Some guidance needed..

[Kayaker72]

Another thought, but in terms of selecting what you want to do, I wouldn't focus on "doing something that you love." I know people like to say that, but I've seen several people pursue a career is what they "love" and end up not liking the day in day out reality of the position. Ultimately, they end up somewhat disenchanted and, sometimes, having lost their "love." Instead, I would focus on picking a career that you are good at, find interesting, challenging, has room for you to grow and can support your lifestyle/family. I would focus on the day in day out of the career. For example, I am an environmental engineer and still really enjoy figuring out how to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater. I find that very interesting and challenging. However, most of my day is spent in meetings, managing budgets, coordinating people, writing proposals/reports, etc. There is nothing wrong with that and, in fact, I enjoy a lot of it. But the "love" part is the dessert at the end and the rest of it is the main course.

And I second what was said above, pick a career that has a market. I hear reports that trades are coming back. And I agree, there is nothing wrong with that (actually, some of my favorite people have chosen to emphasize their home life and family and have more of what I would call a "job" and less of a "career.") But a college degree in engineering or sciences tend to do well no matter the market, for instance track their unemployement stats against the national average...

Good luck....

Edit...yep, in case I didn't re-emphasize it, still feel the same way, go to college and avoid debt as much as possible.