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Comment by BunnyOSteele | Hacker News Reader

I tell my kids (18(f) and 15(m)) to find out what they are really passionate about. Then we will try to find a career for that passion. Once we have that we will see what kind/level of formal education is needed to pursue that career. If you need a degree for that, well, work for that degree. Here in Germany most jobs are based on apprenticeship, so that is a very viable option. And part of that apprenticeship will be what in the US is Trade School.

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> I tell my kids (18(f) and 15(m)) to find out what they are really passionate about. Then we will try to find a career for that passion.

When has that advice ever worked, except for a very privileged few?

What if you aren't "really passionate" about anything. I know very few people who are particularly focused on one thing. For instance, I love outdoor activities, have considered working in that area, but the pay is bad and the work doesn't make me happy. I like playing the guitar and music, but not all the time. I liked programming and technology and there were jobs available, so I drifted into that. I'm happy enough, and feel lucky I made that choice.

I'd argue that you shouldn't turn a passion into your bread-winner.

Because doing so will force you to degrade your passionate goals to mere everyday tasks, and that'll ultimately ruin your passion.

There's two aspects to this. I had similiar advice growing up - find something you like doing because you'll spend a lot of time doing it.

I loved writing code, but discovered exactly the point you are making; I hated doing what work wanted me to do with that passion. It did not fit, so I stopped writing code professionally and I'm much happier doing it on my own terms in my own time.

However, the idea that you should find things to do that you find some satisfaction in is maybe better advice. I now work in information security (I know, not everyone's cup of tea). It's challenging, there's always something new to learn, and it's occasionally exciting.

I don't think there's an apprenticeship for every passion out there. I definitely didn't see my passions reflected in typical job profiles.

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