If you were 16 years-old again...

[Sterillium]

I don't envy today's teenagers - it's a crazy world.

If you were 16 years old, today, what career path would you choose?

The same again, or something wildly different this time?

[Spare tyre]

Broadly the same, but more travelling and had more fun

[markymarkthree]

Joined the Army.

[98elise]

I would become a pilot.

I joined the RN at 16 so had a multitude of career options open to me. As a kid I was passionate about fast jets but I stupidly chose engineer because my father was an engineer.

RN Pilot training was less than half the time it took to be an RN Engineer!

I would also knob far more women than I did! There were plenty of opportunities that I missed that seem so obvious now

[thebraketester]

Learn a trade. Elecs or plumb+gas safe.

[fiatpower]

98elise said:

I would also knob far more women than I did! There were plenty of opportunities that I missed that seem so obvious now

Glad it's not just me then. Kicking myself over some situations I didn't notice.

Probably pick a trade as well or try and get a degree apprenticeship as there seem to be alot out there now.

[LimaDelta]

16 today? Like Tom Hanks in reverse? Where have my wife and kids gone? Do I still have my house and savings? Do I have the knowledge and wisdom gained over the last four decades? Am I over thinking this? We need a more clearly defined scenario.

[vulture1]

fiatpower said:

98elise said:

I would also knob far more women than I did! There were plenty of opportunities that I missed that seem so obvious now

Glad it's not just me then. Kicking myself over some situations I didn't notice.

Probably pick a trade as well or try and get a degree apprenticeship as there seem to be alot out there now.

Yes I read through some old messages from woman of the past. So many times my pea brain didn't realise what was on the table.

[Riley Blue]

16 again? I'd learn a skill, some sort of antique/art restoration - probably books as I love books and I'd have a little rural workshop; no idea where.

[Skyedriver]

My son is 16, full of angst, assessments at school, some of the subjects like Biology & Environmental Science way more complex than when I was that age.
He dropped Maths last year after his Nat 5 level. (This is Scotland). Maths was never my strong subject but the stuff he was doing was way beyond me.

[Cotty]

thebraketester said:

Learn a trade. Elecs or plumb+gas safe.

I think I would have liked a stab at plumbing

[Allegro_Snapon]

fiatpower said:

98elise said:

I would also knob far more women than I did! There were plenty of opportunities that I missed that seem so obvious now

Glad it's not just me then. Kicking myself over some situations I didn't notice.

Probably pick a trade as well or try and get a degree apprenticeship as there seem to be alot out there now.

Our Grammar school kept apprentiships and "degree apprentiships" well hidden. When I graduated and found lads only a year older than me with equivalent qualifications having gone the degree apprentiship route and earnt, not a lot of money but enough to have a car at 22 and buy a house at 23 (me lease car at 22, buy house at 27).

Also, I was too honourable to ladies whom usually eventually did the dirty with one or other of my mates. Should have taken opportunities for lots more penetration. Apart from with one lassie, which cumulatively over the years for the sake on a condom has probably cost me £100k.

Not setting fire to municipal objects (actually might have been 15). Fun at the time but the hangover from being caught wasn't good. (Including being parentally 'locked down' reducing knobbing opportunities).

Not tell Suzanne the girl two years older than me in the house behind, that through some bizarre optics, their frosted glass in their bathroom that faced my bedroom, actually became more see through as it misted up! I wonder if that was a deliberate design error? Questioning her hirsuteness got me a bloody sore black eye from her and a week later from her father.

Not turning down a chance to go and see the Macc Lads at Blackpool Ballroom.

Not keeping my birdwatching / twitching going. I'd probably be at over 500 species for the UK, instead I let it lapse for girls, mountain biking and climbing and after a 40 year hiatus will probably never see enough rarities to top 400 species.

[GetCarter]

I'd never get into my industry if I was 16 now. It was miles easier back in the day.

[Kwackersaki]

I had not a clue what to do at 16. I’d spent most of school messing about and drifted into my current occupation which luckily has paid well over the years.

I wish I’d gone into mechanical/design engineering but maths wasn’t my strong point so think I would have struggled.

To add, I’m fairly practically minded and diy competent so some form of trade would have been good as well

Edited by Kwackersaki on Sunday 13th March 17:58

[Boringvolvodriver]

Would have left school at 16 rather than staying on in the 6th form and then failing my A levels.

Would have had 2 years earning money to spend on beer and girls whilst saving up for a car.

[Esceptico]

Despite making a bit of a mess at school and then failing first time at Uni my life turned out quite well. The danger of doing better at school is that it wouldn’t have gone as well afterwards.

Still not sure what alternative career I could have chosen.

Daughter at stage now of having to choose what to study at university. Really difficult to know what to advise her to do.

[105.4]

I’m not wealthy, far from it, but I’ve had one hell of a life. I’d happily do it all again, the good times and the bad.

edited to add: Would I want my daughter to lead the life I’ve had? No bloody way !

[Ouroboros]

join the navy I think. I did A levels but spent 2 years tossing it off.

[essexplumber]

Cotty said:

I think I would have liked a stab at plumbing

Take it from a plumber, you wouldn’t.

[Easternlight]

Wouldn't want to be 16 in this day and age.
Too many pressures from brands and influencers and social media.And being glued to a sodding mobile phone every second of the day

Wouldn't mind petrol being 74 pence a GALLON again though!