Beware the boogeyman: Advice for the high school grad
Posted
May 02 2008, 04:10 PM
by
Karen Datko
Freedom awaits, new high school graduates. After all, "the world is your oyster, and who doesn't like oysters," says brip blap's Steve, a thoughtful guy and somewhat of a jokester.
But so does the boogeyman: You'll have to start paying for all the stuff parental units used to take care of. "Yes, of course, the luxuries of shoes, Wiis, ironically detached rock band T-shirts and overpriced notebook computers used primarily for Facebook, but also items you didn't realize were so horribly expensive while Pops was paying for them -- milk, cell phone bills, iTune downloads," Steve says.
Steve's 10 tips can help you find your way as you embark on a college career.
We'll summarize a few of them here (to read Steve's post, click here), starting with one that not everyone would agree with: Get a credit card. You need to start building a credit history. Just make sure you pay the entire balance each month. Steve writes: "I did. Friends of mine did. It can be done, just like quitting eating junk food."
Spend a lot of time on the computer learning skills like blogging and design, but do not play video games. "I'm serious," he says. "I see this as an immediate and massive threat to your development rivaled only by television." Besides, he adds, you can play video games when you're older.
Take lots of interesting courses, but consider the future financial implications of the major you choose. Party, but don't get crazy.
Don't waste time. Steve says it's important to "be aware that you are in a position that 6 billion people around the globe would die to be in. Seize that opportunity and squeeze it 'til you shake out every last drop."
