That was the text message I received today. While I have the utmost respect for the members of the armed services, the possibility of him joining terrifies me. If I knew he could safely serve somewhere, I would think it was a great option for him to allow him some time to mature and find himself, but I fear him immediately being sent to the Middle East. He is stopping by tonight to brainstorm alternatives, so this is where I am looking for suggestions.
Here is some background on him. He was diagnosed with ADHD at a very young age. He has not been medicated since middle school. Junior year of HS, he decided he hated school. We worked with the school and he was able to graduate early by taking one online class in addition to his regular classes. His grades were okay, but not great. Part of the problem was missing a lot of school due to illness which put him behind in a couple of fast moving honors classes. ACT was 29. He attended a technical school and received an associate's degree in automotive maintenance. He has been working as a mechanic. I think he is finding that this is not his dream job. It is hard work and the boss doesn't always treat him great. Apparently today was a bad day, so he has brought up the Marines again. I know he has been talking to a recruiter on and off for a while. Thanks to the ADHD, he can be quite impulsive, so I need to get him to start thinking options before he signs anything. Because he started school young due to the birthday cutoff, and graduated HS young, he is only 20 so would fit right in with the college demographic. I am thinking about suggesting some sort of four year automotive technology degree, but would that get him anything career wise or just delay being a mechanic again for a few years? I am not sure he would make it in a four year engineering program, but what about engineering technology or other non-engineering science related programs?
I know I am helicoptering, but right now I am scared and this is a young adult that needs a helicopter mom on occasion. Thanks.
↧