What do you do?

[cpowell]

What kind of profession are you in?

Most of you know I am a teacher. I was thinking about school starting in a couple of weeks and how we are supposed to be preparing kids for the work world. In the past couple of years I have had to "interview" many students about what kind of profession they want to be in and then we are supposed to try to figure out which classes they should take to achieve that goal. As you might expect, most jr. high kids are clueless. Most of them only know what dad does for a living, although some don't even know that much.
Since most of you here are local or semi-local I thought I would ask your professions to help me give the kids a better idea of what people in this and the surrounding areas some ideas of what other people do.

[Blast&Cast]

Electrical Power Plant - Senior Operations Specialist (shift supervisor)

If I could pass on any words of wisdom, to young people, it would be this.....go to college, go to college, go to college. I wish that I would have had more people pushing college on me when I was younger. I did go for a couple of years, and for that I am fortunate.....I just wish that I would have received a four year degree.

[greyloon]

Electrical Power Plant - Senior Operations Specialist (shift supervisor)

If I could pass on any words of wisdom, to young people, it would be this.....go to college, go to college, go to college. I wish that I would have had more people pushing college on me when I was younger. I did go for a couple of years, and for that I am fortunate.....I just wish that I would have received a four year degree.


We tried with both of our boys to get them to follow your prescription, took with one, not with the other.:(

As for me, I used to run neighborhood revitalization programs for cities and counties (separate ones, not a bunch at one time). My degree was in Public Administration and I was considered a city planner. Had to take disability, so am retired and, when not fishing, raise my 5 year old grandson.

[Blast&Cast]

We tried with both of our boys to get them to follow your prescription, took with one, not with the other.:(

As for me, I used to run neighborhood revitalization programs for cities and counties (separate ones, not a bunch at one time). My degree was in Public Administration and I was considered a city planner. Had to take disability, so am retired and, when not fishing, raise my 5 year old grandson.

I didn't go straight to college, out of high school. I had a few really horrible jobs, before I realized that I needed to get my rear end in college.

[Scotta]

Went straight to college. Wish I would of waited till I grew up. Lol. Went back and applied myself.
Electrical superintendant, engineering power systems.
Side work. Drilling rig inspector (electrical)

[HawgHunter]

Have you ever seen Mr. Mom? Well, I'm the real deal.:)

Other than that I believe I'm a good example of what 'not' to do.:icon_redface: Didn't finish high school, then waited till I was in my mid 20's to get a GED. Haven't had any college, nor have I obtained any certificates. I've jumped around from job to job, quite a few of which could have been great careers. From installing accoustic tile ceilings for Aeco, to installing communication (data, voice, video, fiber) main frames for Williams....from driving a fertilizer truck fertilizing cow pastures for S&B chemical, to installing comercial electrical for 3 Star. The list goes on....:icon_eek: The point is I've never found what I want to do, and have learned in that time that knowing what you want in life is one of the most important decisions you have to make growing up.:)

[OCOE]

I Dropped out of college to persue music full time (which I did for 5 years). Ended up in computers owning my own business since 1986 (self taught). Both professions came out of a love for them. In fact, I used to feel guilty taking money from folks for doing what I did, I loved them that much. I still very much enjoy what I do.

The key? Find what they love to do and go for it! I've heard SO many people who hate their jobs. Even if they find one that doesn't pay that well (I starved as a musician but loved it), find what they enjoy and persue it.

[Ole Bill]

There is nothing in my working career that I would recommend to the kids today. I owned my own trucking business for 35 years and was mainly hauling meat and produce and food commodities. I have made good money and I have gone broke many times. In all those years I am still trying to put down roots.

If they are interested in long grueling hard hours at the tune of 18 hours a day and sometimes more absolutely no family life except for 2 or 3 days a month with really no more than a working wage then go for it. Plus you make the payment buy the fuel buy the permits pay for the insurance and see to all the maintenance and repairs of your equipment at your cost. That’s called overhead and by the time you take out the expenses you will be lucky to provide your family with what they need to survive. You don’t need much education to tackle a job like that. Most high school educations can prepare them for it.

Another thing would be to work for the man with the trucks. All I can say about that is everything above holds true except they make all the payments including your wage and in a lot of instances they can’t make it in business because of overhead so you are looking for another job and if its trucking the only thing you change is the name of the person who signs your paycheck if there is one. To make truck payments they will keep you on the road as much as they possibly can and they don’t care about getting you home to see your family. All you are to them is an employee number.

My recommendation would to be to go to college and major in business management and become the one to send people like me to do your bidding. They are the ones who make the most with the least spent. These people are the brokers, shippers, and receivers. The brokers receive 25 to 30% right off the top of what the shipper pays to move the load and what the receiver pays for the product. They do this by making a couple of phone calls to the shipper, receiver and getting you to haul the load. They work their 8 hour day and then its home with the family weekends free because they loaded everyone out on Friday.

The transportation industry is really not a good choice and the only reason it survives is the need of the people for food and products and the uneducated young people that don’t think it is important to go to college. I did it for 35 years because I loved it and now that I have retired I am finding out what it cost me in family and life in general but I sitll feel good because it is people like me that see to feeding all the people of the country that cant grow or prepare their own..

[CAT KILLER EAST TEXAS]

Well my story is like many others, I grew up playing in the band where I soon found my passion. I played all brass instruments but found a deep love for the Tuba for some reason! Some would say that I could make it sound like a french horn. I went on to college straight out of high school and studied music for 2 years when suddenly I felt the desire to quit college and come home and buy a truck and start working. The first few years out of college I just couldn't shake my passion for music. That's where God stepped in, I found my lovely wife, soon after being saved, and have since went on through 4 jobs in the 9 years that we have been married. I can truely say that I have never been unhappy with a job, for it is not the job that makes us who we are. God has called me back to music, but this time to lead His people in worship. He knew what He was doing all along to prepare me for that. I currently work bivocasional as a CNC Waterjet machinist and music minister at Woodlawn Baptist Church.

Remember that it is WHO we work for ultimately that makes us who we are not our jobs!

[Ole Bill]

Well my story is like many others, I grew up playing in the band where I soon found my passion. I played all brass instruments but found a deep love for the Tuba for some reason! Some would say that I could make it sound like a french horn. I went on to college straight out of high school and studied music for 2 years when suddenly I felt the desire to quit college and come home and buy a truck and start working. The first few years out of college I just couldn't shake my passion for music. That's where God stepped in, I found my lovely wife, soon after being saved, and have since went on through 4 jobs in the 9 years that we have been married. I can truely say that I have never been unhappy with a job, for it is not the job that makes us who we are. God has called me back to music, but this time to lead His people in worship. He knew what He was doing all along to prepare me for that. I currently work bivocasional as a CNC Waterjet machinist and music minister at Woodlawn Baptist Church.

Remember that it is WHO we work for ultimately that makes us who we are not our jobs!i agree with you and OCOE because i know how you both are with your family and i missed that. it takes a lot of courage to be happy with less than what you think you are worth im finding that out now and enjoying it if ya ask me.

[GILBERT G]

well I`m a MACHINST in the power plant industry I`v made a good living for not having a college degree but I do recommend to get an education but some times it`s better to be a GO GETTER.

[Scotta]

Im a good "bad example." I had seen quite a few bumps along the way but it made me the person I am today. I am not a shame and sometimes im a little too brutily honest. You know what I just dont lie, it's too hard to explain why you did later when it comes to light and it will. It always does. Anyway, I wish I would of had the insight i have now when I was 18. I thought of my dad and the things he tried to instill in me. Truth is most 18 year olds just need to find out on there. own, hopefully, sooner than later. I was presented information which is all anyone can do. It was up to me to process it and unfortunetly, I had my own ideas. SUCH IS LIFE! Growing pains. My friends son is in constant trouble and he hides this from everyone. He gets no consequences for his actions because his father is trying to hide the fact that he ******* up. No consequences and he keeps getting worse and worse. I pray. It's all I can do. I thinnk he wants to be a friend more than a parent.

[kingwoodcatfisherman]

Well , this is an interesting thread Cpowell. I graduated Texas A&M in May of 1988 with a BS degree in Accounting. I would say that I consider myself more of an entrepreneur than an accountant. Since I didn't have a job offered to me coming straight out of graduation like many folks did , I borrowed $30,000 from my grandmother and purchased 140 bulk vending machines which I placed from Houston to Waco during the summer after I graduated. Six months later, I started working for a CPA firm for about five years as an auditor and tax accountant.

I made more money with my bulk vending machines working on Saturdays than my real job. I eventually placed 4 full size vending machines at a large private school in Houston and those 4 machines made more money working them an hour a day than my real job. Hence , I quit my real job and started focusing full time with the full size machines. Over 14 years ,I built up vending routes and sold them to people getting into the business. I completely sold my whole business three times with the final sale being last year of about 700 machines. By 2006 , I was able to pay off all of my business debt and during 2007 I was able to pay off all of the money that I borrowed from my parents as well as all of my personal debt and house note. Life without debt is nice !! It took me 25 years. I don't have a job making money but then again I don't have to worry about having a business with 6,000 a month in interest payment because of alot of debt.

Owning your own cash business is very time consuming and the pressures of dealing with employees, trucks breaking, theft, stealing , theft, stealing , warehouse fires, collecting receivables, dealing with customers, and dealing with constantly increasing prices of gas, insurance, and product can be super stressful. It was exciting starting something and working hard and watching it grow but I don't think that I am going to put myself through that again and risk losing everything if what I do doesn't succeed.

I have had to borrow hundreds of thousands dollars for equipment, have had to max out over 100K on credit cards, and borrow at one time over 100K from my parents to catch my note payments up after September 11 and the Enron bankrupcy ( one of my lovely ex-customers/creditor) so that I didn't get everything repoed from the bank. During the times of business growth, a paycheck for me was whatever was left over after I paid for all of my note payments, payroll, taxes, fixed over head , expenses and product costs. Most of the ,it is hard to withdrawal any money until the debt is paid off on the equipment or a route was sold. I never had to file bankruptcy thanks to my personal lender named "daddy" but I came close more than a few times. Out of the love for my parents, (because I know they worry about me) I will not ever self finance (on my own) another business that I do. I think that I am lucky my Dad or me made it through these years without having a heart attack. My second marriage worked out because I didn't bring my wife near my business. The only thing she ever got to see was the boxes of cash and crates of coins that I brought home to count and never all of the bills and credit card statements that I left locked up at the warehouse.

I sold my mini storage business and building late last year so I haven't worked for almost a year. I would say that I don't have a clue what type of work that I would even consider to apply for now. I have been taking it easy this past year spending lots of time with my kids and fishing. Other than a few national holidays , I took a five day vacation once with my family in the 11 years of working for myself. I hated the entire vacation because all I could do was worry about work and how much money they were stealing from my machines while I was gone and worrying about how many customers that I was going to loose because things didn't get repaired.

This past year has been good for me. I have done most of the things that I would do if I was retired and I have had the opportunity to do things that I wanted to do around the house but just didn't have the time to do. Other than ride a 9second drag bike and go to a KISS concert, if I had a heart attack and died in my sleep (after the muster) then I could say that I have done everything in life that I would have wanted to do.

I have everything materially that I could possibly want. I would like to find a career or business in the near future that would enble me to make enough money to enable my wife to go back to being a full time mom (like she was last year ) and something that I could feel like that I am helping people or making a difference in their lives. Another thing is whatever I do, I want to be able to have time to spend with my family and jug fish at night. I wished that I could find something to do where I could work four days a week and 14 hours a day because I am used to working from 5:00 am - 7:00p.

[tylerdan]

I worked 30 years for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission in Austin till I got so old and slow they decided it was better to pay me not to come anymore. Now, Lake Hawg Hunter who is Mr. Mom, I am Mr. Maid while my wife works.

[fishin widower]

Graduated college twice, Associate in Law Enforcement/Bachelor in Criminal Justice (City Administration) 75 & 77. Served as a Deputy Marshal for 7 years, then moved to Houston. Career with City of Houston began in 1981 as a supervisor in Wastewater. Moved on up through the years, serving in several divisions. Today, I am the Division Manager of Safety & Environmental watching after 4100 wonderful public servants in the Public Works and Engineering Department. (by the way, met and married Susan (NCFL) at the City of Houston and appreciate the retirement that she earned and that they provide her each month)

The youngsters of today truly need a college education in order to be successful. Recently had occasion to critique the promotional choices of a division and discovered that they will only consider college graduates for pay grades 19 and above. While there are many well qualified candidates that I know personally, education gets the promotion each time.

[dbldaddy]

im just a welder. nothing exciting but i would say a junior college would be the best bet. not a full time deal so they wont feel as pressured and they can still make a lil dough. im only 21 so it wasnt very long ago i was in those shoes. all i thought about was makin money. so they will still have that option to feel 'useful'

[Charles Ellis]

I have bounced around a bit myself.Like Fishing Widower I got an AA in law enforcement back when I worked for TDC.I left that for a job in a machine shop wherre I worked my way up to programing and operating cnc lathes and turning centers.Got tired of the oil patch boom and bust cycles and went back to school and became an x-ray and mri technonlgist.I'm not getting rich but it is the most fulfilling work that I have ever done.

[Ole Bill]

this is a great thread ya really git to know people on here. what a wonderful way to make and know your friends. it lets one know that im not the only one with ups and downs in life. i have an old saying and that is you cant choose your family but you can always choose your friends. you cant choose who brought you into the world but you can definatley decide who and what you will become in the world. dont remember where i read it or when but it has been a strong message in the way i see life

[agdave112]

i am a firefighter paramedic for college station. not what i started out as. i went to college and chose the wrong degree plan for me and couldnt pass some of the classes. went to fire school and worked at lowes as a do anything guy. got hired on 7 yrs ago and havent looked back. Best job a man could have. Still cant believe you can work one day and get the next two off.

[medic1292]

Well, looking back i SEE AND FEEL ALL the mistakes i made:new_all_coholic:, like NOT joining the Navy right out of high school:bang:. Woulda had 17+ years by now!
Like some i went from job to job, the longest being what i do now--Paramedic 6+ years! I LOVE MY JOB!!:applause:
Working as a mechanic i got tired of smelling like axle grease everyday, and getting stains on everything. Then it was a LOT of hand to mouth sort of jobs. NOT FUN!! Then after seeing a bad accident and helping, my bro suggested that i look for a job in the medical field. I LISITENED! While working as a A/C filter tech. i went to EMT school. BEST darn decision i made!! No matter how much i think about my mistakes, i'm still 10+ years behind!:new_cussing:

[kingwoodcatfisherman]

this is a great thread ya really git to know people on here. what a wonderful way to make and know your friends. it lets one know that im not the only one with ups and downs in life. i have an old saying and that is you cant choose your family but you can always choose your friends. you cant choose who brought you into the world but you can definatley decide who and what you will become in the world. dont remember where i read it or when but it has been a strong message in the way i see life

I agree Bill, so now that you know me ... you know why I am terrified of roller coasters !!!!! :icon_surprised::icon_surprised::icon_surprised:

[cpowell]

Got to thinking I should have started this off myself. I wasn't always a teacher. Joined the Army out of high school (66), came back and was a roughneck for awhile. One day decided that I better get some college in while I could so I quit that day and started college the next. Went to work at the television station part time and stayed with it, moving around station to station as producer/director. I ended up with a degree in broadcasting/journalism/speech with an education minor. Teaching was my backup career if needed. Eventually opened an ad agency. Later my son was found to have ADD and I wanted to know more, so I went back to school to learn. I ended up certified in Sp. Ed. got an offer to come here to teach. I was only going to stay for a year. Here I am still. Now I am certified to teach Journalism/speech/debate/all subjects for grades 4-8/ESL and Special Education. i think I'll make this my home.

[JonW]

i am a firefighter paramedic for college station. not what i started out as. i went to college and chose the wrong degree plan for me and couldnt pass some of the classes. went to fire school and worked at lowes as a do anything guy. got hired on 7 yrs ago and havent looked back. Best job a man could have. Still cant believe you can work one day and get the next two off.

I agree. Best job in the world. It's been VERY good to me. Ask Mike Cole-he'll tell you!

[GILBERT G]

OLE BILL That Is A Great Motto You Read Some Where
That Is Something That Should Be Told To Every Kid Coming Up. I Tip My Hat To That !!!!

[DBullard]

Well I have worked in a paint and body shop,a delivery driver for a restraunt sply,
I used to for for a company tat sold Lobsters and I srvice the tanks in the grocery stores and ReD Lobster,worked as a laborer for B&R.I went work as a warehouseman and worked my way to customer service then Asst Mgr. now I am being promoted to DC MGR. of a wholesale Industrial and Welding Sply. Company I have 30 employees and 7-8 million dollars of inventory to manage.
The employees can be a challenge.

[Ole Bill]

I agree Bill, so now that you know me ... you know why I am terrified of roller coasters !!!!! :icon_surprised::icon_surprised::icon_surprised:we ll im not much afraid of anything but if i had to admit a fear a roller coaster would probably fit the bill. did i make a pun here bwaaaaaaaaaaahahahah

[Craig]

It sounds like this bunch has so much in common. I have a twenty year old daughter who is in her last year of college and a eighteen year old son who is a senior in high school so trying to put them in the right direction is something I've done for a long time. You can't empasize enough the importance of college and to go for something that they will enjoy doing for the rest of their lives. I was past 30 before I completed my degree and now I don't have to work quite so hard to make a little change and I really enjoydoing what I do. I'm a quality manager at a pipe fabrication company.

[kingfisher]

Interesting thread. I have met a few of you but most of you don't know me. I attend the same church as KWCF and his parents, Kingwood UMC.

I am a college graduate with a B.S. in Biology and an MBA. I spend my days working as a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company, as I have for the last 11 years. I spend my nights and weekends fishing, thinking about fishing, and trying to figure out how I can afford a boat someday.

I have made my share of mistakes as many of us have and was on the 10 year plan graduating with my undergrad, due to stupidity and a lack of money. Not ashamed of this since these experiences made me who I am today and that is a man content with life with a great wife and three kids.

Fishing TX is a great group of people who care about one another and LOVE fishing. I think those are two traits more people should aspire to possess.

I am hoping to come for the day to the muster and bring my 11 year old son who likes to fish as much as I do.

[Scotta]

Very nice to meet all of you. It was three pages ago and I am too tired at work to look back. Plus my boss is sitting here watching me type this so I will just say thanx whoever started this thread. I guess I should get back to work. nah. Nothinig to do. I think the electricians are flying in from Romania on thursday. Dont ask. I know I could of located some competent electricians from the staes and not had to pay air fair and room and board but.........................Whatever.

[Charles Ellis]

KWCF and OLE BILL, roller coasters are a blast,but I dont get to ride them any more.The last time I tried they couldn't lock the safety bar on my car(someone there was too fat).The rides that scare me are the Ferris Wheels and overhead cable cars.Too much time to think about all the things that could go wrong.

[mikechell]

I've got a few minutes, so I'll add to this thread. First thing I have to ask is ... you all mean to tell me there's something besides fishing???

Actually, I'll just run a list of the jobs I've held.
Worked in a pet store through my high school years.
Worked in a decorative Chrome Plating business until I left Indiana two years after graduating.
Got into the Cable TV business in the late 70's early 80's and did everything from house installs to trunk line construction.
Joined the Marines ... did aviation electronics for 12 years. After the first Gulf War, I got caught up in the force reduction and they wouldn't let me re-enlist.
Went to MMI for Harley Technician and worked for three years in a shop in Orlando.
1997, I started teaching at MMI and haven't worked a day since I started. It's been a fun ride for the last 11+ years and I am hoping to do this until it's time to truly ask, "Is there anything else besides fishing?"

[LuckyBass13]

well I`m a MACHINST in the power plant industry I`v made a good living for not having a college degree but I do recommend to get an education but some times it`s better to be a GO GETTER.

I agree about college degree, thats my biggest mistake!! and after read this, it make me feel like I am NOBODY with no job, no college degree.. wow!!!:icon_redface:

[Craig]

Hey LB13, don't ever feel that way. I'm pretty new at this forum from what I can tell you are among a great many friends, that proves no one at fishingTX.com is a nobody. Things just happen that God puts us through to make us better. Maybe you will find a new direction that will enable you to go back to school, work and make money and still fish. Thats what I did. try this number, its a temp service we hire from 281-933-3256. Its called MCS. We are currently looking for a recieving clerk so you never know. Good luck and always think positive!

[kingfisher]

I agree about college degree, thats my biggest mistake!! and after read this, it make me feel like I am NOBODY with no job, no college degree.. wow!!!:icon_redface:

LB13,

The question posed was "What do you do?" not "Who are you as a man?" From what I have read you are good man who cares about his family. I hope that comes from a reverence for God. Your not a nobody, just in a valley in life. As I said in my post anybody that loves God, family, and fishing like you and others in this group is all right in my book.

Remember this:

"He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances”

[tylerdan]

LB13, jobs come and go, especially these days. I was fortunate and worked for one place for a long time. However, my son who is about your age, has been laid off a couple times. When he got laid off, it was not because he was a bad worker--it was because a small company gets in money trouble and has to close or lay off people. You have no control over it. One day you have a job, the next you don't. As a man, you just keep on trying! .

[kingwoodcatfisherman]

I agree about college degree, thats my biggest mistake!! and after read this, it make me feel like I am NOBODY with no job, no college degree.. wow!!!:icon_redface:

I can understand how you feel Andy, but the crazy thing is that I have a college degree and I sometimes feel that way about myself because I lack alot of specific work experience because I have been self employeed most of the time.

The ticket is education and work experience. Both are two fold and it seems employers weigh both against each other. It seems like if you have education the employers tell you that you lack enough work experience and if you have the work experience than alot of times they tell you that you may not have the required education.

I was shocked when I went to work for an accounting firm and discovered that I could do very little for them on my own. I knew tax laws but in school we had never worked a tax return. In accounting, I knew how to do record keeping manually yet I had never seen it done on a computerized accounting software system. Most all of what I learned about the accounting industry was working under the wing of CPA's with ten years of experience and figuring out things on my own while on the job not from school. I often feel that the degree is just a piece of paper that gets me to the interview.

[BassingtxLady]

I can't even remember all the jobs I have had.

Middle School, washing dishes and working cash register in small family cafe

At age 14, started driving truck in family owned trash hauling business. Got caught by highway patrolman who helped me get commercial license

One year at University of Texas.

One year at University of Houston

1 1/2 years in California working on highway construction for relatives.

Back to highway construction in Houston. Ran asphalt spreader (also known as laydown machine) and rock spreader. Learned to run pug mill making highway sub-base.

Worked for Fisher Overseas Drilling putting together drilling rigs that were bound for Saudi Arabia. Worked seven 12's; 7 pm to 7 am. Lasted 6 weeks, no joy.

Went back to highway construction, but could not get enough hours because of rain, so went to back to work for family trash business.

1969 went into banking for the next 15 years in Commercial Credit Administration. During this time, I took numerous banking courses and had the pleasure of attending the Southwest Graduate School of Banking at SMU where I graduated in 1976.

In 1984, banking was going in the pits and I went back into the trash business with some relatives.

In 1987, the business was sold and I went to work for Waste Management learning how to run landfills and handle some public relations. I retired from there in 1997.

During all of this time I have always been active in whatever community that I lived. I was a director of the Humble Area Chamber of Commerce from 1985 to 2000, and Chairman of the Board in 1997.

I was involved in Humble's main street downtown festival "Good Oil Days" from 1984 until present. I was co-chair for several years.

Throughout my life, I have never really had to hunt a job. When I needed one, they just seemed to be everywhere. After washing dishes in a cafe and working on trash hauling trucks for several years, there was hardly anything that bothered me.

There are probably 25 brief jobs that I have not mentioned. Most of them did not last very long because in my younger days, I had very little patience with people who had a bad attitude, or who mislead me on what I would end up doing.

Wanting to get in more fun, one time I got a regular job working 9 to 5, five days a week. Told them I would not work on the weekend because I was way behind on fishing, hunting and camping. About two weeks later they asked me to work on Saturday. I told them to mail me my check and never looked back.

Currently, I do a little consulting and take care of a few websites. The house is paid for, all vehicles are paid for, and our only debts are current expenses and paying for a house where our son and his family live.

I will not bore you with my medical problems, but they are why I do not get to do much fishing.

You probably didn't care to hear all of this, but I think it did me a little good to get it all written down.

[CAT KILLER EAST TEXAS]

I agree about college degree, thats my biggest mistake!! and after read this, it make me feel like I am NOBODY with no job, no college degree.. wow!!!:icon_redface:

Hey LB, remember that a job does not define who we are! I have decided that no matter the CIRCUMSTANCE I'm in, I WILL LIVE MY LIFE FOR CHRIST! Being exactly who God want's me to be puts me in a place no matter who I work for or what I do, content and blessed beyond measure. That way when people ask me who I am I can say confidently that I am not a machinist but a child of the King whom works as a machinist. You have to believe that God brought you to this place in your life for HIS REASON. He is doing something you rest assured of that. Hang in there!

[Gentleben]

I was born and raised on a farm with 10 bros and sis, fisnished high school in 66, got drafted 67 met and married a wonderful indian girl from Oklahioma in 69.... worked everywhere done everything and anything ...By trade I am a process Technician just signed the papers last month on a Safety Job at the plant where i work.....Fire fighter, (Municipal and Industrial) EMT , (tactcal trained) , hazmat tech and rescue specialist by love .....Tahn kGod the ypay me for it or I would do it for nothing !! Like many volunteers do who haven' t had teh breaks I have , I have been blessed by an everloving God who sent His only son to die for me while He did not even know me ......
I give God teh glory and thanks fro my good fortunes and for my bad too!!
thants all it has all been good !! even the bad's been good !!

[greyloon]

Lucky, a college degree does not make the person. That comes from within. Your worth isn't based on that piece of paper. My father went to the 9th grade, but was one of the brightest people I've ever met. My mother didn't even go to the third grade, but she ran her own business and made good money of her initiative. Many of the best folk I've known have no eduction to speak of, some with college degrees that won't quit, I wouldn't cross the street to say hi.

[Blast&Cast]

Lucky, a college degree does not make the person. That comes from within. Your worth isn't based on that piece of paper. My father went to the 9th grade, but was one of the brightest people I've ever met. My mother didn't even go to the third grade, but she ran her own business and made good money of her initiative. Many of the best folk I've known have no eduction to speak of, some with college degrees that won't quit, I wouldn't cross the street to say hi.



Some famous peole who have made a name for themselves, without a college degree..... Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates, Eleanor Roosevelt, Michael Dell, Walter Cronkite, Ted Turner, oil billionaire John D. Rockefeller, Warren Beatty, McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc, Alexander Graham Bell, Wendy’s Founder Dave Thomas, Walt Disney, NBC mogul David Sarnoff, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Edison, the Wright brothers, and seven presidents from Washington to Truman. ABC-TV’s Peter Jennings dropped out of high school!

[LuckyBass13]

well.. thank for all postives comment, but one thing most of you dont understand, being deaf, isnt easy!! for example one of job said that " you cant pass their phyical test, because you are deaf, and its by DOT!!" I told them that its not true, I know several of deaf people have DOT cerficated and drive trucks.. another job, they was awakrd and say that they dont want to lose customers because of diffuclty commuicate, another job asked me many questions about my deafness.. then havent heard back from them, yes there is a lot of sccessfully deaf poeple, they work in deaf world, such like deaf school, or in deaf commuity.. they rarely deal with hearing world, i feel like hearing world is a pit of sharks!! you have to be in my shose to understand whats its really like being in pit of sharks.

of course I am not giving up, because I have been stuggled since I was little boy when I was younger, I HAD to prove those hearing kids from my neighbor that I can play football or whatever game they are play.

Its not easy to fight my pride as a providers for my family. I am having another job interview at 3pm.... fingercorss.

[Blast&Cast]

well.. thank for all postives comment, but one thing most of you dont understand, being deaf, isnt easy!! for example one of job said that " you cant pass their phyical test, because you are deaf, and its by DOT!!" I told them that its not true, I know several of deaf people have DOT cerficated and drive trucks.. another job, they was awakrd and say that they dont want to lose customers because of diffuclty commuicate, another job asked me many questions about my deafness.. then havent heard back from them, yes there is a lot of sccessfully deaf poeple, they work in deaf world, such like deaf school, or in deaf commuity.. they rarely deal with hearing world, i feel like hearing world is a pit of sharks!! you have to be in my shose to understand whats its really like being in pit of sharks.

of course I am not giving up, because I have been stuggled since I was little boy when I was younger, I HAD to prove those hearing kids from my neighbor that I can play football or whatever game they are play.

Its not easy to fight my pride as a providers for my family. I am having another job interview at 3pm.... fingercorss.

You go get em' Lucky..... Will be praying for ya'...

[kingwoodcatfisherman]

well.. thank for all postives comment, but one thing most of you dont understand, being deaf, isnt easy!! for example one of job said that " you cant pass their phyical test, because you are deaf, and its by DOT!!" I told them that its not true, I know several of deaf people have DOT cerficated and drive trucks.. another job, they was awakrd and say that they dont want to lose customers because of diffuclty commuicate, another job asked me many questions about my deafness.. then havent heard back from them, yes there is a lot of sccessfully deaf poeple, they work in deaf world, such like deaf school, or in deaf commuity.. they rarely deal with hearing world, i feel like hearing world is a pit of sharks!! you have to be in my shose to understand whats its really like being in pit of sharks.

of course I am not giving up, because I have been stuggled since I was little boy when I was younger, I HAD to prove those hearing kids from my neighbor that I can play football or whatever game they are play.

Its not easy to fight my pride as a providers for my family. I am having another job interview at 3pm.... fingercorss.


I can see employers preceiving your deafness as a handicap to them more than a lack of a college education. What you need is an employer who is patient and will take the time to show you how to do the task/job.

If I still had my vending company , I would hire you immediately. You could have worked in the money room counting money and you could of helped us out in the shop repairing and moving vending machines. I would have loved to of had someone like you that is hard working, dependable, mature, and above all things honest.

I'll say a little prayer for you Andy . It's almost 3:00 !! Good luck Buddy !! Just make sure you don't start your new job until after our big jug trip !!

[Ole Bill]

LB i once picked up a hitchhiker with a dog. the man was blind and insulin dependant diabetic. the dog was his guide dog and everywhere we stopped he ask to speak to the local news and being interested i listened to what he said. the reason he was hitchhiking around the country was to prove to the powers that be that he would be able to funtion as the head of national orginazation of the blind and handicapped people. at every stop he answered questions and explained that the handicap he had was it was impossible for him to read the common newspaper. during his time as head to the orginaztion he was instrumental in getting the American with Disabilities Act started and passed. he served for several years and a few years after his retirement he passed away due to complications of diabetes. he impressed me with the fact that you are only as handicapped as you allow yourself to be. God has plans so be patient and allow him to work for you and so you will find a job where you can spend that time you need with your family

[mikechell]

College degree ... I've got 4 sisters and a brother. Two of the sisters and the brother have degrees, two others and me ... we don't.
There's very little difference in where we all are as far as financial security, etc.
But I can state that the three of us without ... we are the happiest of the bunch. Maybe being the "dumb ones" has it's advantages. Ha ha ha ha

[Gentleben]

LB13 don't get down on yourself ; redirect your energy to get some training that can help you go to the work force commission and tell them you need some traing to make a living for your family they will pay for your training that will help you get a good job..don't let ur handicap shut you down..

A good example is our very own WebMaster Donnie Piper , he does more than most well abled men , he has his own PonToon Boat and he fishes anytime someone wants to go ,he works all the time, when he had his accident he got some education and training that could help him in spiteof his handicap and he now works for an engineering company. You remind me of the guy who complained cause he had no shoes, til he met a man who had no feet !!:confused::confused:

[otocatchfish]

I am 18, I graduated this year. My first job that I ever had was I had my own lawn bussines when I was 13, "Loren's Lawn Service" my dad bought me a riding lawn mower under the condition that I would take care of it, then for christmas that year I got a 4x8 trailer that I would load up my mower and my mom would drive me around to all my jobs, I maid great money for a teenager. I quite doing it cause I was getting older and realizing the money I was spending for overhead was more the I was making. But the things that I learned from doing that are pricless, my dad did not help me on maintnece, when somthing broke I would get out my owners manuel and then I got to the point that I didnt need the manuel I knew my equipment from top to bottom.I have had a lot of carreer ideas, For a long time I wanted to be a landscaper (that came from the grass cutting days) Then I was real seriouse about joining the coast gaurd but I decided that being gone all the time wasent for me. For a while I worked every sat. in hospitals cleaning sterilizers, I didnt realy like it cause I hait hospitals and I had to wear scrubs but it was a job and it paid great and I couldnt have asked for a better boss. Now I have followed my dads footsteps of being a carpenter. My job mainly consists of standing at the hoarses with a skill saw taking numbers, pulling a tape and making the cut and then of coarse driving nails and "toaten" lumber. I dont plan on duing this all my life, I am currently a volanteer firefighter at the New Caney Fire Dept. Lord willing I will be going to fire academy in the near futer to get my EMT basic and firefighters comission so that when I turn 21 I can get hired on. And then when that hapens I will still be a carpenter on the side. So basicaly the fire dept. deal Is just so I can have benifits and a retirement + I like it, (that is somthing that being a carpenter dosent do) I think I have my career plan pretty much ironed out but you never know, God my have somthing completly different in store for me.

[john]

Good luck LB13,Keep your head high.Things will happen in your favor.

[Gentleben]

Ain't nothing wrong in being a carpenter, Jesus was !!!!!Look at all He built!!

[OUTLAW]

Refinery console operator at LyondellBasell HR (old lyondell-citgo. I was a head lineman for Centerpoint for 20 years, went to college at 41yrs old for an assoc in instrumentation and hired into the first plant I applied for. God's Plan!

[Gentleben]

WTG outlaw another plant operator !!!!!!!!!!!!!Goes to show old dawgs can learn new tricks:applause: heck i was 50 yrs young befroe i knew what a computer was !!!!!!!!!!!!:secret:
Ask and you shall recieve , knock and the door will open , faith, faith, faith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gator gar]

You have heard that song, "I've been everywhere man, I've been everywhere man, across the desert"................ Well, I have done everything.

Worked in the tobacco fields of N.C. as a youngster.

Joined the Navy right out of high school and spent four long years in and then got out. I've been all over the world, thanks to the Navy.

Started cutting meat and continued off and on for 18 years.

I commercial shellfished in N.C. on the east coast while being involved with the illicit drug trade for a few years. Yes, I was a drug dealer!! Believed to be one of the biggest on the East coast for awhile. After beating a 9 year stay in the states lock up and spending thousands of dollars to stay free, I decided that I had had enough. The police pretty much gave me an ultimatum, you stay in N.C. and we will make sure you go down, or you leave and never come back. I left and am never going back.

I built power lines for Maztec and Sumter Builders.(Utilities) Went on many a storm break up in the mountains of N.C.,Virginia, and West Virginia.

I owned a sawmill and have cut thousands of board feet of all kinds of lumber.

I cruised timber (estimated board feet on the stump) for a buddy of mine that owned a forestry consulting firm in Virginia.

Worked as a welder, MIG welding for one production fab company.(BORING) and TIG welding for an instrumentation company. Welding all stainless steel.

I went in my present job, looking to be a welder, but got interested in the pipefitting aspect and broke out on my tools in 4 short months. I took the National Center for Construction and Education Research test. (NCCER) last Tuesday and passed by the seat of my pants, But I PASSED!!!! Now I have the card and can work anywhere that will accept a convicted felon with a NCCER card.

I start Auto-Cad school on Sept 14th at Lamar and hope to be in an air-conditioned office, this time next year, doing piping design on a computer.

Only in America, can you live such a diversed life. It's been a long, fun, bumpy, not so fun, exciting, scary, beautiful experiance.

What's next????

[irfishyir2]

Dang, gator gar, you been everywhere. I havent been anywhere. Born in Houston, moved to Yoakum at age 3, graduated from hi school and came back to Houston in 1963. Been here ever since except for 3 years in Kingsville, Bay City and Wharton. Been in the grocery business ever since til I retired last year to fish and raise maters. I sure have led a sheltered life. I guess thats the reason I've been able to keep the same woman for 44 years.

[Scotta]

GG, thats some brutal honesty. Someone that is not ashamed of there past. But you know what, our pasts made us who we are today.

[cpowell]

I continue to be impressed by the careers represented here. It's quite a variety and I thank everyone for their input. Please continue...if you wish. This has been a great way to get to know folks here.

A lot of people here have also discussed how they have faced adversity here, getting laid off then finding new jobs. GG was brutally honest about himself and how he made a new life. Just shows that you CAN overcome. Proud to know you guys!

[Scotta]

I overcame the same thing as GG but I was on the other side of the fencelooking for gg. Been clean over 7 years now but still facing the fallout for decisions made earlier in life. Such is life. Every choice has a consequence be it good or bad. I tught recovery and had a pretty good sucess rate. didnt so much teach "Steps" as I did Minimizing the negative and maximizing the positive. I taught a lot of people that were on probation and parole and this concept seemed to sink in better than the abstart idea of "Higher Power." these people had been through **** and definately wanted to minimize the negative. It was simple. Coined a term "weigh it out!"

[gator gar]

A lot of people here have also discussed how they have faced adversity here, getting laid off then finding new jobs. GG was brutally honest about himself and how he made a new life. Just shows that you CAN overcome. Proud to know you guys!

Over coming adversity??? You want to know about over coming adversity??? When I came to Beaumont, I stepped off the bus with a sleeping bag and a tent. I was pretty much, dead broke. I went from living at the top of the food chain, to living at the very bottom.

I was a shot caller. I had more money on hand than you could imagine. I lived a posh lifestyle for awhile. Next thing you know, I'm using my own product and going down hill pretty quick. Before it was all over, I was spraying Raid on an old couch, which was in an old trailer, way out in the woods, just to get the flies off of it, so I could lay down and sleep. This was in the middle of the summer in the sweltering heat.

When I got out of jail and came to Beaumont, I slept in a tool shed. I won't never forget those paint thinner cans popping with the expansion and retraction during the changing of the temperature/climate. Nor will i forget those big wood roaches, crawling upside down on the ceiling of that place and then flying on me as I slept. When you slap them with your bare hands,they would pop and emit this awful odor.

Want to take a shower, use the water hose. Want to use the bathroom, go outside.Eat whatever you can to stay alive. You want to talk about going through de-tox, that's the way to do it.

You can't rely on your family. They pretty much think you are the plague and will not have anything to do with you. Pretty much just scared to death of their own son.

Slowly, you start getting your right mind about you. You see an opportunity to help yourself and you jump on it. You gain a little trust here and a little trust there and finally, someone starts to believe in you. That someone has a little influence and next thing you know, you are getting a job and an old "hoopdee"(something to drive that isn't real nice).

Then and there, you make that decision. Up or back down, the old way or a new beginning. The rest is history and I haven't looked back. That Devil is everywhere around me opening potential doors to make it look so attractive to get back in my old lifestyle, but I am standing with God and by his grace I am where I am today.

This is America and if you have some sense about you and some determination, you can achieve anything you want. It may take a little more time than you like, but you "CAN" make it happen.

I know adversity personally and I beat it down!

[Scotta]

That was very well put GG. I didnt turn the same corners, but ended up in the same place with God at my side and the devil opening shiney doors everyday. Some corners I wish I would not have turned and others I am glad I did but in the end, they made the person I am today. There was a plan and pains along the way made me stronger.