Graduating high school - Any advice to me moving on to the real world?

PVT Angelo Velez — Wed, 27 May 2015 07:40:33 -0400

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.

Response by SGT(P) Daniel McBride made May 27 at 2015 7:42 AM

SGT(P) Daniel McBride — Wed, 27 May 2015 07:42:55 -0400

Hopefully you saved a little money during your time in. Pay attention to all the "soldier for life" briefings and ensure that there are no hiccups on your way out. I'm saddened by soldiers who have no plan for when they get out

Response by SGT(P) Daniel McBride made May 27 at 2015 7:42 AM

SGT(P) Daniel McBride — Wed, 27 May 2015 07:42:41 -0400

Also there are programs (none I can say verbatim ) that will assist soldier with finances as well as being hired for a job once you've made the decision to exit

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 27 at 2015 7:46 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Wed, 27 May 2015 07:46:38 -0400

Moving on to the "real" world? What world are you coming from? :-)

Response by SGT(P) Daniel McBride made May 27 at 2015 7:53 AM

SGT(P) Daniel McBride — Wed, 27 May 2015 07:53:27 -0400

Now that I've re read your question. I'd say...save what you can and do research on how to make your money make money for you. I.e investments, CDs , ira's

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 8:01 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 08:01:31 -0400

As stated above, carefully save money where you can and try to make the best possible choices. A big part of that would be to find a Mentor and don't be afraid to ask question. Stay in School and push through. You will have some Awesome days and some not so Awesome days, but all in all your experience should be great. I see that you are already a Private. Did go through the Split Op Program (Or whatever they call it now). Learn as much as you can in the Guard as well and Carefully choose your Career Path there. I have learned alot of my 20 years in the Military and it has truly helped me to be the leader that I am today. Don't hesitate to fire questions my way! Let's keep in touch!

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made May 27 at 2015 8:06 AM

SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA — Wed, 27 May 2015 08:06:47 -0400

How can you be graduating high school and be a Private?

Response by SGT Richard H. made May 27 at 2015 8:09 AM

SGT Richard H. — Wed, 27 May 2015 08:09:50 -0400

It's not as "real" as you might think.....

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made May 27 at 2015 8:28 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Wed, 27 May 2015 08:28:35 -0400

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.

Response by SSG Melvin Nulph made May 27 at 2015 8:32 AM

SSG Melvin Nulph — Wed, 27 May 2015 08:32:44 -0400

I take it you are in the reserves? Be your own person, stay away from the things that's going to get yourself in trouble.
It's your life, live it right you normally only get one chance at it & if you mess up with a bunch of, "want to be's", you pay the price for it.
Do not think anyone owes you anything, yet keep an eye open for things that can help you get ahead. There are some good things out there to help with the cost of school use them.
Check into AER, they have a grant program that may be able to help?

Response by SFC(P) Aaron Fore made May 27 at 2015 8:44 AM

SFC(P) Aaron Fore — Wed, 27 May 2015 08:44:08 -0400

Congratulations on your graduation. Moving into the real world, as you say, is quite a bit different from living with your parents. If I may offer any words of advice I would suggest the following:
1. Pay attention in school and always do your best possible, pass or fail, if you gave it your honest best effort that in itself is an admirable trait to develop.
2. Choose your friends wisely, that is, do not be naïve. Have fun but be safe, if your friends do not give as much as they get and usually cost you every time, they’re not friends.
3. When you secure a job, set aside around 10% at least to ALWAYS go to savings, you gotta pay yourself as well as your other bills.
4. Learn everything you can and do for yourself as much as possible to reduce your dependency on others. Use Google, YouTube or talk to people who are willing to teach you not do for you.
5. All the things your parents warned you about, that you thought was stupid, is now on your horizon. They survived long enough to care for you so they may have some wisdom you could benefit from. When in doubt ask, ask, ask.
6. Just as any Soldier should, do what you know you need to do to achieve mission success. A strong work ethic, doing the right thing and never offering excuses but rather apologies for what you know to be truly your fault will always be noticed and appreciated.
7. Live within your means, one day you will be able to afford better but you gotta build that road first.
I hope some of this helps, I have three daughters and two grand daughters as well as over 30 years service. I am not perfect, far from it, but I will always try to help.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made May 27 at 2015 9:20 AM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Wed, 27 May 2015 09:20:14 -0400

- 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.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 9:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 09:35:27 -0400

Yes. Everything you do in life, every temptation you resist, every obstacle you overcome, every time you convince yourself with an excuse to quit - all of it comes down to what kind of man you are and will become.
So, spend some honest to goodness quiet time with yourself, decide exactly what kind of man you want to be. Then find people like that and surround yourself with them
them. Ask them to mentor you
They will teach you everything you'll ever need to be successful

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made May 27 at 2015 9:51 AM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Wed, 27 May 2015 09:51:53 -0400

For college, read, have facts and challenge your professors. That is what the good ones are looking for. They want to see if you're just another kid who is going to sit there and nod or if you think for yourself and challenge assumptions.

In life, do what makes you happy and do it well. Avoid getting over extending on credit.

If your interest is in the Army or military in general have you applied to the Academy?

Response by SFC Stephen King made May 27 at 2015 10:16 AM

SFC Stephen King — Wed, 27 May 2015 10:16:06 -0400

Congratulations, I recommend have fun take time to relax and focus. Be aware of your emotions and reactions. Lastly, control what you can control.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made May 27 at 2015 10:30 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Wed, 27 May 2015 10:30:52 -0400

Your preparation should've began a year ago. Start getting your resume together. Contact a Mr. John Lutkenhouse ( [login to see] , [login to see] ext 140). He works for the Lucas Group and they provide a free service to the Military Vets. They will help you with your resume and send you job openings across the country. Be as informed as possible. Good luck and congratulations on your new civilian life!

Response by SPC George Adkins made May 27 at 2015 2:16 PM

SPC George Adkins — Wed, 27 May 2015 14:16:17 -0400

Advice? Learn a marketable skill. Educate yourself in everything you. Don't get married till you're at least 28. No kids till you're 30. Go have fun!

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 27 at 2015 2:50 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Wed, 27 May 2015 14:50:32 -0400

Network, be ambitious, and learn as much as you can.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 2:53 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 14:53:09 -0400

I don't want to reiterate other great advice that's been posted already, so I'll just elaborate on one aspect about enjoying college: You will likely look back on your college years with the realization that it was this period of perfect balance in your life. You now have the freedom to participate in all the things reserved for adults, and yet simultaneously, you don't necessarily have the full gamut of responsibilities that those already engaged in their careers do.

It's a great experience of freedom that you won't forget, and that you likely won't have again (until retirement perhaps?), so I'd recommend making the most of it. This doesn't mean waste all your time goofing off or partying of course, perhaps a better way of putting it would be to "live deliberately". I met my best friends in college, and putting my academic/intellectual efforts in the right places allowed me to learn a great deal about things I actually care about.

I'm curious, are you going to BCT in between graduation and starting school? Good luck in any case....be in shape before you go, lol.

Response by LT Charles Baird made May 27 at 2015 2:55 PM

LT Charles Baird — Wed, 27 May 2015 14:55:52 -0400

I met a gentlemen once who told me his secret was to save 50% (different types of investments) of his income and live out of the other 50%. He used this formula from the time he graduated college and at the age of 40 was wealthy enough that he retired and said he could live until his 90s off of $50,000 a year because he did not have a mortgage or car payment; he owned his house outright (bought it out of college on a 15 year mortgage; his house did not cost half a million; it was not extravagent; a standard 3 bedroom ranch) and kept his cars for atleast 10 years or more; when I met him 15 years ago he was on his second car. He advised to stay away from the keep up with the Jones' mentality (the Jones' don't pay your bills) and don't get the latest and greatest everytime it comes out. The $50,000 he said covered his incidentals (gas, food, insurance, etc... and his play time; vacations, golf, etc...)

I could not tell you how much money he actually had as he did not tell me and I did not ask as it was not my business. But I know he did not work and he lived well. I can only convey what he told me. He was not a military person living on retirement either.

Did I follow his advice? Nope, I was young and frivolous like most people.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 3:22 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 15:22:32 -0400

Sorry, but college is not the real world. It will be the funnest years (if you are doing it right). :)

Study hard... Do not worry about being broke, you will be; it is the time... Be wise with your time... Work as well as study; strangely it will manage your time better and keep you out of trouble...

There is an old adage, "Find something that you love to do and find a way to get paid to do it..." If you haven't identified that yet, don't stress, you will. Change majors if you must, but find that thing that makes you happy to go to work every day.

Statistically, you will be with work people more than your family, so love love love what you do. :)

And don't forget to have fun!!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 2:13 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 14:13:57 -0400

Congratulations! First, do not take any loans. If you are a National Guard Soldier, use the scholarship and get 100% of your tuition paid for, while pulling your GI Bill to supplement your income. Pick up an on campus part-time job. Most of the jobs you can do your schoolwork on the clock. Join the ROTC program, you will be eligible to contract your second year and receive a $350 stipend your sophomore year, $450 as a junior, and $500 as a senior. Your drill pay will be at the E-5 rate. Stipend+Drill Pay+GI Bill=$1xxx.00 a month. Commission as an Officer following college either Active Duty/Reserves. If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact me at [login to see] .edu

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 6:17 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 18:17:20 -0400

1. Don't drink underage, you will get caught. (the pressure to drink is high, but I know several people who were permanently booted from ROTC for drinking)
2. Eating out is more expensive than you think. Ration out how much money you give yourself to eat out every month.
3. Find a mentor in either your major or similar interest group, they will help you identify good decisions to make.
4. Make an effort to get to know your professors, you need them to write recommendation letters.
5. Don't be a spotlight ranger, your behavior should be consistently good otherwise your peers will start to dislike you. Peer reviews are usually requested by your MS instructor.
6. Find friends/classmates who can study with you. (in an adequate study environment so you don't get distracted)
7. Resist the impulse to buy stuff you don't need. Save the money you get from drill and invest it.

Response by SPC Ei McS made May 28 at 2015 7:31 PM

SPC Ei McS — Thu, 28 May 2015 19:31:06 -0400

Congratulations!!!!! I don't think I have any real advice but: Finish your college education!!!!! Are you going to study through the help of the GI bill? You may want to do so (in case you haven't yet)!

Response by PVT William Bresch made Dec 29 at 2015 9:34 AM

PVT William Bresch — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 09:34:41 -0500

go slow, weigh your options and beeeeeee "YOURSELF" !!!

Response by 1LT Mark Fleming made Feb 22 at 2023 10:49 PM

1LT Mark Fleming — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 22:49:38 -0500

If it turns out that college is not for you, consider the trades. Most of the trades have apprentice programs where you get paid to learn. You will graduate with no debt and walk into a highly-paid position. Another option is manufacturing. I am a consultant and trainer in that industry, and every company I work with is looking for help. They provide training and promotion from within, so for a bright young man, promotions will come rapidly. With either of these options, your earnings will be 2-3 times your college peers, and you will have no debt.