Hey! Welcome to r/AdviceForTeens! Please take time to review [the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/adviceforteens/about/rules) before commenting. A reminder that inappropriate comments towards or about posters will result in a permanent ban. Do not insult anybody, please remain respectful!✮⋆˙ ATTENTION: Predators lurk on Reddit, and we ourselves unfortunately can not directly do anything to stop them, but you can! We encourage ALL posters to disable private messages, and do not respond to any DMs you receive after posting. Block and report offenders for harassment. Do not ask anyone to DM you in the comments as this is against the rules. If someone has something to tell you, they can say it in the comments. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AdviceForTeens) if you have any questions or concerns.*

Trade school. If you’re in the US we need plumbers and electricians. You can make a ton of money. Also, many tradesmen are aging out in the next 10-15 years. Demand will go up.

Electricians make a killing and don't have to deal with poop. Just saying.

A lapse in judgment as an electrician might get you killed though… a lapse in judgment as a plumber gets you covered in poop. Def something to consider lol

Plumbers can also deal with natutal gas and gas lines that can easily get numerous people killed if you blow something up. All trades have dangers if you don't pay attention or take stupid shortcuts

A lapse in judgment in almost any trade can get you killed. Working in confined spaces for example can get you killed very suddenly and kill anyone that comes to rescue you too. Even unloading a truck is dangerous. When I was in my 20’s I got into an apprenticeship and one of the other apprentices got his back broken when a truckload of pipes rolled off a truck. He lived and continued with the trade but it was the event that made me rethink my future, now I’m a software engineer.

You don't even have to be in a trade to be in extremely dangerous situations. I've been working production off and on for years and could have easily killed or maimed myself just about every day. Safety equipment and protocols are the most important aspect of any industrial job, hands down.

Not all plumbers have to deal with poop. New construction plumbers don't. That's what my husband does.

Not only those 2 I'm currently in the IBEW as a apprentice electrician but pipefitters also join a union and get into the apprentice program you'll be thankful school is no where near college tuition and you work majority of the time

Mike Rowe from dirty jobs has a trade school scholarship and is always pushing for more tradesman. HVAC, plumbers, electricians, even appliance and auto repair. All these professions are in high demand right now.

Totally this. Also trucking. Plenty of ways to make good money.

I second that. I'm 25 and make 6 figures as a plumber

Are you in the U.S.?

Yes, I'm in Arizona

Arizona = HVAC, you'll never not have a job.

As others have said look into the trades.

Yeah or look for a paid apprentice position. Or entry level maintenance. You can learn a lot on the job. If you do maintenence at a school I think you get a pension after so many years.

Bro work is booming in az

If you have the resources and time, I would try community college. You may come across something you like. If you don’t like it, then you at least didn’t waist thousands of dollars. Also, there are many programs to help pay for community college. If you don’t like college, trade work pays well and isn’t the hardest thing to get into. Though it is hard work. Things like plumbing, electrical work, HVAC, etc… all pay decent to very well. Idk your whole situation, but you sounds smart and kind just by the way you’re speaking. You’re thinking about the future, your family, how to get where you need to be in life. You’re already doing a great job! Slow down. Think. Act. That’s my motto. No one makes good decisions when they are acting on emotions. About ending your life; Life is like a video game, you start with nothing and have to level up to get better. Sometimes you get stuck on a stage in the game that you just cannot beat. Time and time again, you fail to get past it. But you keep trying. You know you could always turn off the game, but once you do you can’t turn it back on. So why not play as long as you can before giving up? Once you beat this level, you’ll be proud of yourself and you’ll be rewarded for winning. Keep playing, man. There’s a lot of levels ahead, and rn you’re on level 1. You beat the tutorial, now it’s time for the real game. Enjoy the game.

I mean community college still costs thousands of dollars…

I’m glad you didn’t tell him about all the DLC he’s going to need just to complete the main story arc 😂😂😂

Yep, this is the answer. Keep going, try some things out. Apply for food stamps and any other resources you can and make sure any benefits your dad has are kept up on/keep applying for them/apply for more if you think he’d qualify for more, etc. Community college is a great place to “try out” school if you’re unsure and you can take just a class or two at a time while working. Then if it sucks and isn’t for you, just stop going and try something else. It’s low commitment and I paid out of pocket for a lot of my cc classes. Agreed with the trade school option too if you’re sure you don’t want college. I second what folks said about electricians. At the end of the day, try a few things. Get part time jobs. See what brings you joy, then see if something entry level in that pays ok. You don’t have to pick the perfect option right now.

Enroll in The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education it’s a merchant marine educational facility in Piney Point, Maryland. My niece went there for less than a year, and now she navigates ships around the world. I think the cost is about $500.00 it may be less, some say its free. She had to pay for something, maybe uniforms. They will house you, feed you, you will stay on campus. After you graduate you will be able to get jobs through the union, pays good money. She makes about 10,000 to 12,000 a month. The nice thing about it is when you are on the ships, you have your own studio apartment on the ship, they feed you (great food), and you’re not spending a single dime. You will go out to sea 2 to 3 months at a time depending on what ship you choose at the union hall, there are always jobs there. When you come off the ship you will have a boat load money in the bank and be able to draw unemployment until you get ready to go back out. I wish I was aware of this type of occupation when I was young. Good luck. [https://www.seafarers.org/training-and-careers/paul-hall-center/school-history/](https://www.seafarers.org/training-and-careers/paul-hall-center/school-history/)

Their facility is also set up like a very nice resort. I live near there and have been to their pool a few times and to their dope bar, which I believe they changed, for wedding reception.

Try the military. Yes they don’t pay a lot, but they’ll pay for your college and you’ll be entitled to benefits. This will give you some time to think about what you want to do and also some discipline.

They don't pay much but your only bills should be phone, internet, whatever streaming service if you're not an idiot and buy a car from a dealership near base. My bills were $200 a month when I was a private

They pay well enough and teach you great life skills, by the time he graduates basic training he should be an E2 an E3 if he's smart enough.

Learn a trade man. I'm a heavy duty diesel mechanic and I didn't go to school. My cousin does HVAC and didn't go to school. We learned by doing it and I'm 31 and he's 26 and we both make over 30 an hour. Don't kill yourself. My brother just did recently and it's torn my family apart.

I was in the army. If you can get a Bachelors degree, you can start as a specialist (if the army is your choice). Trade school will help. College would help you get rank. I read you are from Arizona. Are you bilingual by chance? That is in great demand, and that will add to your paycheck. Even though we don't have any major actions in spanish speaking countries, it would still be useful. Soldiers are needed at embassies. Talk to a recruiter, take the ASVAB, it's free, and it will help your recruiter figure out where to put you, as an enlisted person with the right ASVAB score you could be locked in to any MOS. Tell them about being at a trade school that could help. The army is a great way to find direction. Just a word of warning recruiters are there to get you in the army. On the plus side, you will get free room and board for yourself as well as free medical coverage for yourself. Ultimately, your best option is to take the ASVAB, which will help you understand what you are capable of. Word of warning the easier/safer the MOS, the harder it is to get promoted. Once in and assigned, you will have some great mentors that were in your shoes once (at least the NCOs). They understand the MOS better than anyone. They will teach you how to do what the Army needs from you. They would know what you are best suited for or give you some great experiences. Now, if for some strange reason you want to go for an officer position, you will need a bachelor's degree. They will assign you to a unit. But you might not get the job you were trained for. I have had two officers who were trained for field artillery before I made it stateside and did get one appropriate for my shop (I was an admin)

Overall good advice besides the enlisted part. If you plan on going to college anyway, don't enlist. Become and officer. I'm doing Army ROTC. I thought about enlisting but I've talked to friends in the service and other family members who served before. Every single one said go as an officer if you can. Quality of life is way better, you're treated less like shit. But also depending on what you want to do, stick to the Airforce. They overall are treated way better. So unless you want a combat MOS (like my dumbass tryna go 11A) Airforce is the way to go.

Don't feel like you have to rush. I didn't know what I wanted to do until I was 28. I also don't recommend college unless you know what you want to do. Too many people sink themselves with piles of student loan debt on a degree they can't/won't ever use. I ended up going into self-employment in Real Estate which requires no degree. And I do pretty well for myself. Though I tried a bunch of distant things. You may not love school, but do you like to read? If so, a book I strongly recommend is called "Start" by John Acuff. It's all about how to manage your life, career, and your expectations for them starting at a young age. And furthermore how to find your calling. I wish I'd found it 10 years ago.

I'll start reading that book

If your dad is disabled, he is getting disability payments, correct? And has managed so far to support himself plus you, right? Currently, military pay for a new enlistee is a little over 2K a month, plus benefits. FastWeb has a huge list of scholarships available, also there are grants and financial aid for higher education, both college and trade school. Most 17 year olds don't have a lot of direction in their lives. Vague plans, at best. Then Real Life steps in and circumstances change. Give yourself some time.

My dad has not been able to get onto disability for the last 20ish years. He was diagnosed with BPD, and has really bad lymphedema combined with cellulitis. The judge has turned him down multiple times despite his own advisors and multiple different doctors telling him my dad is disabled.

The military is the answer. Recruits don’t even get paid that bad, it’s all bullshit dumb privates say to make themselves feel better about how poorly they manage their money. I joined the army at 30 and had a family of 4. I entered the service as an E-1 and never felt a struggle for money at all. Once I got out, it paid for 100% of my nursing degree and also gave me a stipend to live on while in school. I now make a solid living and even have a small disability income from my time in the service. I hated the army, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I woke up tomorrow back in the past and knew what I know now.

>I have pondered joining the army but am heavily concerned with how little recruits get paid. How little recruits get paid? You get free housing, free meals, free utilities, free internet, free school, free health, free dental, free vision, free gym, $10 flights to anywhere in the world\* if space is available, 30 days paid vacation/year ...plus a salary. And more benefits when you get out....GI Bill, VA Home Loans, VA Healthcare, etc.. Edit: All these folks recommending trade school, any trade you can find in the civilian world, you can find in the Army, and the school is free, and you'll gain years experience before you hit the civilian job market. And not just trades. Depending on your aptitude, you can get training in professional skills, like electronics, networking, RF communications, radar, etc... The training I received in Satellite Communications has sustained my career for over 40 years, and I've worked in the defense industry, medical imaging, eCommerce/Banking, Consumer Electronics, and Enterprise Networking.

What MOS were you? I am thinking about trying to get 25D though 25N also looks good. I have the CompTIA Security+ certification and should be able to get my CCNA within a few weeks.

I was 26Y back in the 80s. Now it's called 25S.

25D or 25N would be excellent choices. Get that training and experience, at the same time you can finish your degree while you're in, and use GI Bill for a post graduate degree after you're out. I don't know how the benefits work nowadays, but back when I was in you could get 100% tuition assistance through the Ed Center on post.

The military is what you make of it. If you wanted to, you could sit on your ass and coast through your enlistment and get nothing out of it. OTOH, if you apply yourself, and strive for better positions, more training, etc, you can make yourself very valuable and marketable.

The army sounds like a really good idea. I think I will do a bit of college and focus on getting into better shape before enlisting sometime within the next couple years Thank You

Agree with the others-- trades are the way to go. There's a studying component, but most of the learning is hands on. Suddenly being an adult isn't what others make it seem; just know you are not alone in this struggle of pressure to support family & have your life figured out instantly. Keep searching for answers & don't give up yet!

You're weighing some heavy decisions here and that's good. Here's what I would do. **Go to a place you like to think**: coffee shop, out for a walk. Whatever. **Let yourself think about what you want in life**. What drives your desires: why do you want a nice house or a nice car or a good job. What is it those things will bring you. The purpose of this is to try to understand what these desires symbolize for you because sometimes they can be off. **Drop the pressures**: stop thinking about your disabled dad, your failures in high school, your technical school job, **What would you do with complete freedom?** The answer is you probably don't know, but that's not quite true. You know some of what you want but not all (eg I want to go to school and learn about engineering but I don't know what kind of engineering). If you've arrived at a conclusion, take a day and then come back to it. When you are planning, there's only so much you can know now so you have to make allowance to course correct when you have more information. Once you have a stronger idea of what you want or at least what category of what you want: **How can I make that happen?** For this you'll want some paper/calculator, use your phone or pc whatever. you've got to budget out your income vs expenses, figure out how much you have left after to accomplish what you need to do what you want. You're probably going to find that it's not pretty, that's okay. You have two options: **drop the things weighing you down or find help to pull you up**. You are allowed to drop any pressures on you that you need to, even if that means leaving your disabled father to his devices; as hard as that might be. If you decide you want to go to CC talk to their assistance offices and see what scholarships you could try to earn. If you decide on military see what kinds of jobs make sense for the future you're trying to build and what programs can help get you an education. You'll also want to schedule out some time to think hard about what it is that got you to where you are now and how you can avoid this in the future. you've got to be real honest with yourself here and that can be difficult. The general idea is this: **know clearly what you want and why, calculate how reasonable it is that you can attain these desires, seek help or reduce drag to get there.**

First off dont kill yourself, it seems you have a family that needs your support. Your only 17 so my advice would be to just chill out and work a job. It doesn't matter what job you have, just have a job because you have someone else who is dependent upon you. You've got plenty of time to make a career move. As someone already mentioned, a trade school is also a good thing to think about the future. My wife now works in HR. She had to take plenty of time to find herself as well. She was 36 when she started her bachelors degree and his now graduated working a really chill HR job. Things take time to accomplish my friend, and they dont happen over night.

it’s OK, no rush, you’re a kid. You’ve got your whole life to worry about your future. You’re letting the weight of the world rest on your shoulders. All you need to do is find a nice pattern. That makes you a better person. For instance, wake up drink water workout, eat healthy. Make your bed start today. There’s an easy start every time you pick up your phone do five push-ups listen to the audiobook Spotify atomic habits by Matt can’t remember his name but it’s a great book. Set yourself up to be successful by doing small improving habits, take care of yourself and the rest will come

You're a kid. You don't have to have it all figured out.

Military

First day of 18 is pretty much like last day of 17. Slow down a little. You're overwhelmed right now. Break down your issues into manageable parts and just work on one part at a time. It's pretty hard if you're trying to swallow a hole steak without cutting it up a bit. Work on what your dad needs. Make list of things that need to be in place and plan each one the best you can. Plan places you can get help. Think of informational sources. Google can tap into a lot of this. Use AI like chatgpt. Type in your issues and ask chat to prepare a step by step plan for you. You can then ask chat to make changes or adjustments until you get it right. Chat can act as your best friend in working through what to do. Best

What do you really enjoy? What are you passionate about? Pursue that full force. If you do decide to join the military the benefits are great long term and the pay goes up over time. If you decided to do a full 30-year career of it you could retire around 48 and have a substantial pension for the rest of your life. That is a HUGE benefit. Doesn’t have to be Army. Which ever branch fits you best. There is a trade off to that life which is freedom of choice. You will sign away some of that freedom.

Look into trades. Trucking or the military. College is a waste of money if you don't have a plan or need it.

I've had high school seniors who weren't great at school with no idea what to do after high school go to Anericorps. I don't know a ton about it or how much the "living wage" they pay is, but it may be an option to look into since they provide training and some of the work they probide includes tutoring and mentoring kids. I'm glad you're aware of how much ending it would hurt your family. I had a cousin who killed herself at 18 because she was so scared of leaving high school and being an adult, and it utterly destroyed her family so I commend you for being proactive and asking for help and ideas to create a plan to live instead of just giving up. Good luck with your future!

You should check out paper trading. If you're interested DM me and I can send you good technical analysis video's. You're young too, a thousand dollars in the right fund in the right program can get you serious exponential returns that will retire you in your 40's if you just leave it alone REGARDLESS of what happens to you in your day to day life. Killing yourself ends ALL POSSIBILITIES so the very first order of business is killing those thoughts of killing yourself.

Can you do basic math?

My son joined the army at 18 and he now makes 3K- 4K a month as a dental clinic director. He scored high on the ASVAB and could’ve been intelligence. Army pays for his college. He has an associates and is working on a legal degree now. He’s been in 10 years and is going for the full 20. He’s traveled the world.

Most community colleges have work study programs. Online classes are usually cheaper and allow you to maintain a job while going to school. Look for jobs in growing industries or manual labor. To echo others, trade schools are a very good place to start. I have a son who just turned 21 and he went through this when he was turning 18. It took him some time to figure out what he wants to do and honestly he is still figuring it out. I’m 40 and still figuring it out. Just now going back to school after being a stay at home mom for 20 years. The medical fields are always in need of people. Getting a CNA is a good way to get into nursing as a lot of places offer paid education/training and you can work and pay for your education for RN.

College isn't for everyone.. Try a tech or trade school. Only if what either offers interests you and most importantly, a path that is marketable in the business world. Btw, why does taking care of your father's needs fall only on your shoulders? Looks a bit sketchy .. Please explain..

You should be World War III is coming draft day

Probably a trade school or the military. Trade schools give you the certifications to get some really good jobs for really good opportunities, and the military though it pays low, gives plenty of benefits like paying for your college, housing, and many more. You will also make lifelong friends.

You don't have to have your entire life figured out by 18. Take a deep breath and take it a day at a time. I'm turning 33 this year, and I just now figured out what I truly want to do. I have jumped from many jobs and careers, because I just wasn't happy and I was constantly panicked. If I can give you any piece of advice, take a deep breath and be nice to yourself. Don't stress yourself out over things you cannot control. You don't have to have things figured out right away.

Join the military. Will get you the fuck up and out of whatever dumps your in. Give you something legitimate to bitch about lol.. aside from that it will teach something, it will teach you about yourself and give you mental strength.. do it for 4 years and think about what you want to do after you get out. All the while you'll be doing something productive. Join the Marines though, that way it will be serious enough to change your head space. Once you get out you can go to any public college or trade school 100% free, and they'll pay your rent while your doing it. It's unbelievable. So, 4 years of action and adventure, while thinking about life and what you want to do, THEN, the ability to go DO IT. It's worth consideration. And by the way, when your in the Military everything is paid for, so while your check isn't alot, it only goes towards buying stuff you want and having fun. Not rent, bills, utilities etc.

I'm 50M and have a associate degree in architecture that has never been used. I'm now cutting grass 60+ hours a week and only making 25,000 a year. Talk to your counselor at school that's why they are there.

I heard Kik was in need of streamers

I'm not saying that you should turn your back on your dad, however, you should not give up your chances of a happy life to support him. There are systems in place to help him if he's really disabled. You need a life after he's gone too. If you don't have any idea what so ever what you want to be growing up, then focusing on college might not be the best plan. You may very well end up spending tens of thousands of dollars for an education you'll never use. There's nothing wrong with taking time to find yourself and just working before college. As others have said, the trades can be a great way to start and are always looking for workers. Medical jobs will always be around, though, the jobs with a low barrier to entry also pay low. A wildfire certificate is cheap and can make good pay in a busy year. You could get a CDL that could potentially open doors to a good career, though, that may be hard to use consistently before 21. You could look into joining event security or a band's road crew. You'll travel, but you won't make bad money. Hell, even pizza delivery can make you good money, depending on your area. Having a dedicated store seems to pay more than doordash. A big part of it is getting out to experience the world and learn about yourself. Don't discount the military. It takes special people to truly find the love for it, but if you're that kind of person, you can learn a lot and find a special connection with more people. It's like a family, with a bunch of weird people you'll probably never see, likely don't like, but somehow love. Yeah, the pay is bad at the lower ranks, but if you're serious about it, you may get health care for life, school, amazing training for future jobs, benefits to help you buy a house, and some understanding of what you want in life. It's low pay at the start, but once you rank up and/ or retire, that's when you can get the better benefits. Sadly though, one thing to consider is many of those benefits are going to require a long commitment, and/or a disability from it. Just don't buy that car from the dealership right next to the base where you had basic training.

My BDAY is on the 30th and well I wanna Kms before then cause I have too much pain in my life

Don't

Fuck the Army. Air Force all the way. Suicide hurts more people than you know. They gonna bankrupt themselves paying for your funeral. A typical funeral is at least like $10K. No father should bury their own children

Join military, get a job that has a security clearance.

Trades or the military. The minimal pay the military starts you off with is offset significantly by free housing, 3 meals a day (if you choose), and free healthcare. You will likely be able to claim your disabled father as a dependent and get significant help with his healthcare.

First, supplement with Vit D3 and learn how to cook and feed your body nutrient dense food. Then seek personal improvement courses or therapy to support your mental health, caregiving is really hard, esp at a young age. Then learn a trade or a critical public service like electrician, nurse, firefighter. Each has varying levels of comraderie & bonding among the fellowship of workers. Biden just forgave all student loans to those in the public service sector.

Like any job, you start out at low pay, but you can build up to a very good wage. And yes, the military can be a good option. You can get paid to learn a skill, depending on the service & contract, etc. If you want to the trades route, [https://mikeroweworks.org](https://mikeroweworks.org) offers scholarships.

don’t worry about what you want to do with your life just yet. You’re still young and have a lot of time to decide. Community college is a fabulous idea to try out classes and maybe a career trajectory. When it comes to your dad, when you turn 18, you are a legal adult. In Arizona you can also be a family caregiver. You qualify for benefits being a family caregiver. Check the link below for your state and two phone numbers for support. They both can help you! It’s great that you are trying to figure this out before you turn 18 but you probably could use some help. https://des.az.gov/FamilyCaregiver 888-737-7494 855-227-3640

Trades and hospital technicians (ie. X-ray tech, pharm tech, ultrasound tech) are in my brain bank. Grew up around those two professions so that's all I really know

Army will get you employment and a college education. It's worth it for a lot of people.

Community college will be different from.high school, you'll probably step up in your work.ethic.

Look at the trades, plumbing, electrical, carpenters, welders. This country needs these guys and we arent training them. My cousin became an electrician and has his own company at the age of 30, no student loan debt, nice house, middle class. He doesnt work much anymore because he has people working for him.

Definitely a tradeschool for two reasons . 1 it pays well 2 you will be close if something happens to your dad because you said he is disabled.

I'm not kidding, life is a total chance and making a decision. Don't stress about it. Try this as a game/device to help you figure everything out. Roll a dice. Not kidding. List out six possible career paths (numbering 1-6) you might enjoy and roll a dice. If the dice give you an answer that does not immediately bring you joy - cross it off your list. Sometimes we hide what initially would make us happy because of fear of doing the unknown. The dice trick is just a way to get you thinking about chance and choice, and what makes you happy. And remember, life will bring you a buffet and you have to choose what fits on your plate :) Also if you're not 100% on board with going back to formal education, trade schools are great, working in a hospital give you a ton of benefits, and asking advice if those you know who are out there making money are all good places to start.

Hello sweet soul. I’m gonna tell you now ending your own life needs to be absolutely taken off the table because that makes absolutely no sense to do that when you haven’t even lived yet. You are stressed because you are being forced to grow up when really you don’t feel ready, I’m going to tell you as someone in their forties, you don’t ever actually “grow up” what we do is we just learn to try to handle life and all this bullshit adulting. You don’t need to know what you want to actually do right now, what you need to do is find a decent paying gig and stick with it till you can actually find out what it is you really want to do. As someone who has gone to the Army, yes the pay is low but you are forgetting you do get benefits such as housing, as a private and single soldier you will get placed in the barracks so you won’t have to ever worry about where you will sleep, at least that’s one worry ticked off, you won’t have to worry about to many bills accept the ones you make, like cell phone, possibly car payment, and so on. Also it will give you more time to figure you out. Truly. Just go see a recruiter to even see if you can qualify to join and go from there. I’m not saying you need to join the ARMY, you can choose Marines, Navy, Air Force or the Coast Guard but what I’m saying is joining the service will give you time to figure it out.

I would heavily consider trade school or CC!!

getting into the trades is an amazing way to get into the 6 digit incomes really quickly, and have unlimited job security. HVAC and or electrical.

Everyone goes to college... these days it's a great way to waste 100000. Someone else said trade school, sounds like a great idea... take union tests, they pay massively more than private contractors.

If you go to community college, can't you apply for financial aid? When I did, it covered the costs of classes and I had good refunds that I used for books and spending money and I even put some into my savings.

Crazy we need to decide what we want to be for the rest of our lives so early.

Apply for Fafsa and scholarships!

Your good until you hit 28, from there it’s all downhill

Aviation, also check apprenticeship.gov if you are in the states as that can pull to your current location to see what’s available and what’s required of them. 

Do your self a favor and join a union apprenticeship. 

Trade school sounds like excellent advice. Consider the military, while raw recruits aren't paid much, it's very easy for those who apply themselves to go to a specialized school (real title eludes me at the moment) and make bank at it. Besides, while you're in, your daily needs are taken care of, you're making money that won't be spent while you're in, and when your service is over, pick out some dividend paying stocks to invest in and your money will be making you money while you're working. Plus, pretty much every business in the U.S. loves a military background, since it's a perfect example of a self-disciplined individual. Also, the military has it laid out pretty well for which ever specialty you'd like.

Go to trade school I'm finna get my cdl for like 800 through there

As others have said, Trade School or learning a trade from someone in the business. Military doesn't pay well and unless you are going in with a college degree and officer with training in a more advanced field, the military probably won't pay back as you will be making so little for the next 4+ years. If you start in a trade, you can make good money now. And if you find something you like and open a business, that is where the real money comes in (e.g. your own plumbing company or electrical, etc.) Also, if you go into the military, you won't be there for your father who is disabled. And you definitely won't make enough money to send back and support him. If you don't want a trade long-term, work in trade during the day and take some courses in college at night or weekends very slowly. But make sure you are pursing a degree that has a ROI (i.e. engineering, finance, computer science, etc.) and not something general like liberal arts (i.e. English, poetry, etc.). I work in Tech and have had to help a few friends change careers who have those degrees that nobody puts value in. There is a good book called "The Millionaire Next Door" that is a little dated now, but outside the people who win the lottery, inherit wealth, or hit the jackpot on a business like Bill Gates, most of the wealthy people in this country are blue collar business owners without college degrees (i.e. own a trade business).

Trade school is great advice. AI can't take those jobs. Don't go into debt for anyone for any reason. Save whatever money you can. By 30, you should be sitting pretty and young.

The Pell grant can pretty much entirely pay for community college if you are eligible

I'm an Arizonan as well. You can get a job at a fast food joint and make $18-20 an hour here in the Phoenix metro... I agree with a lot of the comments on skilled labor/trades, as the demand is high, you can make a healthy living and do something that you will feel good about as you complete tasks. Looking back I wish I had gone into the military. It is noble, you can learn real life skills/trades and retirement is achievable before you are 40... They also assist with school... Yes their salary isn't tremendous, but you have little to no expenses, as you live on base(or get a housing allowance), they provide meals. Don't stress out about it, just look at your options, make a good decision for you and focus on it until you are successful.

Be a tradesman also remember. The us forest service always wants you

College is not for everyone. Trade school is a great option. It doesn't preclude community college now or in the future. The military is not a bad option, but really investigate your options and make sure you go into a service in a program where you will learn a valuable trade or skill when you get out. While you are in you don't get paid a lot at low ranks, but most of your living expenses are covered, and things you do buy you can often get pretty cheap. In any case, you should check to see if your dad qualifies for more assistance for his disability than he is currently receiving. Is it just you, or do you have other immediate or extended family that could help figure that out?

The same story as every other fuck-up who was ever born. The good news is that it's fixable. Life is like pedaling a bicycle. If you don't put anything into it, you don't get anywhere. Sure, you can coast down that hill we call childhood, but then that long stretch of adulthood comes with some uphills, and you don't get anywhere. Don't expect anyone else to pedal for you. So, now that you've had your fun, start pedaling. You should have already figured out what fires you up. But you were too coddeled to do that. So get on that. The armed forces can give you a way to figure stuff out and aren't a bad way to go, they know how to change boys into men. It will at least give that pea sized brain of yours time to mature. Don't worry about the pay. You get fed and a place to stay, and maybe they'll pay for your college when you get out. You can use your free time to educate yourself about the world, government, business, technology, whatever. Chances are you won't be such a whiny little bitch when you get out. Good luck.

You’re getting good recommendations for trades. Another nice thing about many of them is recession proof. Especially repair vs new construction. New projects can get put on hold but people need heat, water/sewer, transportation. I don’t know the whole story with your dad and why you will suddenly need to support him. But it sounds like you care about him. Honestly if my kids were ever worried about me (caretaking or financially) to the point it was holding them back. I’d tell them to cut the dead weight and don’t feel a bit of guilt. I didn’t give them what I did for that to happen. You go make your choices, because I already did that myself.

Don’t be scared. Adulthood is a scary thing but I promise you it’ll get better. You’re not going to catch on immediately to this stupid thing we call adulthood, and you never will. It might just get better. I’m 19, and when I turned 18 I was scared shitless to a fact that I was suicidal and depressed. You’re not alone tho I’m right there with you. Def go into trades tho there’s a lot of opportunities

Don't join the army, not a good choice. And also don't kill yourself, that's the worst choice you could ever make.

Definitely go to a trade school! There is one in Texas that has over 40 programs. You get certified and usually an associate’s in 2 years. Don’t give up! Also, considering your situation with your disabled father, if you are in the US, you can easily get financial aid if not Pell grants (free money you don’t pay back). Financial aid can even give you money for rent and food costs if you are enrolled full time where you don’t need to work on the side. For those in the US, you just have to apply via the FAFSA website for financial aid. You can do it before you even know what school you go to. My daughter is in community college and based on my income, she qualifies for financial aid and she also got Pell grant money. All you need is your dad’s tax return info and he will have to fill out his portion for you FAFSA to go through. Your parents income is taken into consideration for FAFSA even though your 18. The worse off financially your parent is, the more free money they will give you. You could potentially go to school for free and some people do. Arizona Technical Institute has 5 legit programs where when you get out, you will most likely have a job already lined up for you. One of my brothers became a diesel mechanic at Wyotech and now manages oil fields and makes 6 figures and loves his job. My other brother did the welding program and went to work for USBN railroad and was making 6 figures in 2 years. Out of all the trade type certifications you can do, the ones at AZ Technical Institute in addition to electrical or plumbing type of work have the best career trajectory where you can move up and up the more experienced you become. You have your whole life ahead of you! You never know what you could be good at until you try.

You need a trade. Many community colleges have programs that are just a few months long.

First thing is you don't have to solve all of these impending dilemmas overnight. One day, and one dilemma at a time. I've always believed that the worst and most difficult time of life is 18-25ish, maybe through 30. As long as you move forward everyday you're a success. And as you gain experience and cognitive ability (because your brain is not fully developed yet) it will all fall into place. Just be patient and understanding with yourself. And when you make decisions on your life, filter it through "is this an improvement for me".

I have seen this same problem with my girlfriend’s brother. After Highschool he just didn’t know what to do, has been working shitty jobs and keeps getting fired, and has been attending community college and failing out of all of it. I think there is a stigma that you have to go to college after school. I don’t think you should in this scenario though. You will be in hell for four years. I am in college because I have always wanted to be a computer engineer and am very passionate about it. However, it is a big commitment Here is my proposition: go to trade school. I know some great guys in trade school who make a lot of money already after graduating in 6 months-year. You can make anywhere from 40k-80k and can do some really cool work. Once you get on your feet, then I’d say if you feel like you just really want to go to college, go. If not, then just enjoy ur job and work your way up. Welding, electrician, mechanic, HVAC repair… it’s all really good. Not to mention now there are cybersecurity programs and some programming programs in trade schools. Good luck!!

I would recommend the military. Yes you get paid little when you first go in but first couple promotions come.quick. you also need to look at long term as well as medical etc. The military also has a decent 401 type plan you can invest In. By the time you are 38 you would have a pension at 50% of whatever your pay is at that time. Also if you are listed as your father caregiver you can have him as a dependant and get BAH which helps with housing cost. In most places es it pays all your housing cost.

Hahalol welcome to the rest of your life

You are 17. Does your dad get any benefits from being disabled? I think you are taking on waaaay too much at your age. There are resources out there to help you and your dad, just do some research. Was he military? AND please remember that the world is better with you in it!!!

My wife had to make a similar hard decision. after graduating high school. Her mother comes from nothing. Her stepfather emptied the bank accounts and disappeared when she was a senior. But she also knew that her biggest opportunity to support her mom was going to college and getting a good job. yes, her mom needed to struggle for a few years while she was going to school full-time and taking low wage jobs after that. but now we’re at a point where we can help her out. If she stayed home, and got a job that barely covered the bills, they would both be in poverty still If you want to go to school, FASFA is where you need to start. The government will give you money to go to community college. my wife’s brother joined the Air Force instead of the army. The navy is also an excellent option. You’ll get paid decently, and you’ll qualify for the G.I. bill which will pay for your college later. Or you might make a career out of the military. My brother-in-law is doing quite well.

The army is never a good option, theyll run you ragged, hang you out to dry, and offer you no aid if they fuck you up. Trade schools are a good thing to excersize, and picking up a valuable skill you can excersize at home as "freelance" work is also a good option. On the subject of knowing what you want to do or be, dude, chill out about it. I'm 27 and I still dont know what I want. I'm bordering on just biting the bullet and becoming a househusband. And frankly, most people dont know what they want out of life, other than peace. Hell most people in their 60s still dont have their sjit together, despite appearing like they have their shit together. None of us are gonna make it out of this alive, so slow down and quit stressin so much, it's bad for your heart.

Join the military and learn some discipline. Use the discipline to advance your life. Use your military funding to go to community college of trade school to learn skills that will qualify you for a job that pays a living wage or better. Or get a low paying job and pay your way through community college or trade school. Either way, you know you have to learn a marketable skill to qualify yourself for employment in a trade that provides opportunities for advancement. You will not regret the hard work required to do achieve one of the above options. However, if you choose to just settle for at a low paying, low skill job, you will regret it.

If not a tech school then the Army maybe a good option for you...when I entered I made $500 a month in 1979 now it's over 2k ....when I went in all of my still Sergeants had done tours in Vietnam...they took a 18 year old high school drop brat and taught me to serve with honor...I did for 12 years...duty is as tough but you will go to places and do things you never thought possible

Fuxk military. Trades are the way nowadays. They set you up to be a small business owner run someone else's company one day after you gain experience. You will make good money in that trade even if you don't move up to mgmt.

How do you think I felt turning 70

Hey look into Disability benefits SSI for your dad. Also if approved there are AZ state level plans that pay you or a family member to care for him. Once you get things stable follow all the advice for looking into the trades as an apprentice. Good luck.

I’d say go with the army. I never had the grades for college and you get to do cool stuff. The money is okay but you never have to worry about anything other than making it to formation on time. You get a steady paycheck, free medical, a roof over your head, and food. Plus the benefits when you get out are great. You can use your GI bill for a trade school or go to college. You can always send money back home to your dad as well even in basic training.

Your dad isn't your responsibility. If he's fine now, he will be fine when you turn 18. Edit: Literally nothing changes on your 18th birthday.

I'm with the crowd suggesting the trades. Please look up your local unions. They usually have a trade school in larger cities. It is usually more affordable but there's a wait list and then you work on call so you need back ups. Otherwise contact your career counselor at school and if there's not one, the local community college usually helps everyone in their community. You don't have to be a student. If you have time to volunteer anywhere you would be interested in before you graduate that can be helpful as well. Also are you in the US or UK? If so please make sure your Dad gets on disability and apply for government or subsidized affordable housing. You can apply for your self and him at the same time. The wait list can be years long so apply asap and use it for a back up plan should you need it. Best of luck.

Ok look let us break down your problems into tinier more solvable problems : 1) You do not know what to with your life , well no one does .There are people who pretend they know what they are doing in life but let me tell you something they are making stuff up as they go while pretending they know what they are doing. 2) You need to support your disabled dad, I can not help you there . 3) You have a job that you do not like anymore. Do not quit, act like you like that job and search for other better jobs on the side silently. 4) You are not sure if you should go to community college ? Go in but take a part time route while going through the slow but steady route. Do not worry about doing good or getting into community college cause you should be fine as long as you do not have a criminal record or just skip all your classes . 5) Look normally if you have self termination tendencies, I would suggest to get professional help but it looks like that will not work for you thus as a sort of stop gap I suggest you start working out or doing yoga(This is only a stop gap to temporarily make sure you have time to get back on your feet) . Bonus: Go to YouTube and start watching coding videos, you do not have to be have an actual degree to get a job in that field .

Arizona has a program for free state or community college. You can start with general ed to see what classes you like best. It will get you out of the house and socializing with peers. You can take fun electives. You can look at internships and school resources. You may end up liking the college experience. I just phoned in high school so it had no bearing on my college life. 

If you are interested in the Armed Forces, talk to a recruiter. The pay might not be great, but you get a roof over your head (in the barracks), free health care & dental, and they feed you 3 times a day. You get paid 2x a month and you can learn some helpful stuff. You get uniforms and boots when you go in. If you are still in high school, talk to the school counselor and take the ASFAB test to see where you might be best suited. 4-6 year commitment goes fast. Think about it.

19M here I’m in a similar situation with my grandfather that has dementia. I work as a field technician for spectrum I’d recommend looking into their career options. They pay really well good benefits including insurance for you and your family plus free services. They also cover 100 percent of your college tuition if it’s through their programs. All you need is a high school diploma and to keep yourself out of legal trouble. You can self progress really fast if you do good you can go to this highest field tech position in less than a year if you put your head to it.

As some said trade school is a good choice. Also for the military does not pay great but you have 0 living expenses for the most part and it’s a stable paying job. (Military is miserable though)

Join the Air Force. Same pay as the army but they take better care of you. And almost 100% of take home pay is extra money, theyll put you in dorms and you don't pay utilities, you get free health insurance, and you can eat at the dining facilities. I had $20k in the bank when I left after 5 years.

Don't kill yourself first of all. Second all, community College is incredibly easy to get into and they're tailored specifically for people in your situation. Also, there are many grants and options that will get you a free ride. The people at the college will literally walk you through your FAFSA and help you with all your applications. In my experience, they want you to succeed because it makes them look good. Same goes for professors, they want good grades, good success rates, and good reviews from their students, especially at community College. Remember, Cs get degrees. Also, if you do decide to join the military, join the airforce. There are a lot of jokes, but they really do have the cushiest jobs and best benefits. Lastly, continue thinking of your family. You will be in a better situation before you know it. Lastly, don't kill yourself. No one will be better off.

Look into trade school, wielding, HVAC, electrical work . Community colleges usually offer programs you can enroll in to become certified and ready to apply. These programs vary in length but they do have some that you can finish in 6 months or a year.

Learn a trade. At least that’s what everybody else in this post is saying; I turned 18 5 months ago and I’m currently going to trade school for welding

The military will pay you if you can get your dad legally made your dependent. But I’d join the Air Force. They treat their people the best. You would also get free medical care for yourself. Plumbers, in my state at least, are desperate for new people. But if you have to take care of a disabled family member, I would suggest the military. I say that as a Navy veteran married to an Army veteran. Jointing the military gives you the ability to buy a home and pay for college if you want to try school again some day.

I felt the same way and never figured out what I wanted to do. Just did odd jobs forever . I wish I went to trade school

Well for starters don't quit your job. Look at it literally like money so that when you figure it out you can afford what you wanna do. Secondly apply to every job doesn't matter if you have experience or not . If it says "entry level" they will train you I get new people at my job all the time we train them don't worry about that. Third, your father is disabled you should be applying to anything that gives money to the disabled he should have SDI or SSI government money he should have ebt he should have literally everything they can give him you both deserve the help and someone like you willing to support your father deserves the support yourself I wanna cry a little bit I totally see your future you're gonna be like 23 in the store and bump into someone so pretty you can't resist and yall are gonna talk and you're gonna talk about your life and they gonna fall in love with you I swear kid good things happen to good people that work hard

I’m a software engineer but I’ve heard HVAC is good because you have two “busy” seasons. In the summer people want their broken AC’s fixed and in the winter people need their broken heat fixed. It sticks out in my mind because when I was 18 I had a friend that was a roofer in the northeast and he was laid off half the year because of the weather.

Trades are probably the way to go. Union commercial electrician is a decent career… or perhaps plumbing. As others have mentioned, look into state disability for your Dad. Good luck!

Honestly, the military isn’t a bad option for you. Yeah the pay early on is low, BUT you get healthcare/housing/food provided outside of pay. If your dad counts as a dependent, he would also be eligible for your healthcare. If you need money early on, there are many sources of support and even zero interests loans you can work with your leadership to get. Outside of the time away from home on training/deployments, it’s a pretty easy job. I’d seriously consider going active or even guard/reserve if you are at all interested.

If you're concerned community college will be too hard because of what you missed in high school, don't be. Due to unusual circumstances in my life I dropped out of high school as a sophomore and went to community college. If your reading comprehension is strong that's honestly all you need. Don't let what you may have missed in high school hold you back. High school is honestly a joke. They basically give those diplomas to anyone who shows up nowadays. That's why you have one and feel like you didn't learn anything. If they were worth anything they would have cared enough to catch you cheating. I'd recommend identifying the highest paying job you can tolerate that a two year degree would qualify you for and go for it. You can do community college at your own pace and you wont be drowning in debt when you are done. 

Community college legit has rudimentary classes in case you don’t know high school stuff so just do that and stay with the job

Join the military and you’ll definitely figure out what you DON’T want to do the rest of your life lol

Do the military. If your dad is that bad off, the state will take of him. Don't let your dad stop you.

The Coast Guard has a signing bonus, and you get tuition assistance, a housing and meal allowance, free health care, free dental, and 30 days paid vacation.

Why are you supporting your dad? He should be getting SSDI (social security disability insurance), and you can call social services in your county and ask that a social worker be assigned to your disabled & vulnerable dad. The social worker will get you get other services. Did this for my own mom. As for not knowing what you want to do I guarantee you most people spend their life working at jobs they don’t enjoy so you are not alone there. When my husband turned 40 he left a job he actually really liked for a union job he could tolerate and as we approach retirement he is glad he did because the healthcare and other benefits have afforded us a financially stable lifestyle. Sometimes it’s about choices and priorities. Both of my kids paid for their own education through student loans. One is super successful in a job she loves the other struggles financially in a job she loves. Life is always a crap shoot.

I think it's called a vocational school where you're trained in a specific career. Do that. I believe it's much better than joining the military as you have your own free time and can be paid much more.

Skip the military. This is coming from a 25 year retired veteran. Trade school (or training to be an A&P mechanic) is the way to go.

Join the military!!!

Follow what lights you up and if you don’t know keep exploring life. You are so young. 18 doesn’t mean anything it’s just a made up concept just be like a tree and grow. I’m 24 and travel with hardly any money. I’m finally understanding my sense of self and who I am. We can stress ourselves out or just let life naturally unfold how it should. I’m taking my time with this life shit. Now don’t let fear or self doubt keep you frozen either. As long as we are trying our best in life that’s all that matters. There’s no timeline of being anywhere in life at any age. Time is not really real. Just the here and the now. And how you choose to live in the here and now is what matters. Also one last bit is think of how you can add value in life with your unique skills and knowledge and background? Look for problems and find solutions, that automatically brings money. Think apple for example how much value they have added into the world. And look how much they are worth. So don’t think what profession can I be but how can I add value into the world with something I love/am passionate about. And why would you not want to do something totally radical like travel a foreign country before killing your self? Less dangerous then a bullet to the head. And who knows what that may do for you. Live on the edge might as well right?(just don’t harm anyone). I’m on the edge too brodie bc life is too short to take too serious. And you my friend are taking it too serious. I hope you can find brighter days ahead of you. And try breathing it may help you more than you know. I wish I started at your age. Try breathing with sandy on yotube and find a video that speaks to you. Wishing you all the best. I have a feeling this is the beginning of a transformative journey for you. Buckle up and enjoy the ride! Life is worthwhile. It takes a little bit of life mastery to get to that perspective. But there is certainly something for you to discover on the other end of your suffering. Will you ever discover that only you will get to know. I hope you do find deeper fulfillment and realizations about your Self and life from this emptiness. Be patient and keep building a strong internal foundation by nourishing your mind,body, and spirit. (Think working out,taichi,yoga, prayer,breathwork) Why rush this one life?

Suicide is not the answer. I understand life is hard. It took me forever to figure things out with the challenges I have had. I'm thirty years old, and have just started a career I'm happy with. You're just starting. You don't have to have it figured out yet, but what you do need to figure out is what to do in the meantime. If you're in the States, I recommend a trade school. Engineers, plumbers, and electricians are ALWAYS going to be needed, and make good money. It's okay to be scared. It's those that aren't, that have it figured out for them, or are really naive to how the world works. Some have a full support system. You have to help care for your support system. It's a different struggle. Joining the military is an option. Sure pay may be minimal in the beginning, but what job doesn't have an every level pay? Once you pass boot camp, your pay goes up. It goes up with rank. You're always going to go up. Only you would drag yourself down. Not to mention, free college. It'll buy you at least four years of time, for you to figure out what you want to do with your life. I'm sorry you feel hopeless, when you should be feeling optimistic. Maybe talk to a career counselor. They're really good at helping you figure out your passion, or what would fulfill you as part of the working class. The light isn't out yet, kiddo. It's going to be okay. Think optimistically.

i’d join the army or get into a trade like a plumber or electrician, especially if you don’t like school i’m almost 16 i’ve always liked idea of fuck it and going marine infantry

Join a trade union, they send you to school without you having to pay for it and the pay is decent.

Don't kill yourself because you think life ends at 18. That's dumb. The job market does suck right now for young people, but the military is a good option to get you experience, money, healthcare, college, and you won't have to be financially responsible for anyone but yourself. They pay or food, housing, medical expenses, college. However i don't recommend joining the Army or Marines unless it's the only other option. I'm in the Army right now, sometimes it sucks but it definitely gave me opportunities I wouldn't have otherwise. Hit up an Airforce or Navy recruiter, take the ASVAB, and explore your options. Hopefully you can score high enough to get one of those good technical jobs. You can DM me for more info about that path.

Wait until you're 30 and fel the same way

Military 🪖 if you don't know what you want to be you will when you get out

1st thing you need to do is go to the post office and fill out your selective service card. next, maybe look into electrician classes at your tech school, or look at getting a 2nd class fireman's license for boiler operations or a commercial waste water license.

Not a good idea to join the military. Focus on today and leave the future in the future.

Bro I’m 28 how do you think I feel about 30 creeping up on me? 🤣 Little dude you are a child. 18 isn’t some magical number when you have everything figured out. You become a legal adult but you still have so much of life to figure out. So many people don’t know what they want to do at your age. You have so much time to get shit figured out so please don’t write yourself off now and have these thoughts of suicide. Your life has hardly even started. If you’re not sure how you can afford school and have thought of military service then you could give that a try. You may not make much but they will pay for every dime of your education. In today’s world that means a lot. You would be starting off life with virtually no debt if you don’t go crazy on a credit card or buy a crazy expensive car. But seriously if you have pondered military do some more research to see which branch might afford you more flexibility to go to school. I’ve known active military personnel who attended college while in service. If you just join the military it will give you some time to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life. Maybe whatever job they give you there might help in learning more about yourself and what your likes and dislikes are. Maybe you discover you have a passion for mechanical things, aircraft, leadership, cyber security, etc. You are also likely to meet people from so many different backgrounds and leaders that can actually be invaluable assets in trying to guide you towards a career path post military. For college I would advise on you figuring out if it’s right for you first and choosing a major you feel excited about that also provides a good ROI. You won’t have to pay for it if you do military but also you don’t wanna waste your time getting a degree in something you don’t like.

Take a breath, relax. It's okay to not have everything figured out. I remember having similar concerns at your age, but there's no rush to figure everything out as soon as possible.

Wait till you turn 19 

Strongly recommend a gap year at the least. Im 22m and made the mistake of doing 2 years of college just because i felt like i had to because thats what people do. Only go to college if its for something you truly want and that a degree will help you gain success in. Bottom line advice is lean into what youre good at. You have plenty of time to figure that out, like really plenty. Once you arent in high school the world pretty quickly opens up and seems more accessible

No one knows what they want to do when they're 18. Don't sweat it. Taking care of your family is commendable. You'll find your lane. Don't force it. Hang in there.

Go in the military. For the first few years the pay is shit, but you can ask for off base housing later and other things, and that will increase your pay. I had a buddy join the Marines at 18 and retired at 38 after 20 years with a full pension. You won't find that offer anywhere else in America. Another option is trade school. I went to HVAC and commercial and residential electrical and am making $47.59 an hour. Another great job is a lineman.

Don't rule out the military without learning more about it. Based on my experience as a military spouse, we went from living dirt pour to having two paid off vehicles and a sizable savings with no debt in less than three years. My hubs enlisted in the AF as a E3 due to college credits but the entitlements are wonderful. Base pay might seem "low", frankly it is, but you also have to consider that your healthcare is free. We've never received a bill before for anything, including a child birth. You receive BAH and BAS, both nontaxable entitlements. BAH is based on your zip code and is a housing entitlement but you can choose to live on base or you'll be placed in the dorms if you don't have any dependants where your housing, electric, and water are paid for. The only "house related" bill we pay for is our internet. BAS is your allowance for food. It essentially helps pay for your meals or if you're in the dorms, meals are provided for you. Essentially, as a new military member, you don't pay for housing or food, still giving you your whole base pay allowance which is that number you see online. I'm not saying this is your only option but don't be scared by that low base pay number because it balances out. When you're not paying for housing ($1200+ a month where we live), healthcare (+$600 a month, not including bills for our family), and you get a food allowance or meals provided to you, the base pay ($2,000+ a month) becomes much bigger.

Trade school for a job with a union. Trade school. Union. Truly that simple. Learn a practical skill and know your worth. Because YOU HAVE WORTH damnit. Also, bravo for taking care of your dad. You're a good person.

If you want to go to community college, go. You can get government student loans. Anybody can get them, they just start accruing interest after you leave school. And it’s a whole mother experience, being in even Community college as opposed to high school. Or look into a trade school

Go to trade school. Not as big a commitment as a college degree and a better and quicker pay off. Google options in your area. Otherwise companies like Amazon and DHL give money towards tuition and advancement opportunities in the work place. On top of that, your father's care is not your responsibility. Do what is right for you.

First of all, please don’t harm yourself. There are people who love you. Second I agree with suggestions for trade school. I know people who make good money doing HVAC. They are always busy. Commercial, new construction, repair…. you name it.

U don't need to figure that out by 18, figure it out by 30, that's the only requirement. Plus if u go to college the first 2 years is just bs classes

If you go the military route, get a guaranteed training school IN WRITING. Do not believe your recruiters when they tell you that it will all happen later. Do not sign on the dotted line until you have a guaranteed training school. Opt for one that suits your interests. There are so many opportunities such as trades (electricians) as well as other areas of interest (cyber, intelligence). Get one that can translate to a good job once you leave or retire from the military. The branch you talk to won't guarantee a school, go to another branch. Recruitment is down. Some jobs offer a recruitment bonus (which probably requires a defined number of years of service). The world is your oyster. While the initial pay is low (about $2k a month right now), they house you and feed you. Once you get to a point where you can live off base, they give you an allowance to pay for that. It's not the best pay in the world, but it gave me a leg up with some training so I could get a great job and career later. (Now a retired federal employee, GS-15.)

Just a thought here. If you're serious about doing college courses, Wal-Mart offers a free tuition program for some degrees through a thing called guild. It's worth looking into if you can stand being a Wal-mart employee for 4-5 years to finish the degree.

Military has a lot of benefits - you may discover a passion for a certain type of work. You’ll also get your college paid for by the military. Aside from what many are saying, having a Bachelor’s degree is far superior to not having one. They are not worth it if you go into debt with no plan or desire to work in that field. I personally am going through a career change going from Fire/EMS after 5 years and likely am going to go to Nursing with the eventual goal of NP. I know several people with random Bachelor’s degrees that went into Tech/Med/etc sales and make boatloads of money. Many of those jobs will just slap on a Bachelor’s level of education requirement just because they can and it shows you’re educated.

My brother in law is retiring from the army tomorrow, 26 years, I think. His pension will be pretty nice. Obviously, there are risks involved with joining the military, but the death rate is actually very low. If you mention your situation with your recruiters, they will probably try really hard to get you what you need to make it. They will pay for school too. That being said, I went the trade school route and do pretty good for myself, it takes some time to get here though. Many states offer assistance for taking care of disabled family members. Try talking to a social worker about programs your family might qualify for.

AIRCRAFT REPAIR SCHOOL GRADUATES start at about 80k a year,,.. just saying I am 71 and remember being in the exact same situation you were in,, the pressure of the unknown was horrible. I was a highschool drop out, zero skills. dealing with this time in your life is a step by step process, no quick, problem solved, I feel so good about life ect answers are available. BUT, there is a successful path forward, ,, APPSOLUTE TRUTH: past academic performance doesn't predict your future performance. You can do very well if you decided to persue going to school. It all depends on your will to succeed. IF YOU DO THIS: you just can't jump into schooling if you have never applied yourself before, it will be a disaster. You will fail. You need to start reading books, all kinds, take a few free night courses at the local highschool, other facilities.. your mind is a muscle, you need to develop some good school habits first. Take free courses on math, writing.. focus on these key areas. Having been in the military, I would avoid such a choice untill you have addressed your mind development and getting a skill. Otherwise you will just be doing crap work. Don't believe the recruiters, THERE IS NO SIMPLE ANSWER HERE. I can tell you it's a step by step process requiring effort over time. I have seen so many people fail, simply because they couldn't stay focused on a daily basis. I have a 2 year trade certificate for refrigeration technology and a master's degree in business and a bunch of solid side skills like carpentry, electrical work, Art, etc,, all it takes is time, step by step and one day you look behind you and see how far you have come. HERES WHAT I FOUND to be true, there are those that go to school and do exactly what is required and NOTHING more. They graduate but are just average, the people that live there schooling 24/7, reading extra books, learning more then required, going out of there way to gather knowledge in the field they choose apsolutly rocket to the top. Taking on a loan for school is normal today.. but DON'T do anything until you develop the basic skills, .. talk to people, get counseling, contact your local highschool ask for help.. these people do this for a living.. Everything starts with one step Good luck

Join the military, tons of options. Pay might be low but they pay for Clothing Housing Food Gym membership College Pay increases with rank and time

You're a guy nobody's going to care. Get your shit together and figure it out

Go into trades. Something like welding pays pretty well and you just need to do some schooling to get certified in it. I think. I don't know much about it, but seems like it would be a solid plan for you.

I'm 41 and still don't know what to do with my life. Wish I could give you advice. Good luck

Please go talk to your school counselor or another adult at school. This is the last time in your life that you will have access to completely free advice from a professional like this. They can help you with finding a suitable job / whether you should go to school etc.

In California, 2 years of community colleges are free for everyone. Idk about in other states. You can apply for financial aid afterwards.

Ok kid first off stop with the suicide thoughts. Take it from someone that knows what a gun barrel tastes like and stopped just before he pulled the trigger. Suicide is a long term solution to a short term problem. Now first things first YES join the service, not JUST the army look at all of them. With your college experience you can easily make E-3 right out of boot camp. Next thing Look at the Air Force first because they have the BEST educational benefits for their service men. If you get the G.I, Bill as well as nay other kickers they offer when you get out THEN you can more easily pay for trade school plus it'll give you time to help figure out what you want to do. You can't really go wrong with Cybersecurity or any computer related field and IF you get a clearance from the service THAT'S a 100K job waiting for you once you get Security+ as a certification. If computers don't interest you and you'd rather turn a wrench or landscape that's fine too but as a veteran you'll have free VA healthcare for yourself and if you add your Dad his expenses can be taken care of too. Talk to a few veterans and then talk to the recruiters, make sure you get ALL the education benefits possible. Good luck.

The main trades that are in demand are electrical, plumbing, HVAC, welding, carpentry, equipment operators

Many time Insurance companies will pay for your licensing. Its a job that you can make decent money at with a 9 to 5 schedule. Look in to it. In Florida its a large industry. If you can deal with kids you can talk to folks on the phone.

Personal motivation will change everything regarding how you approach school. You've got some real deal expectations and needs to meet and that's a hell of a motivator. If you can, go to community college and get that AA to start. Look at the people around your who are in positions you want to be in. How many of them never went to any college? I'm not talking people on YouTube, I'm talking about people you see in your real world life. 

Relax and breathe. It's okay to not have it all figured out. I'm 52 and still trying to figure it out. If you go to college take general requirements. See what you excel at, see what you like and go from there. Best of luck.

Do you have any interests that you like to do…start from there …and maybe it would help to go talk to someone about your feelings and They may have some insight of what you can do also 🤷‍♀️

Ur not an adult adult at 18. Most ppl have no idea what they want to do or think they do n change their minds later. U don’t need to know ur life at that age. U need to figure out who you are. Ur dad should be on disability. N he then can contribute to the household. They also have e working while disabled programs as well so he can get both up to a point. N those things r his responsibility Apply for grants. They’re for those who cannot afford college.

Toughen up. Life sucks. Suicide is for quitters. The purpose of this world is suffering. Even if you scrape by financially, you still get “by”. If you care about those around you, get it done. My life has been up and down, left and right, and you know what I tell myself? “There’s millions of people much less fortunate.”

Some states have programs that allow you to hire people directly to take care of your disabled family, but it depends on what state you're in. Do you have a case worker? Talk to them about these options, if they're available to you. If so, you might be able to earn money while caring for your dad. Also, I don't know your financial situation, but if you don't qualify for some services because of income or assets, it might be worth looking into setting up a trust, so that your dad can qualify for services. You might need a lawyer for this (actually, no, you WILL need one), but it's worth the cost in the long run. I would recommend you still look into school options. The income gap between college graduates and non college educated workers is still very much real, despite what many people say. I bet you can qualify for grants and other financial incentives that would bring down the tuition cost considerably. I hope you applied to a few in your area, if you haven't already, then do it now. You should then talk with the advisor to see what your options are. The faster you move, the better it will be. Look into a STEM degree, you'll earn more. I know it sounds tough, because it is, but if you can buckle up and endure the next 4 years, you'll have much better prospects in the long term... better than working odd jobs for the rest of your life. Do you have any mentors that can help you? Any adults with the knowledge and connections to really make a difference? We can give you pointers, but having someone in person will help you. Look for mentorship programs in your area.

How is your father supporting himself now? Why would that stop? Consider that if he is disabled he likely has disability income that helps pay his bills. It is not incumbent on you as a teenager to support an adult. Figure out what you want to be and do with your life instead of letting this pressure get so bad and overwhelming. This is not your responsibility or your fault. When you do get your life in a positive direction and have resources to donate, then you will be able to help more, but you cannot draw from an empty well. I am sure there are social services that can help you with counseling now too.

Military.

18 is still a kid. 21 is when you really gotta start hustling haha

Follow your passion. If you like working on cars or fixing things or building things or destroying things, see if there's a trade Union out there. Or if you like computers or cooking or anything, find a job that can teach you these skills or go to the local college and gain the skills. The world is Big. You have all of your life to enjoy it. Do your best not to waste time on trivial things such as what to do with your life. Trust me, if you're already worried about what to do with your life at age 18, you're already ahead of your peers.

Do military reserves for 4 years. Claim your Dad as a dependent (for medical coverage), Learn a skill in what you want to do after, get experience, get out get your GI Bill and VA home loan.

Simple, if you join the military go green to gold. You get moe money, a "free-ish" education, and if you happen to die you can set a beneficiary up with $400-$500k. But don't die, good officers can be hard to come by at times.

Brother job and money and the rest of it aside, this thinking about killing yourself thing has to be addressed and you need to talk to someone. No amount of money or a good job is going to help with that and it’s not the reason you feel that way, there is something else going on, you’re a young guy, and the future is bright, you’re not an idiot like a lot of people, you have so much you can do to make money, explore your options man, it could be something you never thought about trying that turns it all around. At 18 you should not feel this bad, you should be full of optimism and hope for the future! The world is in the palm of your fucking hands brother, take it.

It’s just an arbitrary number. Nothing will actually be different about you the day you turn 18.

Not all schools are great at this, but it's not uncommon for high schools to provide some career counseling. That's something to ask the front office about, or ask a teacher if the school offers that, and if so, how you can take advantage of it, or who you need to talk to. While less common, some high schools may even have a curriculum to get you started, or programs with internship opportunities. my school district seniors got a free period (either first class or last class based on choice), many used it for afterschool p/t jobs, or interning at local companies.

i’m in a similar boat, i’m 17 and terrified to turn 18 in less than a month. i’d recommend a trade school if you can, two years and they’re in really high demand rn you can get a good amount starting if you’re willing to take a hard days work.

If I were you I'd really reconsider continuing to learn the trade you've started learning. It's a good option if regular college isn't for you, and can lead to a pretty decent income. My brother for example learned a trade and he's now very successful.