The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday in the noon hour.
QUESTION: What advice would you give to a high school senior who is just about to graduate?
Talk about it….
if they’d listen to it, they likely already know otherwise what would be the point as they wouldn’t listen
Think for yourself. Get a job.
Trade school
Be a leader, not a follower. Set good examples and don’t fall victim to lesser achieving people.
First and foremost, turn off you smart phone and stay off social media. Never believe everything you hear, and only half of what you see. Trust no one until they have earned your trust, especially the media and the self appointed experts that are trying to tell you how to live your life. In order to have a better understanding of the world around you, you need to be objective and think rationally with your intellect and not with your emotions. Once you have accomplished that, everything will fall into place and you will realize how the liberal left is destroying the American dream.
And popcorn demands that you adhere to the democrats indoctrination.
Popcorn – a much better idea is to teach them how to think critically, rather than to blindly follow a political party. You have demonstrated time and time again that you’re limited to drooling over the dnc talking points and are therefore incapable of looking at all of the information to make a rational judgment based on the FACTS.
And you accuse those who disagree with you “haters.” Whatever happened to the party of diversity, tolerance, inclusion and freedom of speech? Oh I get it. That only applies to those who agree with you.
No wonder your picture shows up in the dictionary when looking up the definition of “hypocrite.”
Ih
Sorry popcorn, what I said is true. Crime is being encouraged by the liberal left, by refusing to prosecute the criminals. Seventeen different Walgreen’s stores in San Francisco have closed due to an increase in shoplifting. There are homeless tents, human feces, and hypodermic needles all over the sidewalks. Murder is at an all time high, and people are leaving California and New York in droves because they are fed up with liberal politics.
This is the American dream being destroyed by the liberal left, and because you are a Democrat, you are part of the problem.
Start saving for retirement ASAP, even though it feels like it’s a million years away.
Ditto…
I often get a response such as “I can’t afford it”, upon which I reply “you can’t afford NOT to..”
Just start a Roth IRA with a little bit.
Be true to yourself. Be who you want to be, not something that looks good in your parents Christmas cards, or sounds good at a party. Just be you…
Be thoughtful.
Be grateful.
Don’t sit home and play video games. Get a job. And make some money, legally. And be a great employee. Someday you will be looking for employees yourself. And you’ll know what to look for.
Cheers \o/
To the Class of 2021.
Travel now.
Skip college for vocational training unless its a degree in engineering, forestry/geology or sciences.
Avoid the tech industry unless you want a life chained to a region of high rent and long hours.
Listen to your gut, reach out to those that can help if you feel overwhelmed, counselors, parents, teachers, professionals in the field. Don’t go it alone ever. Make the transition fantastic. Never ever turn to drugs or alcohol for the answer to cope. No way it that a long term fix. Have a strong constitution, know yourself and your end game/ your goals. Think one day at a time. You will win.
The most important investment you will ever make is in you. Increase your skill sets either through college or other schools or just in choosing your professional experiences. Also invest in your health, because people find a poor life style will cost them huge amounts of money and misery. In work, your boss is not your friend or parent and he is not looking out for how to improve your life. You need to choose that path. If you make a poor decision, own it and try to fix it instead of waiting, either in your choice of work or relationships. Finally, your biggest regrets in life will probably be the things you did not try to do, so go for it while you have the chance.
Take responsibility for yourself, think for yourself, be accountable for yourself, don’t be so dependent on everybody else – especially your parents, get rid of your smart-aleck “know it all” attitude, get off your phone and videos games, if you’re going to college go straight there from high school – no break years and take meaningful classes to get you a real job… not all the liberal arts classes… and if you won’t do ALL of the above – join the military……. but 80% of the kids these days won’t listen anyway….
Get the hell out of California.
This is the best advice on this post…
Why are you still here California will be better without you.
Just saying. I need to stay here and keep a eye on people like you. How about you get out, and maybe California will be great again.
Geez, popcorn… you have issues with people that can think for themselves and have different opinions than you.
You have some major anger issues – but not unexpected from you, given your history.
I hear there is treatment for your issues. Meanwhile, take a breath and practice some tolerance for others’ opinions.
Old Corn Pop needs to smoke a Bomberreu and chill the California way.
They are all different. They need different advice. One that would be good for all is stay away from drugs and alcohol. Another is don’t depend on the government. Don’t take some meaningless course in college. Stay out of street protests. Don’t be a wise ass. Work hard and get along with your fellow workers. Take a good aptitude test. You don’t want to end up doing something you don’t like doing. Save money as soon as you can. It’s a good habit. Enjoy the next forty or fifty years until you retire.
Don’t have an unplanned pregnancy. This is for the girls and boys.
No matter what you plan to do for the next 80 years, go to college after high school. There you will be further exposed to critical thinking exercises that will enhance every aspect of your life, personal and professional. Do you plan to work on a landscaping crew? Business and economics classes will help you become the boss and art history can inform your designs. Do you plan a lucrative career in construction? Those business and econ classes will help you become the boss and understand regulations. History classes of all sorts will help you understand so many aspects of life and assist you in making wise decisions. We study history to advance and to avoid repeating mistakes. And literature classes–well, they are not just the icing on the cake. You learn skills there, too, especially in critical thinking. Then there is anthroplogy …
Business and economics- totally.
History and literature? Look for them in the food line at Salvation Army…unless they find a job doing something nowhere remotely near their degree.
Lit and art expand the way we look at the world. I’m not saying that a liberal arts major is the path to a good salary. It IS a path to view things from many angles, I strongly support adding the liberal arts to any curriculum
It’s not what you know, it is who you know.
Don’t let anyone tell you you should or shouldn’t go to college. If you don’t have interest in college but like working with your hands then go into a trade. However, talk to older people in the trade. How are their bodies holding up? What is your exit plan if you get hurt or you don’t like it. Don’t let anyone tell you that college is useless or you won’t learn anything. Even if you don’t end up going take free online courses especially business courses (especially accounting). It will help you understand how to run a business and how to deal with the financial part of running a business.
If you do plan to go to college, in your first two years take all your general courses before taking any courses specific to your major. Find out what you like and talk to people in the field as you may end up changing your mind. If you want to get into the soft sciences / art know that it will take even more effort to be successful than if you were to go with a STEM or even a Business major. If you are passionate and are already a hard worker don’t let anyone dissuade you! Yes, have a plan B but work for your plan A like you don’t have a plan B.
You will fail and make mistakes. Pick yourself up, grow, and do better. Set goals for yourself and reassess every year where you want to be in a year, 5 years, 10 years, when you are retired.
Everyone is going to try to give you advice or tell you what you should and shouldn’t do. Pick and choose what you take for advice from each person. Look at that person’s life and ask yourself is this the type of person I want to be like or take advice from? Materially rich people could be completely morally bankrupt or put money over their family. Who cares if they make good money but their kids won’t talk to them and they’ve been divorced 3 times. Or, perhaps they have a great family life but are always broke or complaining about money. Just as you choose your friends you can choose your advisors.
Lastly, it’s your life and the only people you have to answer to is yourself and to God. So live your life and enjoy yourself.
Well, it was the 80s and my elders advice was to get into computers. I didn’t listen. Definitely go to college if you are wanting to be in management. If you are mechanical work with your hands type….go to a trade school.
Do be in a hurry to start your career…..or you’ll be like those coworkers that have put in 40 years and still can’t retire because they started at 18.
Do not finance a vehicle.
Start a 401k asap…..some of the old timers at my workplace walked me through the process and it was worth it.
Don’t do the whole keeping up with the Jones thing.
Listen to the finance guy Dave Ramsey.
No college plans?
No job pending?
Try the Military for a few years and see how it fits. If nothing else you’ll come out with a solid work ethic and an appreciation for things.
I say this as a retiree with 33 Years of service.
@DD
Completely agree, and thank you for your many years of service.
First, you do not need a four year college degree to have a house, a living wage job and live a comfortable life.
One of my current front line bosses is an electrical engineer with the years of college, student debt and has a new family. I made more than he did last year, working no overtime.
Gain a skill set that will enable you to get a job anywhere in the world.
A skill set that is always in demand, or you could be like Adam.
https://mostlycajun.com/wordpress/?attachment_id=50673
Graduates need to pay off debt as soon as possible, preferably each month except for major purchases (car, house). An start saving money 6 months gross salary to start with, eventually one year gross salary.
Then begin saving for retirement, maxing out each year if possible to take advantage of the effect of compounding.
Two types of golden retirements, one that you planned for OR a retirement under them golden arches, … askin’, “Ya want a large fries with that ?
Don’t be one of those people who say “Hot Water Heater”
It is simply “Water Heater”
If the water was already hot there would be no need to heat it!
So if you don’t want to sound like an idiot…. just call it a water heater!
Go, see and do. You are loved.
Do NOT get pregnant or get someone pregnant until you feel you are an adult /adult enough to raise a child, especially a teenager, because y’all are a LOT.
Do something you’re GOOD / GREAT at, that you also like. That could be an industry and /or a task (ie healthcare finance). If you are not intellectually inclined, don’t go to college but consider taking some courses at LMC / DVC for a year and see what else and who else is out there in this big, beautiful world. You’ve been living in a bubble.
Travel. You will learn about yourself and see some amazing places while meeting incredible people. Now there are apps to bridge language barriers. Even if you have to rough it, stay in your hostels or university dorms, travel is so eye-opening, and damned fun.
Start your retirement contributions as soon as you get your first paycheck (or soon thereafter). In the current times, retirees need $1,000,000 invested for every $50,000 they want to spend (essentially 4-5% withdrawal every year). It will be much, much worse when you suddenly realize you’re 60 and ready to retire and you have no plan and no savings.
Drive a reliable but older car (Hondas are great cars) for as long as you can, drive them for 1000,000s of miles, or until you really can’t take it any more. We are very well off, I am retired and I drive an 8 yo Mazda CX-9, My husband drives a used BMW 7 series (but he’s fancy). The less you spend on depreciating assets, the more you can save, invest and spend on appreciating assets. Live frugally, so that when you have a family crisis, you can financially handle the matter, while dealing with the real problem. Money problems never go away if you are always living paycheck to paycheck.
Learn what an asset and a liability is, what they mean and why it’s important to have mastery over emotional purchases and self-control.
Do not care what impresses others. They don’t matter.
Find a faith you believe in, and practice it daily. It will give you hope if / when you get to a place where all hope is lost.
Cultivate meaningful friendships and romances, and be a best friend, by listening, and then listening some more. Have at least 5 people in your life that would jump on a plane for you to anywhere, no questions asked, if you get in serious trouble. Be that friend.
Protect your mental well-being above all else. Walk outside, get a dog, hike, dirt bike ride, dig in the garden or borrow a horse. The outdoors will help you remember that you are but a speck on this tiny spinning planet, but at the same time, you need to be reliant upon yourself, self-sufficient and mentally stable. I cannot emphasize this one enough.emtal.illness is a fight against oneself and every day is a awful battle against your own mind.
Forgive your parents for how messed up they are; they did the best they could (unless they’re real jerks, then, cut yourself off from toxic family members, move and get on with your life).
Good Luck.
Oh! Yeah…… don’t get pregged up!
Find a career that you enjoy, something such that you will look forward to going to work, rather than dreading it. If it requires college, go and study hard. Try to minimize your college debt. Don’t choose a career for the money; if you enjoy it you will be better at it and an adequate amount of money will follow. Work hard and be honest. Treat people fairly. Continuously upgrade your skills, as technology is constantly changing, even in the trades.
First, life isn’t fair, no matter how much loud mouths try to claim equity or “fairness.” Equality is in opportunity, not outcome. Second, nothing in life is free. There is a cost, and someone pays it. Third, sacrifice now, don’t buy that Starbuck’s, but rather save that money for your future. Finally, there is nothing like watching your children grow. Be there for them, they are your life.
Very well said!
And I’ll add one more:
If you drive around town blasting rap music, turn that sh** off.
Lots of good common sense advise. Get an education, start saving for retirement early etc. Kind of goes without saying, however when I was that age my mother told don’t be in a hurry to settle down, it will all happen in eventually. So I decided to see the world, there is a big world out there, and I think seeing some of it before going off to college or a career is good advise. So I encouraged my daughter to do the same, her father (we are divorced did not agree, so she went to college, but after graduating from college she went to Europe for about 6 weeks (including my native Denmark, I flew over and met her there) then she got a good job with San Francisco SPCA, and after a few years, went back to school Washington D.C. to get her master’s degree. I think the best advice I would give anyone, is don’t think you are locked into anything, there are always options, keep an open mind, and try to follow your heart as much as possible, as long as it is legal and don’t hurt others.
Stay curious.
about what?
About everything, of course, MM!
Or are you doing it already in your question, you tricky fellow! Ha ha!
Men in yellow hats…
Wear a rubber/male.
Take the pill/female.
Then try to wear it out.
The “Old Timers” will get this….”One word: Plastics”.
nytemuvr,
You’re trying to seduce me, aren’t you?
@The Professor… I’d like to think I’m smoother than that…I was at one time.
. . . if you don’t mind my saying so, this conversation is getting a little strange.
“The Graduate”
Travel as much of the world while your young.
Yes agree 100% I never regretted the traveling l did.
Learn how to read with comprehension of what the words are saying. Too many young adults seem to be unable to properly fill out applications for anything because they don’t comprehend the written requests for what, where, and how to fill in the blanks.
If the opportunity exists. Take that entry level city, or county job. Or work for the government. Public servants make good money, coming and going.
And if you did or do major in the arts. A few cities, such as Walnut Creek, have public arts on the city payroll.
Mind your manners with please and thank yous. Be kind. Take pride in your appearance, dress for success always. Whatever task you set out to do, in work or home do it to the best of your ability. Look out for your own safety and well being.
Being nice goes a long way in life.
Whatever you do, don’t waste 4 years and $50k-$100k on a college education majoring in dance, singing, basket-weaving, or architecture of fine china. Instead learn something useful to prepare you for life like Business Administration (accounting, finance, marketing, speaking, business english, business law, managerial economics, business networking, common sense business practices).
Be strong in the basics of reading, writing, and rithmetic. Learn as much as STEM fields as you can. Learning a computer language.
Jobs for singing and dance majors are far and few between. If you happen to be good in math, go towards computer/tech or accounting. If you happen to be good in English, go into sales. If you hate school, learn a trade that you don’t hate and makes lots of money like a plumber, general contractor, cop.
You have to be a complete wh*re to be a good salesperson….
Don’t do it.
If you do they will expect your sales to increase by an unreasonable percentage every year (which is impossible) so they always have an excuse to let you go, but they won’t do that until you are making alot of money and have more than 3 weeks vacation per year and then you are history!
Hint: When you apply see how many older people are working there…… if there aren’t any…. guess what!