Should I quit school to pursue my interest?

[Nicholasim]

Hi Softies,

I want to know what are your views on this matter. My interest is in guitar repair and I hope to work in a shop and eventually make a living doing this (if i can own my own shop, even better) and maybe playing at night gigs. I dont need to lead a luxurious life, as long as I earn enough to get by for a family.

So where am I at now? I'm 21 this year, already completed the army and am now in poly year 1 semester 2, studying Sports & Exercise Science which i have totally NO interest of. I really dread going to school and have 0 interest in my course.

The only thing keeping me in school is my Interest Group (IG). This an IG where we get to learn about music, the technical side of stage setups and a lot more. That is the one and only thing I look forward to when I go to school, provided that there are programs for the day itself.

Now, I am seriously contemplating of quitting school to pursue my interest. I know to some of you, it's stupid to give up studies as in Singapore, paper is so important. Most of you will advise me to complete my 3 years in school then pursue my interest but I dont want to waste anymore time here, I could be 3 years ahead studying and learning more on my interest if i quit school now. Further more, for the work which I am intending to do (guitar repair work/staff), I dont really need a particular educational standard to work there.

I'm really at a lost now . Hope some of you guys could share your view with me.

 

[Ang3L]

Good for you, son.

Not many dare to realised their dream/s in life. You're sure a winner.

Good luck!


*Ang3L

 

[harist13]

Gosh... this is a similar question that my 14 yrs old son asked me.... he indeed shared your vision...


" I want to know what are your views on this matter. My interest is in guitar repair and I hope to work in a shop and eventually make a living doing this (if i can own my own shop, even better) and maybe playing at night gigs. I dont need to lead a luxurious life, as long as I earn enough to get by for a family."

1. Best Job in the world will be one that interest you, or coincide with your hobby.

" ...am now in poly year 1 semester 2, studying Sports & Exercise Science which i have totally NO interest of. I really dread going to school and have 0 interest in my course..."

2. Since you are in the 1st year, I strongly feel you should quit that course of study since you had no interest at all, BUT I would rather you switch courses that will support you in achieving your dreams....eg: Electronics/ Electrical / IT - skill that will be an additional asset to you as a Guitar-Tech, OR Commerce/ Business - which will come in handy when you are starting your own business....

It doesnt have to be a formal education, you can continue your study with private institutions that are plenty here... and work full/part-time at one of the guitar shops. I have known a few guitar-tech or sales are infact doing just that.

... And like ANGEL said... "or many dare to realised their dream/s in life. You're sure a winner..." , and Papers is just incase for you to fall back on...

Just my 2cents... pardon me if it is not acceptable to some....

GBU....

 

[wjl123]

It's good that you have a realistic goal in mind which you are passionate about.

However like what Harist13 said, i think it would be best if you switch course to something of your interest or at least something related to music. You'll get a chance to at least learn some stuff thats related to what you'll be doing in the future and the certificate will give you an upper hand too.

Futhermore, you'll get to meet people of similiar interest. Call it networking or anything but these people might one day be your best friend or business partner or band member or even your future spouse way down the road haha. Beside you can start doing your interest outside of school at this very moment too, be it working part time on weekends at a guitar repair shop or helping out as stage hands.

Anyway this is just my humble opinion and i wish you all the best in your future.

 

[RayKnight]

Why did you pick something you have no interest in? Harist13 make sense though, pick up something that will help you in what you wanna become or do in future, hasn't that always been the case?

 

[Nicholasim]

Thanks for all the advise guys. Well, I chose that course at first because the thought there was a "better future" studying in that course, as in I would be able to land a safe job after studies. I always thought the music industry in Singapore was quite unstable as compared to something like working at the hospital as a physio Therapist.

The thing is, I don't feel like wasting time already. If I change course now to let's say engineering or something related to music, I would have to spend another 4 years in school. Which consist of learning things which I will use in the future and also learning things which I won't. Compared to going out to work now, in that 4 years, I'm sure I can learn a lot more on that specific interest as compared to being in school.

But education papers are everything in Singapore..

 

[RayKnight]

I always believe that it is best to learn whatever you can. It is kinda naive to think that "Oh, I won't be using it so therefore it isn't worth my time so I don't need to learn it". By learning Engineering or Electronics and maybe Woodwork, you are limiting yourself with "excuses".

Right now, you're at your first year, since you have decided this is not for you, quit and pick up something else. Yes, go for your passion, have your own store, your own workshop, your own dreams and etc. But you should also consider other factors. It isn't impossible. Look at the many shops we have, SV, TYMC, Davis for guitar services, even Malcolm, Beez and etc for specialised services. Never too late to start.

Education may be everything but only if you're going into that field. Some people I know who work as programmers are only Diploma holders but they are earning more than Degree holders because of their experience and skills. Naively thinking going out to work now and gaining experience, at least get your basics right now first. You expect to dive into the pool without testing the water is just foolish. There are undeniably cases of people who succeeded in their first try, but play safe. Better safe than sorry.

Quit your course if you feel that you don't like it. And pick up something that's more related to what you wanna do. Since you already know what you wanna do, then you should consider. Harist already given you some advice. You wanna manage a store, then pick up Business. You wanna learn about guitar repair and servicing, pick up basic electronics. Republic Poly has Sonic Arts if you're into audio tech. How do you know how much you'd need to use in future? It never hurts to have more knowledge. You can go ahead and work and have a specific interest but I still feel that the basic education will teach you more.

What I can suggest, go pick up a Diploma you find will help you in your future career and work part-time / weekends at a guitar shop or understudy a luthier. Over time, your education will teach you the basic about electronics, with your skills combined with your experience understudying a luthier or working at an instrument store, your progress will be much further.

Think wisely. I do agree with quitting now since you already figured this is not what you want. But I have a feeling you don't know what you want, you only know what you don't want. So you have to find out what you want, plan and work towards that.

 

[RayKnight]

Sorry took awhile to correct but what I meant was:
By NOT learning Engineering or Electronics and maybe Woodwork, you are limiting yourself with "excuses".

 

[carboxymoron]

But education papers are everything in Singapore..

Whatever you choose, better have the conviction to follow through. Don't quit if you still think education papers are everything.

I lost interest in poly too. Thankfully it was somewhat more applicable (communications) so I did meet a lot of people who are in music, media, and other entertainment-related business now. Can fully empathise with you not wanting to go to school for your current course.

But I agree with the rest that learning or teaching yourself about related stuff is important. Not necessarily in school, but don't completely strike out engineering, electronics, even business and marketing practices. Work/study part time. Intern at places that will really teach you something, even if the pay sucks, instead of working retail in a guitar shop. Start DIYing if you haven't.

 

[kongwee]

Your interest is seem towards gears. If your hands are itchy to open up gear to see, electrical or electronic engineering is recommended.

 

[tyzjames]

Agree with many of the replies given. Switch to a course that you have more interest in, and pursue your interest on a part time basis, or take a year off to do guitar repairs if you really need to. That way, you can find out if what you are doing really works out for you. It's one thing to have an interest in guitar repair and another to be doing it on a full time basis and still enjoy it.

I won't recommend studying business just because you have an interest in opening a business though.. I'm completing my undergraduate studies in business management in half a year and given a choice, I would have picked a course that imparts real technical skills such as programming, engineering or audio etc. You don't need someone to teach you marketing/HR/operations for you to run a business.

I build pedals on a small time basis, or hobby business if you want to call it that, and I probably will keep it that way as I know that if I turn this into a full fledged business, I won't enjoy building pedals/DIYing as much as I do now.

 

[relinquish69]

working for Kelvin GC might be a good place to start haha! look at Wayne. He was there since he was in Sec 2 and now he is a very experienced guitar tech. He dropped out of school to pursue his interest in guitar repairs and modifications.

In fact, Kelvin himself went to JC but dropped out on his final year because he wanted to play music. talk about taking risks. now he is the boss of GC. what do you think of that?

You can get quite some stable money from playing at night gigs (provided if you are versatile). However, it's going to take a toll on your overall health.

it's a matter of perspective. if you have something where you think you can pour all your heart and soul into, I say go ahead.

 

[harist13]

Hi Jerry, you yourself is a fine example... even though you are so tied up with your interest in musics (guitar), yet you still maintain your study... Yes you are infact the MOST CHEERFUL person at GC and might be one of the most approachable Guitar Sales at Peninsula...

And yes... when my son reach Sec.2, I ll request Kevin to take him to be GC p/time apprentice... not so for the money but more to give some early exposure into his "DREAM"....

Cheers...

PS: Honestly... this was exactly what I told my son; " Get a diploma (or even better a degree...) then its all up to you what you wanna do with your life..." - I think it will be most parents wish that their son at least get a diploma (or even better a degree...)

 

[Nicholasim]

Thanks for all your input guys.

I have made a decision to change my course to Electronic Engineering. I will consult my school in changing courses, I really hope I will be allowed to do so. If i am able to, the new semester starts next year in April. In the mean time, I will be looking for a job at a guitar store where I can learn and gain experience and hopefully, continue working there even when school begins as a part timer.

Thanks once again for everyone's inputs on my problem. It has really helped me a lot.

Cheers!

 

[soft]

You mentioned your interest in guitar repairs but do you have any experience with it? You should start with whatever resources you have and gain as much knowledge in guitar repair on your own first. These days with web + YouTube , you can learn almost anything.

I feel that to live a fruitful life, we should experience as many things as possible. All these experiences will help us later in life. For example, your knowledge in sport/exercise science can help prepare a better training schedule and prevent injuries in guitar lessons. How cool is that?

Which poly are you in?

 

[Nicholasim]

Hey,

Yeah, I have been doing setting up for guitars and simple mods (change pickups, pots, locking a floating bridge etc.) for quite a while now but I want to take it to a new level and hopefully make this a living because I enjoy it a lot.

I also agree that everything you learn in life will benefit you. However, something is telling me that sports science is not the right course for me.

I'm in republic poly by the way.

 

[soft]

Have you considered Sonic Arts in RP? Might be better cos it is related to music/sound.

Were you able to charge a fee for the service you provided? It will be a gauge to see if you can do it for a living in the long run.

 

[Nicholasim]

Hm, no I didn't charge people because my "customers" are friends and myself (setting up guitars which I buy).

I have considered sonic arts but 2 things are stopping me.

1. It focuses more on audio and music. So future job scopes would be soundman, working in recording studio etc that kinda thing. I want to focus on guitar repair so it's more on the technical side which I guess is engineering. In the electronic engineering course, I'll also be able to learn about how microchips are made etc so I would be able to understand pedals as well.

2. Secondly, and what's more important is that Sadly, I'm not eligible for that course. Did not do well enough for my O levels.

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

actually to do the thing you wanna, it is not a must nor need to go through engineering courses. The plentiful info online/diy forums is good enough to start and get deep into it.

Imho, what you are into, will be very different from what you can learn through electronic engineering. I was doing eletrical/electronic dip back in mid 90s. Hehe, at that time already into geetaring, pedal and stuff. Thought i be happy learning those thing. Oh well, i was wrong. Its boring as hell and everything was in term of maths, maths and more maths.

It was only till i discover diy forums on stomboxes back in early 2000 then i start to enjoy looking at circuits again, not in term of maths calculation but in term of sound reproduction(which EEE engineering course aint has anything to do with it)

Oh well, no matter what, as long you have made the decision, theres prolly no turning back, just do what you love doing and enjoy it to the fullest!

 

[tyzjames]

actually to do the thing you wanna, it is not a must nor need to go through engineering courses. The plentiful info online/diy forums is good enough to start and get deep into it.

Fully agree. You can learn anything on the internet. I'm not discouraging you from taking EEE but here's my experience: I'm a finance/IS major, but I am clearing some undergrad engineering modules (circuit and signal analysis, analog electronics) on exchange now and what they are teaching has little you need to design a sonic circuit. Perhaps I'm only seeing the small picture but one thing is for sure: If you hate math, you will hate EEE. Just brush up on your soldering skills and do more DIY for a start.

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