sarahsaturday

Dear Sarah,

I dont really know anyone over the age of 18 who thinks what Im wanting to do isnt stupid and pointless, but I figured you of all people would understand.

Im managing my friends band right now, and I absolutely love it. Id probably spend all my time working on band stuff if I could. Problem is, I dont know what I want to do with my life after high school. Should I go to college when Im not sure where or what I would even go for? Or should I stick with the band thing after high school and try making my own way?

Apart from that, everything about being 17 is pretty lame. Im happiest when Im making phone calls concerning scheduling and recording. Ideas? Suggestions? Ways to NOT pull all my hair out? lol

Submitted by: http://mello4sure.buzznet.com


Dear Confused About College,

I can totally appreciate where youre coming from on this issue; when I was 17, I was in my first band, and all I wanted to do was play music and book shows and daydream about total world domination. I didnt have any desire to think about college, and I didnt think about it until the last possible second.

College is not for everyone. Just because a person goes to college, it doesnt mean theyll end up with a great job theyre passionate about. However, if you do know what you want to do, college can be an incredible tool that will jumpstart your career and help you land better positions than your degree-less counterparts. Even in the music industry, people who have college on their resumes will still have a much better chance getting jobs than those of us who didnt wear the cap and gown.

It sounds like you have found something you are passionate about. Youre extremely lucky; some people dont find something they love to do until they are much older than you are. However, your passion just happens to land on that fine line between art and science -- between a career path that requires more schooling and a career path that could develop organically with nothing but your mind and your will. It would be the same dilemma if you were passionate about writing, art, photography, or design: you dont necessarily NEED to go to college to pursue your passion, but if you get going on your own and then realize five or ten years from now that perhaps you should have at least taken a few classes, it could be really hard to try to back-peddle and start over.

Also, there is something to be said for going to college alongside people your own age, who are also trying to find the right path for their lives -- as opposed to being the only 30-year-old in a class of 18-year-olds.

Another thing to consider is who would be paying for your college -- if it would be you paying for it yourself, then the decision is all yours. If your parents were going to pay for some or all of it, they need to be taken into consideration and this should be a discussion that involves them as well.

In my case, I did end up going to college. It wasnt the "on-campus, dorm room, declare-your-major" college experience -- rather, it was the "take random classes, rent apartments off-campus, take every other semester off" college experience, until I dropped out after four years and five semesters to finally pursue music full-time.

But what I figured out in those four years, and what I would suggest to anyone in your shoes, is this: dont put all your eggs in one basket. When youre just getting out of high school and starting on the path towards total independence, there is a lot that is going to hit you all at once. Even though you are determined and excited, you still need to be prepared for lifes little challenges, like paying your bills and renting an apartment and putting gas in your car.

You can do what you love and pursue your goals while also going to school, working part-time, reading, networking, interning, and getting involved in your local scene to network with new people. Why not be a part-time student taking music management classes while interning at a management company and continuing to manage your friends band in your spare time? All you need is a waitressing job to pay the bills, and coffee to keep you going for 20 hours a day!

Until you know for sure exactly what path to take and how to make that path work (and make it pay your bills), you should try a little bit of everything and learn as much as you can. Make "going to college" mean "building a foundation in preparation for the day that you finally decide which way to go."

Love,
Sarah