Financing Your Post Secondary Education with Oil

Ever wondered about how to finance your post secondary education?  Growing up in British Columbia, I had no idea that I could work on the oil rigs in Alberta and Saskatchewan to help make money for my education.  However, I've just finished a couple of web sites for the CAODC that help young people find entry level work in the oil patch.  It's hard work, shift work - but its good money and good experience.

Tristan, the leader of one of the bands I play with occasionally,  worked in the oil patch on the rigs for a couple of years to do just that.  He saved money while he was working, then went to school with the money he made.  After doing this for a few years he eventually gained enough experience to start his own cabinet fitting company (that's what he was going to school for). He financed all of his education, his tools, and his truck through his work on the rigs.

The two sites that I've just finished working on that are great resources for finding entry level positions in the oil patch are:

ServiceRigDrive.ca

and
RigTech.ca

Check them out!

A Letter to My Piano Teacher

Dear Betty-Anne,

I haven't seen or talked with you in over twenty years, but you are still a part of my life almost every day.

When you first started teaching me, I knew the rudiments of playing the piano.  I could mechanically play a piece of music.  However, you taught me how to make music.  Recitals were scary, but I remember playing pieces like 'The Pink Panther' and 'The Policeman' and learning to enjoy them because they became music to me and to the people who listened as well.  Playing the piano for you wasn't just about hitting the right notes at the right time - it was about moving people - making them see you, the music, or themselves in a different, new way.  Your encouragement has helped me use music to be a catalyst in healing hearts, minds, emotions, and relationships.

Your influence on me didn't just stop with music.  Through your example and your enthusiasm, you taught me how to teach.  I have taught others guitar, piano, drums privately, and I've taught classes in software programming publicly, all with great reviews because of your impact on my life.  Going to piano lessons every Tuesday night, I never would have dreamed I would learn to become a teacher.  But that's what happened!  You awakened another gift in me - the ability to pass knowledge onto others.

I'm sure you wonder what happened to me after all these years.  I still play bits and pieces of the songs that we worked on together on the piano.  I compose my own music on the piano and the guitar.  Maybe you'll still hear that one day.  And I play and sing in bands.  In fact, over the years I've played many different instruments in many bands in front of thousands of people.  The joy of being able to share this gift of music with others is precious.

My life is more rich and full because of you, Betty-Anne.  You made a difference in my life and you are not forgotten.

Affectionately,
Perry

One of the Most Important Things...

Malcolm Gladwell has interviewed a lot of people.  He writes for a living and has written several engaging, non-fiction books that I really enjoyed reading.  One of his books, What the Dog Saw, has a chapter called 'The New Boy Network' in it.  For most of the chapter, Malcolm is intrigued with why one particular college student is perceived  to have 'the right stuff' by big IT companies within seconds after they talk with him.  Throughout the course of his interview, Malcolm finds himself agreeing with the companies.  Why is this fellow so likable that Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft, would offer to be his mentor after hearing him ask one question in a conference setting?

The student reveals one of his big secrets to Malcolm at the end of the chapter.  He says, "One of the most important things is that you have to come across as being confident in what you are doing and in who you are.  How do you do that?  Speak clearly and smile."

I couldn't agree more.  This lesson struck a chord with me as I was watching different bands in our church play on different Sundays.  Why did I feel more relaxed and engaged when one particular band was playing?  It was because the lead singer often smiled when she sang.  When I got assigned to a band myself, I tried to make a point to do the same, and we as a band were commended on it.

Want Some Career Search Help?

Having problems finding your place in life?  I think almost everyone at some time or other has struggled with where they 'fit'.  Even after being established in a career for a decade or two many people have days or weeks where they question everything (middle age crisis).  Maybe it should just be one of those things that we should accept as part of living and maturing.

If you do happen to find yourself lost or struggling in your career search, it sometimes helps to give yourself a different perspective on life.  Consider trying one of these mental exercises:

• Imagine you are a career counselor.  How would you advise yourself in making a career choice?  Even better, go to the library and get The Career Counselor's Handbook by Howard Figler and Richard Nelson Bolles.  It has some great chapters that I think offer an interesting perspective on the career search, even for people who are lost in it.  The chapters on 'Tools' and 'Special Problems' are great.  Also, the sections at the beginning about 'What does 'Career' mean?', 'The mystery of career choice', and 'Facing the Challenge of Ego' are very applicable to disoriented individual looking for career help.  If nothing else, this book will help you know if you are getting your money's worth from your current (or future) career counsellor.
• Image you are eighty.  What would you like to have accomplished with your life by that time?  Make a list of things that come to mind.  Travel?  Live in another country?  Learn to speak another language?  Learn to play a(nother) instrument?  Have kids/grandkids? Own a cabin by the lake?  Volunteer in Africa?  Teach a course?  Write/publish a book or article?  Learn to paint/draw?  Many of the items in my list above are things that many people aspire to, but don't necessarily attribute to being a 'career choice.'  Once you have your list, ask yourself how the things in your list could fit into a career choice and what steps you need to take to accomplish each item.  
• Image you suddenly became independently wealthy.  (An independently wealthy person is one who doesn't have to worry about working for the rest of their life).  After getting over the euphoria of your sudden freedom, what would you do with your life?  How would you fill your time?  When I've imagined this, some thoughts I had were:
• I'd go back to school and study geology.  After working in the oil/energy sector for several years and living close to the Rockies, I think geology is fascinating.
• I'd study the violin and try and become a member of the orchestra
• I would move every 2-3 years to another country and get exposed to their language/culture.
• I think I'd put some serious thought into how I could give back to society so I could make a difference and feel good about what I'm doing.

Young Persons Occupational Outlook Handbook

Young Person's Occupational Outlook Handbook, 7th Ed by the Editors at JIST is billed as an 'essential guide for Career Exploration.'  This book documents almost 270 different careers, detailing information about what it's like to work on the job, what kind of an educational path to follow, earnings and outlook potential and more.  The 'Discover More' sections are valuable in helping readers get a more hands-on idea of what the occupation might be like. The appendix and the index at the back are definitely beneficial.  This was a medium read at 300 pages. 3.5 out of 5.

What Color is Your Parachute For Teens

What Color Is Your Parachute? For Teens, 2nd Edition: Discovering Yourself, Defining Your Future by Carol Christen and Richard Bolles with Jean M. Blomquist is a great resource for high school students/grads who are serious about finding their place in life.  The authors use down to earth explanations and examples to convey the theory and philosophy of self discovery, careers and job hunting.  They intersperse that with practical exercises and references that the motivated reader can use to jump start their future.  Don't miss the appendixes - there's a lot of good info there as well!  This book was a medium read at almost 180 pages.  Check your library for a copy.  I'd highly recommend this book and give it a 4.5 out of 5.

When Is The Right Time to Pursue a Post-Secondary Education?

The working assumption for the majority of high school students graduating is that they are going to attend either college or university after high school.  Certainly I felt that way.  However I'm not so convinced anymore that getting into post-secondary education right after high school is the right choice for everyone.

Personally, I was tired of school after graduating from high school and I needed to 'get my hands dirty' for a little while.  I realized this in my first year of college.  I had no motivation to do school work.  I was much more interested in exploring my new freedom and social opportunities as I wasn't living at home anymore.


Greg, a classmate of my brother's didn't go to college right away.  He lived at home for a year and worked in the forestry industry and saved a nice bit of money.  The following year he went to college and used the money he had saved to put a down payment on a house.  He live there while he was going to school and rented out the rooms he wasn't using to other college students he knew.  This covered his mortgage payments.  I was impressed to see how he had thought things through and was getting ahead of the game in the home ownership arena.

Tristan (another friend) went and worked in the oil patch on the rigs right after high school. (You can access job opportunities like he took advantage of at http://www.rigtech.ca).  He made a good bunch of money that he also put in the bank.  After a couple of years, he took the money he saved and used it to finance his education as a cabinet maker.  He eventually started his own business with the rest of the money, buying a truck and tools with it.  His business is very successful now.

Some people are geared up for college/university right after high school.  I think one of the keys to being ready is knowing exactly what you want to study.  Derek, a colleague I've worked with in IT, knew he wanted to be a computer programmer.  He went into university immediately after high school and got his BSc degree right away, and he's been enjoying himself (immensely) working in the field every since - first as an employee, and then for the last 15 years as a private contractor.

So when is the right time to pursue a post-secondary education?  When you are ready.  You gotta wanna, so to speak. Be true to yourself and figure out if you are really ready for more education right after high school.  You won't do yourself many favors by going to school if you aren't really motivated and focused on what you want to do.  There's nothing wrong with taking some time and figuring out what you should be going to school for.  It's a big decision - an investment (see this post for more details on what I mean)

Don't miss the 'Career Resources for Graduates and Young Adults' and 'Education Resources' pages.  It has some helpful links to videos, sites, and articles related to careers and career direction for grads.