What to Do...

[Kyle]

Eh...lately all i've been doing and going to school(not doing and work and failing everything) and sitting at home...
I'm yearning to learn more about cars...
but i don't know how i'm gonna be able to do that...:(
I mean...I go into the turbo forum and i see all these people talking about their turbo setups and whatnot..and giving info to others about what to get what not to get...what does what and so on and so on...
I wanna be like that...
I was thinking about going to some autoshop and asking about an apprenticeship job there...but for some reason, i just think i'd get embarrased going in there not knowing shit about cars...
I mean, i do know what some stuff does...and what mods can be used for specific gains and whatnot...
but my knowledge is limited to just that...
I WANNA KNOW MORE!
and i have no idea what to do...

[ebpda9]

dude first of all you need to start with the basics, not rush into the advanced stuff. I know sometimes it could be quite boring, and you think that is stuff that you already know, but doing that sometimes you overlook details(some more important, some not). Also learning that does not happen overnight, it takes time and patience. The best i can think of, that will teach you all this stuff is a technical school, but to get into that i think you need to have the highschool finished. I'm not sure. I know you hate school, maybe i hate it even more but do the homework so you can get the hell out of there, and go for the stuff that you really enjoy.

[Addict]

Relax man. You're young. You have a long time to learn. Another thing, STAY IN SCHOOL. Get a 4yr degree in something and learn all you can. Hell with cars. Unless you're a mechanic, they won't do shit for your paycheck.
I wish I had stayed in college and gotten my degree. Now I've got to play catch up at a slow pace since I have to work. I got sidetracked with cars & everything but school.

Originally posted by hondaman-iac
I know you hate school, maybe i hate it even more but do the homework so you can get the hell out of there, and go for the stuff that you really enjoy.

Damn straight....

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by hondaman-iac
I know you hate school, maybe i hate it even more but do the homework so you can get the hell out of there, and go for the stuff that you really enjoy.

So true. I hate a lot of the stuff I have to do in school right now. It takes all of my time and is extremely hard. I know that when I get out in a couple of years, I'll be ready to go out and make good money so I can do what I want to in life.

Kyle i'm in a similar possion you are right now, I'm not doing to well in school and would love nothing more then to work full time at my shop.

There is one thing to remember if you drop out of high school you will get no where in life! At least finish highschool, and maybe by the end of it you will have matured enough to realize you'll need something after that.

About feeling stupid for a job, I'll share a personal story with you. Three years ago I wanted to get a part time job in the summer and I only wanted to work in the bike industry because I love bikes.So I went to the two bike shops I didn't business with and handed out a resume, turns out they didn't need anyone. So I dropped my resume off at a bike shop down the road from my house, La Bicicletta (the little bike) and well 3 weeks went by and nothing happened. I decided to go in and sell myself (so to speak) turns out my to be boss lost my resume and a man name Adam came down to talk to me.

They sold mountain and road bikes, at the time I was the mountain bike guy and new nothing about road bikes. They agreed to bring me on staff to sell mountain bikes and to pack orders @ $7/hour.

Flash forward to today, I now make $15/hour and have taken over Adams job who no longer works there. We have moved from mountain bikes to souly road bikes and moved to a new location. I now am considered a great source on road bike info, I have a few customers in the states who only speak to me. One man named Jimmy who was even was conserned when he heard I was in an accident. I am one of the few people in my computer science course who have personally set up a complex LAN and hand build every computer in the store. My boss and I are very close, he understands I need to do well this year so I'm not working. Need I mention I got a bike for a bonus last summer, yes thats 4k worth of bike.
Now Kyle remember I'm only 18 going on 19 in March 03. I was a shy kid when I walked into that shop looking for a job but I've grown and become so much more. Kyle you can do anything you put your mind to. If you want to get into cars (like I've told dimitry) get out there and start working in a shop sweeping the floors. At least your closer to cars then someone working a Donut shop who just put his last payment on a 91civic. You might start off at the bottom of the chain but if you have it in you, you will quickly move up the chain of command and at the end of the day, it shouldn't matter if your cleaning the floors in an auto shop or putting in a turbo. At least it didn't matter to me and now I sell bikes to people all over north america.

Just remember the worst that will happen is youll get fired, and if you do you'll have learned something from that and will be a better person for it. I'm a big believer in if you want a job, go out there and take it. I get sick of people who say they can't find a job,thats BS your just not trying/looking hard enough. Go out there and get yourself a JOB!!

You have it in you mate!

He could learn alot just by hangin around some shops & helping out. That's how I know what I know. My dad has a shop & every time my car's had a glitch, he made me get out the Chilton's & figure out what to do. I hated it when I was 16, then I realized it was something VERY FEW girls could do & that was kewl!
I guess another idea would be to pick up a chilton's on your car & just read through. Start changing your own oil, oil filters, air filters, spark plugs...all that jaz.

[ohiochica]

well said.........just some info........my bf who is currently up for master tech status started working in a dealership washing cars at the age of 16. when he turned 18 and graduated highschool they needed some hourly tech, they chose Brian to do the remedial stuff such as oil changes and filling washer fluid. they sent him to Acura school, then to Isuzu school and he is currently the head tech of the Mitsubishi dealership. he is only 23 and already only a few steps away from master tech status. my suggestion and his is to get your foot in the door with a car washing job or even sweeping the floors as Mt. biker suggested.

good call. Once you get in & make friends....car people are very willing to help you learn what they know.

[Kyle]

alright...all of this sounds pretty good...
maybe i'll stop by the honda dealer today and ask them about a janitorial job or something washing cars or something like that...
thx for all the adivce guys...it's really helped me out.