Do you think everyone should expect an 18 year old to know what he wants to do

I think they need to give the boy a break. He's working & that's very admirable in this day & time. If he was lying up sorry & they were having to support him they would have reason to be riding him. In my opinion, they don't. Everyone is not college material.

My mother and I were just talking about this the other day. She didn't know what she wanted to be when she was 18.. and I still don't know what I really want to do, and I'm 30! I am entering college now, but my chosen career path isn't really my "dream job". The only thing that's really popped in my head over the years is to be a psychologist or therapist of some sort.. but then I think about all the people who might whine about very petty things, and that would probably irritate me. I have no patience for people like that.. or people who think everyone is out to get them even when they aren't, you know. So my chosen career path is something that fits me, but isn't what I'd really love to do. Perhaps some of the community and 2 year colleges should have a general degree.. where high school grads can go and take a few college courses, but not really have a destined career in mind.. that way they have another couple of years to decide and perhaps someone at the college would help guide them towards an appropriate field that fits their skills.

This is why I get real pi$$ed off when anyone calls a teen a child. And this idea that one must Know what one Wants to do by age 18 is why I chose age 18 as the year I would kill myself when I was young. I could never see myself either going to college or marrying or what type of job i would be good at. My mom wanted me to graduate highschool but the rest was up to me. So since I couldn't see anything , I thought there was nothing so I planned to graduate for my mom and end it. Thankfully my mom convinced me it was ok Not to know what I want to do and that she rather me live . So I promised not to harm myself while she lived. in the meantime I did find a job I love. I still didn't finish college , nor marry. And now I am happy, 5 years after I lost my mom. So I say listen to him . if he isn't for college don't force him. If he isn't for the military , don't force him . Let him find his own way.

Well look at me, or maybe don't look at me..lol Here I am finally taking college classes because I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was younger. Unfortunately all you can do is give your opinion to the parents, you can't stop them from having a fit over it..:(

No, I don't believe that 18 year olds HAVE to know what they want to do. I've known 50 year olds that have no clue. I am 32 and just figured out what I want to do, but I still consider myself successful even before hand. I have held down a job, gotten married, bought a house, take care of 4 fur babies, and get promoted for hard work. I work full time usually 42+ hours a week, go to school, and trying to get a part time job to make ends meet. It would be pointless for him to spend the money to go to college to be a Biologist when he decides to hate it and decides he should have gotten a degree in Business instead. There is nothing wrong with taking time off after graduating high school to decide what you want to do with your life. If he likes the job he is at now, leave him alone. I'd rather do a job I like even if its less pay because I don't have a degree then to hate a job that I went to college to become something in the appropriate field just because I was trying to make someone else happy.

The problem here is that people usually generalize people. Like the way parents are generalizing their kids. if their kid is already a legal adult, they expect the kid to act that way. His parents are worried because of course they want a bright future for their son. Not everyone can afford college, and he's lucky that he can study. It's hard to decide which path you'll take, especially if you haven't given it much thought. Maybe your grandson didn't think about this at all, that's why he's having a hard time in deciding. I didn't have a hard time deciding back then (and mind you, in my country we finish high school at 16 years old) because I thought about my future a lot. I thought about what career I wanted, so when I had to apply for college, I knew what courses to choose as my first and second options

No I do not as People should decide when they are ready They should not be pushed either as then they will choose the wrong thing just to please and will not be happy I think they should leave him be to make his own mind up in his own time

there are so many choices these days so i agree with you. you have to get to know yourself to figure out what you want to do and at 18, i dont think you do yet.

hmm. I am almost 50 yrs old and still don't have any idea what I would want to spend my life doing other than breathing. I am not lazy, I work all the time. Just can't see myself interested in something enough to spend my live doing it. Like being a doctor, or a secretary. I do understand the parents urgency, if he puts it off he might never get back to it.

I definitely feel like his parents are being too hard on him. My idea would be to get started in school, if he wants to go, that is. Because there's no harm in it. Most colleges, depending on what kind of degree you're or he is trying to get, offer 'career counseling' which is pretty much just people helping you discover your interests and possible career paths. Plus, at least with bachelors degrees in the US, you have 2 years of generals you usually have to complete before having to choose a major to get your degree in, and that's plenty of time to 'discover' yourself. Of course, if he doesn't want to go to school, he should wait and see what he wants to do with his life. I've found that if you are not motivated and don't actutally WANT to attend, you probably won't show up - and that will get you in some big trouble. I don't think there's anythign wrong with being 18 and not knowing what you want to do. 18 is so young! I'm 20, myself, and I'm still trying to figure things out and get back into school. He has the rest of his life to make a concrete plan. And these things don't happen overnight. I wish his paernts would be more patient and understanding with him!

Absolutely not. My parents wanted me to go into college directly after high school, and because I told them I didn't want to, they insisted and paid my way in full. I didn't want to be there, and had picked the study of nutrition simply because it was an interest of mine I already knew a lot about, not because I wanted to be a dietitian. I had already started my real estate business back when I was 15, and I felt no need to be there and no desire after a horrid school experience. I was working and making good money at a hospital, yet I was a very busy person and hated it. Within two years, I dropped out, basically said "I told you so" to my parents and have sworn off ever entering college again. The time I was there didn't impress me, and now I'm totally against the idea of entering into debt for a less than savory education. The first year of my college education was full of classes that I could ace without studying, and I couldn't understand why in the world they were charging for stuff like that. I think your grandson should do what he wants to do. There ARE lazy kids out there, but calling him one because he doesn't want to go into one path or another right away is flat out dumb. It's SMART. Why waste money and years starting something you're not going to finish? I would also make clear that he has three options, essentially: military, college, and the motivated entrepreneur route. College is not a necessity for many of us who decide to start things of our own. I'm twenty-two and I've had my real estate business for seven years, but now I am also a published author, and I have nothing but a high school diploma under my belt. These kids need to know all of their options before they go and get themselves lost.

When you become 18, the world can legally see you as an adult. that doesn't mean you live up to the adult standards of living yet. Just because you are 18 does not mean you should be expected to know what you want to do with your life. these things take time for everybody.

i dont think that everyone knows what they want to do when they are 18 and if they dont then they shouldnt be pushed.

If not now when? Considering the fact that some of us at our current age don't even know yet what to do in our lives. He's 18 now, would he wait at such time (whom no one ever know) to realize what he gonna do with his own life? What if it takes a decade? What he gonna do in between these years? Well it's good for him that he started earning at this point in his life. Why not pursue a course in line with his current job or better yet start taking up minor subjects and decide later what path he's going to take.

He does need to make basic decisions. He doesn't need to know exactly what he wants to be 'when he grows up', but he does need to choose a path. College, tech school, military, a job, or just backpacking through the Appalachians, no one is healthy or happy just sitting around waiting for something to happen in their lives.

When I was 18 I was asked what I wanted to do with my life, and received lots of suggestions and help from my father - even if I did tend to resist his advice! - I think most kids of this age, resist the authority of their parents though. It wasn't until years later though that I went back to more serious study after "doing my own thing" in defiance of my parents. I wouldn't have it any other way really, becuase I got past a lot of mustakes I made in my youth. Without them I wouldn't really be the person I am today. _Derek

Yeah we should expect an 18 year old to know what they want. If they still don't, someone should make them realize it. They should realize it as soon as possible otherwise they'll grow old enough but still won't know what they want to do.

I'm already graduating college and I'm still confused as to whether I'm gonna use my pre-med course to go to medical school or to start working and do something else other than the health field. So I do say that we shouldn't expect an 18 year old to know what he or she wants out of life. Not all the possibilities have been explored yet - and THERE ARE SO MANY. He's got his whole life ahead of him, and he needs time to think of what he wants. I would really just suggest that he get a head start with college then decide what course he's gonna take later on if he's still confused. He could always take all the basic subjects then major in something as soon as he decides on what he wants to be. But then again, I find the fact that he is working at a manager's position quite admirable. He's far from being lazy, and is actually making good use of his time getting some work experience. He could take up a management related course if he actually turns out to be quite good at it.

Hi there jillhill!!! I think it is better for him to wait for a while before jumping into something he dont know and something he dont enjoy doing.When I was still 18 life is still new for me.Those are the times when I am still beginning to see what life is and what it can bring.Before I went to college I really think twice before choosing my course and what I want to do during this time and luckily I've made it to my fourth year and I am ready to graduate this march. Your grandson needs some advice and some understanding.People around him should consider what he is feeling becoz in this time of his life he is still unsure of what he wanted to do in life.Those people who have more experienced should serve as an example for him and give him a helping hand in deciding the path of life that he should take..

I think, an 18 year old should already know what he wants to do in his life. He should have plans for his life, targets in his life to be a successful person. I know that it is hard to know what you really want to do and what to have in life but at least you should think for your future so that you would not have a poor life. An 18 year old person already know what is wrong and what is right, in this age you should know what already happens in the world. After being graduated in high school, you should already decided what course you will take in college. Train yourself to work hard and think for your career. Dream and aim high but of course you should make effort and work hard to achieve what you want.