Posted on May 27, 2015
PVT Angelo Velez
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I'm about to graduate high school this Friday. I'll be a college student in the spring like most kids that are about to graduate high school. Any advice on life or financial advice or any advice at all that can help me in the future.
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Responses: 25
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
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Edited 9 y ago
Moving on to the "real" world? What world are you coming from? :-)
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COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM
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- Financial. Use a three legged stool of savings, insurance, and investments. Investments are for long term growth, insurance to protect you from catastrophic loss, savings to protect your investments. Start small and early even in college. $20-$50 monthly grows over time.
- Passion. Some people have a job, some a career, some a calling. The difference among the three is the amount of passion you bring to it on a daily basis. Strive to find a calling.
- College. Have fun but consider college an investment in your future. You will get out of it what you put into it.
- Debt. Use every tool to either stay out of or to minimize your debt while in college. Start with scholarships and grants, keep your expenses low, get a job either while in school or during the summer. Paying off college debt into your late 30s and 40s sort of defeats the purpose of going to college in the first place.
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SGT Richard H.
SGT Richard H.
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Let me repeat something COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM just said.
- Debt. Use every tool to either stay out of or to minimize your debt while in college.

Actually, let me repeat it again. It's really that important.
- Debt. Use every tool to either stay out of or to minimize your debt. Even take it a step further and avoid debt altogether if you can. I know when it comes time to buy a house, not many people can pay cash, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about frivolous items (toys) or avoiding the temptation to finance a Mercedes when you can really afford to drive a Toyota...there will be time for the Mercedes later.
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Cpl Jeff N.
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First, college isn't the real world. It isn't even a reasonable facsimile of the real world but you should still go if you can. I tell my kids all the time (I have kids in college and high school too). "These are the best days of your life, you will never have it any better than you do right now". It is broadly true. The real world will sink in when you've been in the work force (whatever vocation you folow) for about 10 years and you realize you still have another 30+ years to work before retirement.

Best advice I can offer is:

Read a lot (non fiction mostly). Reading will improve vocabulary, grammar, writing skills etc. Those skills are widely lacking these days. Command of words in both the written and spoken form will provide you great advantage over time.

Save a little money out of every check. Save more when you get a raise. Money doesn't buy you happiness but having some around will reduce some stress in your life.

Leave your mind open to the possibilty of God if you are not already there. That will provide you more sublime pleasure than the temporal things of this world.

Not exatly Socrates but a few nuggets to consider. All the best as you move on to college.
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