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calcade t1_iyaidk5 wrote

I left home (Mass/RI border) for six years. Or should I say I’ve been gone for six years. It has been great to see the rest of the country in this time. I definitely left a piece of me everywhere I went and I miss the wonderful places I’ve called home since then, but now I want to go back to my birth state. My true roots. I’m nearing a position to be able to afford it, moving up in my career, but it will be difficult to do financially. But it’ll happen someday.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iyak881 wrote

What advice do you have from this life experience?

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calcade t1_iyan7fj wrote

That's a very good question! And a good one to ask to everyone you possibly can. I think if I could boil it down to one thing, I would say, do not hold beliefs that are self-limiting, at least until you've given something your very best effort. When I was 19, I thought that because I hadn't done very well in high school, I would become a nursing home or psychiatric institution kitchen aide, which makes very little money and doesn't involve many "complex" skills. Luckily, I've dodged the many self-limiting beliefs I held and I am now running a historical museum in New York City, which has honestly been an amazing dream job. My path has been winding, with some setbacks here and there, and plenty of hard work, including work on myself.

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So, going back to your goal of moving back to MA, don't lose sight of it. Keep it in your heart and mind like your personal North Star, and be willing to work for it. Believe that you are capable of evolution and growth, and you will surprise yourself. Check in every now and then to admire your progress and raise a glass to your accomplishments. Let me know if you want more thoughts!

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iyao7z7 wrote

Wow, great to hear. I am at a place now where I do highschool online and am not so great, I also work about 32-35 hours a week in fast food which is not so great for my mindset on life. I have high standards for myself but often get dug up on thinking that I am not in a position that is right for these things, although I know I will do all I care about to it’s greatest extent and as soon as I see the return of that work being backwards I will pivot. I could always use more advice. I want to be in nyc myself and that would be without a college degree. How can I maximize my success on growing in what is important to me? How can I get that “right place right time” luck in my life. How can I gain freedom for myself so I am flexible and free to grow in more than just a few aspects?

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iyaoatr wrote

And btw, you don’t have to answer anything step by step, im just saying these are the questions I write down without thinking at all

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calcade t1_iyarwgk wrote

That's totally fine! I think that these are really good questions again, and quite a bit more difficult to answer; I grew up on the RI/MA border, as I said, and so what was available to me is different than what is for you. I think it all begins with money. Hate to say it but it's true. Make sure you are reaching your financial goals; I've spent some time on r/personalfinance and that sub is extremely helpful; there is even a space where your recommended financial goals are broken out by age. Then, do some soul-searching. Figure out what kind of income-making you'll tolerate while pursuing your goal of being back in Massachusetts. If you are hoping to live in the Boston area, it's very expensive. You won't love being home as much if you're struggling month to month, so start to think about your interests, what you're good at, and look around at possible career options. I love to hear that you are working hard at your current job; more on that later.

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Two words of advice on career options: do not look at salaries listed on websites. Including college websites. Ask current professionals! I bet you that Reddit has a ton of subs dedicated to different career groups. Secondly, don't get hooked on a super specific job title and go to college for that one thing. For example, I went into geology for college. Not doing geology now! My partner went into psychology in college. Now he's a business manager! But both of us gained what they call "hard skills" in college that helps us in our positions now.

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So once you have begun to envision what you could do in the future (and it should be a very, very wide target), think of how you will make steps today to reach it. You mentioned you are working now--that's great. What are you doing at your job today that will prepare you for, say, a managerial role in your 20's and 30's? When I was in high school, your age, I was working in a kitchen. A coworker told me that he "doesn't give a shit" about this job because "it's the lowest rung job" and he'd do better work at a higher-up position. This isn't true! Everyone starts somewhere. Make yourself indispensable on your team. Take out the garbage more efficiently than anyone else. Have the best customer service at your workplace. Pretend that you are like, a CEO of your own company, and you're there to lead by example. Of course, keep humble. But this will get you so far in both job skills and mindset. Also, job references are important. As for your question about being in the right place at the right time, I will say, most of the opportunities have felt "right place right time" have been due to a great work ethic, good attitude and knowing when to say "yes" to a growth opportunity. This, my friend, is a fertile garden.

After high school, my specific path was community college. I went to CCRI and I commuted from home. I am a big advocate for the liberal arts education, especially if you're unsure of what you want to do. And a huge advocate for the cost efficiency for the associate's degree gained at a community college. You can turn that into a bachelor's degree in two more years. But there are so many more options: trade school, apprenticeships, professional experience. If you still haven't found something compelling, try a semester of community college though. Use the school resources as if you're paying a million bucks to be there! Guidance counselors, professors, career fairs, etc. Also, YouTube videos.

Community college cost is one thing, but if you'll be going for a 4-year degree, don't fall into a ton of debt for it. Student loans are no joke. What seemed like a "small price to pay for a lifetime investment" still haunts me financially, so be very conservative with your choice in education financing.

I'm just saying, you gotta find a tolerable way to make a decent living and have fun. Shoot for at least 50k annual income to get back to Massachusetts. You could rough it, move back here sooner with roommates with a service industry job, but make sure at this age, you are considering your financial situation in the long-term. I make money now, and it is really cool.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iyato45 wrote

Wow, you really went above and beyond here. Thank you beyond words! The way you explain how to work is how I do it always because I know what I’m working for! I can tell you, my dream is to be a buisness director in the arts. I just need to see what is a sort of path I can do to get me to this level. My birthday is in January and if I wanted to, by mid February I could be a manager in training at my place but I really don’t like it at all, I’d rather just be a waiter someplace else. Currently I have almost $30k saved and I don’t have my by summer goal yet. I was planning to move to nyc and utilize some connections to get myself into a working position at the bottom of the chain. The thing is, for now, I am just doing restaurants because it is all that is really available to me until I turn 18 in January, after that I have a bit more options but I wouldn’t mind just doing restaurant until summer.

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dell828 t1_iyb8opx wrote

Do you realize that there’s a big film community in Massachusetts and we work a lot. You don’t need to go to New York for film opportunities. Cost of living is a lot lower here, and a lot of jobs available.

I 100% recommend going to College if you can. Look at UMass North Dartmouth, or any of the state schools.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iyb9g5q wrote

Hmm wow… that would be completely ideal in many ways. Do you know some about UMass north Dartmouth? Id really be so thankful to get myself involved in things, getting the ball rolling for a life I am so thankful to live

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dell828 t1_iyb9ugx wrote

You don’t need to go to film school to work on film. I would see if you can find some thing in the summertime to PA on, but definitely work on a degree. You can certainly take film classes as electives but I’m totally recommend a degree. UMass North Dartmouth has got a big art school so if you’re interested in design it might be a good place to go. That might open you up for a career in costume designer production design.

I am partial to North Dartmouth, Cuz that’s where I went to school. But there’s plenty of schools in Massachusetts. I think you can apply to a number of state schools using one application. Or at least that’s the way it was when I applied.

Massachusetts is awesome. I wouldn’t wanna live anywhere else.

EDIT: I just got done doing a job in New York and some reason people in New York think that there’s no work anywhere else in the country. That’s just wrong. We are busy all the time in Massachusetts. They’re also busy In Atlanta, in New Orleans, in new Mexico, New York is a tough place. It’s expensive and it’s exhausting. And there’s no reason to go there for a career in film.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybacsn wrote

I want to be director in arts, no matter what it is I would just love to manage the operation! I see UMass north dart has a graduation rate of 56%… jeez owch. How?! Also, I would definitely check it out and consider. I had thought business degree with something arts or whatever… i don’t know. Also I had thought if maybe I just go step by step I could avoid college

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dell828 t1_iybaz1m wrote

I’m just saying Dartmouth because they have a really great art program. There’s art history, textile design, fine art, and possibly they even have a film program at this point. I’m not really sure. It’s been a long time since I graduated lol.

They also have a pretty decent business school so you could do both. I graduated with a BS in biology and a minor in art history.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybb6vo wrote

Sounds great! I did Digital Video Honors gor 2 years, a film course. I also completed AP Art History but failed the exam. Oops.

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dell828 t1_iybbgyz wrote

I kind of think that the way people consume media these days, there are a lot more opportunities to work in film than there ever were before. Now that the number of streaming services are making their own Contant, you can work for Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Apple, as well as all the major studios. Lots of people and making movies these days. Not a bad field to go into and because we’re unionize the wages are pretty decent.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybbnvn wrote

I get it. I love film but haven’t considered it as much as I should be.

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dell828 t1_iybbs3z wrote

I think you have the right idea to Major in both business and the arts. I don’t think you can go wrong.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybbyz0 wrote

I really appreciate the support.

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dell828 t1_iybclul wrote

If you end up up here, definitely reach out. I work in film and if you just want to bum around a set, and be a PA some summer as a summer job I could help you find a project, or at least help you connect with people.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybd125 wrote

Oh wow that sounds great. I really am feeling it strongly in my heart to pursue. I had actually wanted to be a filmmaker since my earliest memories of dreaming, this is something I definitely need to work on. It’s so hard with the competition, it really silences your believing in yourself sometimes. I’d love to connect if possible. Do you have an Instagram or something? Is there an email or anything to lock it in?

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybc2a4 wrote

The only thing to consider is definitely the price of entry. Also considering I am out of state…

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybbr7q wrote

I should def take a step back and reconsider going into the film industry and applying for that as another thing I could do.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybbxru wrote

There is difficulty in choosing which thing to attack first, I just know I don’t love tech so much currwntly since I’m so weak at understanding it

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dell828 t1_iybccw5 wrote

Find some thing that you’re good at and that you also like. After getting a degree in biology I ended up working in the Arts which is kind of a strange career trajectory for me but I am more arts oriented and it just worked out that way. There are a lot of paths you can take, And who knows, you may end up somewhere completely different but if you love Massachusetts, come on back. We got lots of good stuff up here. And if you’re happy, it makes it easier to work hard and focus on your future.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybbgjo wrote

Ah nice. I would major buisness for sure and minor something for arts. Maybe other way around

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybagld wrote

Price for tuition is DOUBLE for out of state… oof

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dell828 t1_iybaoy5 wrote

Do you have family in Massachusetts? Possibly you can establish residency here if you move in with family. Check into it. We could work out.

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iybaztd wrote

The family i have in Mass who owns property are related as close friends not blood relation

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Consistent-Tooth-390 OP t1_iyatwhr wrote

Currently I’m just stuck in that sort of, things aren’t really moving and I’m not making any interesting connections to accelerate myself. Plus, I’m not in any sort of position that fills my heart and soul, you know?

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