
Again do something you like you will never regret it.
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trainjunkie47
- Railroadfan...fan
- Posts: 1692
- Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:38 pm
- Location: Westland, MI
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Justin
- Train Videoholic
- Posts: 1331
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:22 pm
- Location: Bay City, MI
- Contact:
Currently in ITT Tech here in GR and starting my sixth quarter. There are eight quarter for two years.
My train pictures can now be found at:
http://trainman86.rrpicturearchives.net
And my train videos at:
http://www.youtube.com/trainman1986
My website, dedicated to my layout, "The Fast Lane" (still under construction)
www.trainman86.webs.com
http://trainman86.rrpicturearchives.net
And my train videos at:
http://www.youtube.com/trainman1986
My website, dedicated to my layout, "The Fast Lane" (still under construction)
www.trainman86.webs.com
I am currently in a part-time positon as a diswasher in a retirement community. I have worked in several factories and the only parts of those jobs I liked was when I worked as a Material Handler or in Shipping/Recieving. I'm currently waiting to see about an office job in a trucking company. I have been around truckers all my life, but realized at a trucking school that even though I like the big rigs, living that life is a whole other picture. I have always had an interest in the transportation business though, and this opportunity would give me the chance to see how it all works and to apply the things I learned from my dad. He has been in the freight business for over fifty years.
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i995impalass
- Yooper Foamer
- Posts: 1527
- Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:00 am
- Location: Marquette, MI