Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by taylodl 465 days ago
Assuming you're an American, here's something I told my kids when they were your age (and they're not much older than you): Think about broadening your horizons.

The truth is, the United States has been going through some pretty rough times for a while now. And when systems start to break down, the process can be slow at first—like a ship that’s been leaning for hours, making people feel like there's all the time in the world to react. But then, sometimes without much warning, things fall apart quickly.

Why does this matter to you? Because if you're just starting out in life, you want to be building your future somewhere with real opportunities and stability. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to leave, but it does mean keeping your eyes open and considering all your options.

If you decide to go to college, just be careful about piling up debt. Financial freedom will give you the flexibility to move, change plans, or adapt to whatever comes your way. And if you get a chance to travel or even live abroad, it can be one of the most eye-opening experiences you can have.

I'm not saying this to scare you, but to help you think strategically about your future. Keep your options open and stay adaptable. That's the best advice I can give.

1 comments

Thank you for your response.

I'm not American, but I will likely be starting college there in the coming fall. What you've said has made me reconsider my options.

I have received an offer from a T5 College in the UK and am awaiting decisions from big US colleges. As of now, the only places I've been accepted in America are CWRU, some LACS, and FSU. Not too tempting options.

The only reason in my mind to take the leap for US is that their might be a smoother roadmap to grad school, if I did my undergrad there.

I might have to think this through.

Unfortunately, with Trump's attack on higher education and defunding research in the US, grad school may look entirely different than it does now. The sad thing is with Trump at the helm, the crystal ball gets hazy 4 weeks into the future, let alone 4 years. That's the definition of chaos, you can't plan.