- A story about jobs, bachelors, bachelor's degrees -- and a very weird government definition of "home"
I'm temporarily one of those folks. For me, it was either take a bartending job in the city and fret over looming student loans or take a blue collar job in my rural hometown. I chose the latter. It has been a huge lifestyle change, one that has financially helped me, but I've found that my social life has suffered. I'm exposed to less radical and interesting ideas, forced to drive if I want to go anywhere and subject to working a mindless job that currently isn't getting me anywhere near my desired career. To be honest, I'm not sure what my desired career looks like, which is part of the problem. Next month, however, I will be leaving the country in the hopes of expanding my worldview and finding opportunity elsewhere. No kids, no lovers, no mortgage... it's a precarious state to be in. We should really be more concerned about the upcoming "brain drain" that the US will face if the education system remains on its current trajectory. Foreign degrees are looking a lot more affordable and desirable. Maybe I already am prepared for grad school. But I certainly feel inadequate. And I most definitely don't want to pay for it.
I think it is a pretty great state to be in, for a certain amount of time. You should try your best to live it up to the best of your ability, learn something new, make new friends and have a couple romances (if you are so inclined.) I am forever grateful for the time I was able to take off before started a real career and starting "my life." There is a certain amount of self-growth and self-analyzation that can only occur when you are unattached and you should make the most of it. Especially since you mention that you aren't quite sure where you want to go from here in terms of career, this is a great opportunity to do some things you may not normally do. It's a lot hard to take big chances to make big changes when you have personal, work, and financial obligations. When you have people and things around you, the risk that comes with taking chances or making some potentially unwise decisions are greater, which makes you less likely to take the chance. Live it up.No kids, no lovers, no mortgage... it's a precarious state to be in.
Take your time figuring out what your career path is because it will inevitably change several times during your career. If I could impart any unsolicited advice, it would be to get a secondary degree that is either versatile or highly specialized. -The former if you are still indecisive and the latter if you find yourself truly inspired. Either way, don't stay too long in that blue collar gig. They have a way of ensnaring people for life.
Well, I'm about to join the ranks. After I finish my last year of undergrad I'm moving back home to save money during grad school. Can't say I'm thrilled about the situation, but hopefully it will pay off down the road.
After school I took a trip to Australia for 3 months and then spent 8 months at home. It was pretty terrible, but allowed me to get my career and life going without treading water trying to make rent, bills, etc. Plus the fact that I wanted to spend as little time possible around my parents made to go out and find other places to work, other things to do, and hang out with people I wouldn't normally hang out with. When you are ready to move out you have a bit more leeway and have the opportunity to look at exactly where you want to live and make sure that the place you are moving to will help you. Signing a year lease somewhere without fully investigating the options because you don't have the time SUCKS.
I moved home for about 4-6 months after school. From the age of 23 - 27 I was really searching for my path. In many ways, I still am. Good luck with your transition home. Make the most of it!
That is quite a strange definition of living at home. Why would they use that definition since, as far as I know, people in the US quite often go out of state to study. That would then mean that they live at home, but can live on the other side of the country. I don't know how houses are in the US, but my guess is that the houses are not that big.