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off topic- but how do you pay your bills?


Grizzcoat

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Just curious as we know where just about everybody on here lives-- but what do you do for a living?

Curious is all.  As for myself; I'am in the weather field for aviation with the FAA. 21 years. To go with CentralNEBweather- my wife is pre school teacher and we have one 13 yr old son.

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The two loudest sounds known to man: a gun that goes bang when it is supposed to go click and a gun that goes click when it is supposed to go bang.

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We need the other topics thread back. The two people who singlehandedly derailed that thread are both banned now so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

I'm kinda spoiled. I'm in college full time and my dad pays for most of my stuff, including 2/3 of my rent. When I need extra money on the side, I drive for Postmates. I am starting an internship (for the sake of anonymity I won't say where) next month in the law enforcement field so I am excited for that.

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Formerly *ahem*: LNK_Weather, TOL_Weather, FAR_Weather, MSP_Weather, IMoveALot_Weather.

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Just curious as we know where just about everybody on here lives-- but what do you do for a living?

Curious is all. As for myself; I'am in the weather field for aviation with the FAA. 21 years.

I am a High School Social Studies/History teacher. I’m also an assistant varsity football coach and head 7th grade basketball coach. My wife is a 5th grade English teacher and we have two kids, a senior and a 7th grader.

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I'm a student at UNL. Luckily, my parents pay for rent at my apartment. I have a part time at the UNL alumni center where I call alumni for updates etc. but mostly for donations lol. People get mad at me/cuss at me sometimes, but it's easy to laugh at and move on. I'm also majoring in meteorology, which is kind of rocky. I'm not the best at math, so I've taken calc 2 twice and currently in calc 3. Hopefully once I get over the math hump it'll improve.

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Snowfall in Lincoln, NE:

2017-18: 21.4"   2018-19: 55.5"   2019-20: 17.6"   2020-21: 49.4"   2021-22: 5.1" 🤮

Average: 26"

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I'm a first year UI student majoring in biology. S naturally, I'm broke lol. I almost majored in meteorology but then decided not to because I don't particularly enjoy math either. That and poor job prospects in the field. Not to mention my tendency to get personally invested in a forecast, especially with winter storms. I understand far more about severe wx and tornadoes than I do winter weather which is probably why I don't get quite as "weenie" with severe setups despite enjoying them far more. Winter storms have never clicked with me...

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2021-22 Snowfall: (Hiawatha)

TOTAL: 10.2"

(12/28: 3.0") (12/29: 0.8") 

(1/1: 6.4")

 

 

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I'm a student at UNL. Luckily, my parents pay for rent at my apartment. I have a part time at the UNL alumni center where I call alumni for updates etc. but mostly for donations lol. People get mad at me/cuss at me sometimes, but it's easy to laugh at and move on. I'm also majoring in meteorology, which is kind of rocky. I'm not the best at math, so I've taken calc 2 twice and currently in calc 3. Hopefully once I get over the math hump it'll improve.

I teach middle school science at my home town in Shelby and I'm the head high school boys basketball coach and head middle school football coach. I taught high school science for 2 years at Exeter-Milligan before and I'm in my 10th year overall. My wife and I moved back when I got offered the head job at my home town and since then have had 3 girls ages 5, 3, and 1. I graduated from UNL in the winter of 2008 and went to college for 6 years. I started off as a major in meteorology but changed after finding out I was good at math but not good enough!!!!! I was always high A's in math and science growing up but it kicked my butt in college! I love teaching and coaching but my strong passion with weather burns deep. I report to Hastings NWS as a volunteer but plan on becoming an official observer if we get our elective class in meteorology next year at the high school. I was strongly encouraged to hear I would teach it of course!!!!

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What? So none of you living in your parent's basement? ;) (not that that's a bad thing if it's for a short-term need)

 

I've had a career as an Industrial Mechanical Designer pretty much here in The Mitt (tho 5 months in TX back in 2010 was interesting) through good times and some really horrible times. I began in the (ofc) native Auto Industry only to see that get derailed by globalization and off-shoring trends. Since stepping away from that instability, I have been involved in many other industries including Medical, Rail, Telecommunications, Marine, Aerospace, Consumer Appliances, and even the Baking Industry. Most often I've worked on designs for capital equipment that manufactures the products, but other times it's the products themselves. In the case of major appliances, items that folks see/buy at Lowes/Menard's/Home Depot I developed. The occupation itself was always rated as "highly satisfying" for job satisfaction surveys and the compensation can be above avg. The difficulty for myself has been the demise of our beloved Automotive "Big-3" here in SMI. Whereas the former generation enjoyed 3 decades of increasing prosperity, my career has spanned the 3 decades of demise in this part of the world. With kids from an Ex growing up here, I decided to navigate the tough times vs chasing the economic waves elsewhere. Thankfully, things have gotten much better here in Michigan since the Great Recession 10 yrs ago. Hopefully, that remains the case. 

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Winter 2023-24 Snow Total = 52.8" (89% Normal Season)  Largest Storm: 12" (1/12-13)   Oct: 0.1 Nov: 2.9 Dec: 7.5 Jan: 31.7 Feb: 6.0 Mar: 4.1 Apr: 0.0

Avg = 59.2"  (Harrison): 2023-24 = xx.x" 

Avg = 45.0"  (KDTW): 2022-23 = 33.5"   2021-22 = 35.6"    

Avg = 49.7"  (KRMY): 2020-21 = 36.2"   2019-20 = 48.0"   2018-19 = 56.1"   2017-18 = 68.3"    2016-17 = 52"    2015-16 = 57.4"    2014-15 = 55.3"    2013-14 = 100.6" (coldest & snowiest in the modern record!)  2012-13 = 47.2"    2011-12 = 43.7"

Legit Blizzards (high winds and dbl digit snows): Feb 2011, Dec 2009, Jan 2005, Dec 2000, Jan 1999, Mar 1998, Nov 1989, Jan 1982, Jan 1978, Jan 1977, Apr 1975, Mar 1973, Jan 1967, Feb 1965, Jan 1918

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I'm a student at UNL. Luckily, my parents pay for rent at my apartment. I have a part time at the UNL alumni center where I call alumni for updates etc. but mostly for donations lol. People get mad at me/cuss at me sometimes, but it's easy to laugh at and move on. I'm also majoring in meteorology, which is kind of rocky. I'm not the best at math, so I've taken calc 2 twice and currently in calc 3. Hopefully once I get over the math hump it'll improve.

The Math is the very reason I chose to not major in meteorology. I flopped hardcore in Calculus I in my time at UNL 2 years ago.

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Formerly *ahem*: LNK_Weather, TOL_Weather, FAR_Weather, MSP_Weather, IMoveALot_Weather.

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What? So none of you living in your parent's basement? ;) (not that that's a bad thing if it's for a short-term need)

 

I've had a career as an Industrial Mechanical Designer pretty much here in The Mitt (tho 5 months in TX back in 2010 was interesting) through good times and some really horrible times. I began in the (ofc) native Auto Industry only to see that get derailed by globalization and off-shoring trends. Since stepping away from that instability, I have been involved in many other industries including Medical, Rail, Telecommunications, Marine, Aerospace, Consumer Appliances, and even the Baking Industry. Most often I've worked on designs for capital equipment that manufactures the products, but other times it's the products themselves. In the case of major appliances, items that folks see/buy at Lowes/Menard's/Home Depot I developed. The occupation itself was always rated as "highly satisfying" for job satisfaction surveys and the compensation can be above avg. The difficulty for myself has been the demise of our beloved Automotive "Big-3" here in SMI. Whereas the former generation enjoyed 3 decades of increasing prosperity, my career has spanned the 3 decades of demise in this part of the world. With kids from an Ex growing up here, I decided to navigate the tough times vs chasing the economic waves elsewhere. Thankfully, things have gotten much better here in Michigan since the Great Recession 10 yrs ago. Hopefully, that remains the case. 

Flint and Detroit give Michigan a bad rap. I love the rest of the state. I am glad it has gotten economically better.

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Formerly *ahem*: LNK_Weather, TOL_Weather, FAR_Weather, MSP_Weather, IMoveALot_Weather.

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For those taking CALC-- i have a co-worker that has MET degree from Saint Louis Univ. He took CALC 2 -- SIX times before he got it. it was the instructor that made all the difference for him.

 

I enjoyed math.. Until it doesn't become "math' anymore.... HA!

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The two loudest sounds known to man: a gun that goes bang when it is supposed to go click and a gun that goes click when it is supposed to go bang.

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  • 8 months later...

Just curious as we know where just about everybody on here lives-- but what do you do for a living?

Curious is all.  As for myself; I'am in the weather field for aviation with the FAA. 21 years. To go with CentralNEBweather- my wife is pre school teacher and we have one 13 yr old son.

 

Navy observer from 78 to 80. Aviation weather forcastor, 80 to 90. Administration 90 to 2000. Retired, US Navy.

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A Navy Chief said, "Never change your forecast. That way you can only be wrong once."

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I sell life insurance for a living. :P My wife is a school teacher and I have a 8 year old and a 4 year old.

I've been interested in weather since I was maybe 6 or 7. Right out of high school I should have gone to school for meteorology, but chose to go to a closer school instead with most of my best friends from high school. Went to school for an Earth Science major figuring I would eventually transfer or at least this would be a science degree I could work off of.

Unfortunately, I stopped after 3 years and moved down to Omaha. After another 5 years of being out of school and closer to Lincoln for Meteorology, I decided to go back to school. Had to start all over as most of my credits and requirements didn't transfer down here. I started out great, but then got to the upper level math and physics classes and struggled mightily. Retook Calc 3 a couple of times and a physics class where something like 1/2 the class failed every semester, a couple of times. In the meantime my student loan debt kept racking up. Every semester of college was on loans for me. Eventually, I realized that my love for meteorology was being outweighed by my mountain of student loan debt I was accumulating.

I met my wife and we started a family. At that point I knew I needed to make good money and insurance sales was my best option. 8 years later I'm still here.

For meteorology, I knew I never wanted to be on TV and then was worried about getting a job without a graduate degree due to the limited number of positions. My biggest interest in weather was always storm chasing and it's pretty hard to make a career off of that.

Definitely the biggest regret I have in my life is how I handled my schooling and the MOUNTAIN of student loan debt I have from basically going to college 2x and nothing to show for it in the end. I see that student loan payment each month and the depression kicks in! 

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I sell life insurance for a living. :P My wife is a school teacher and I have a 8 year old and a 4 year old.

I've been interested in weather since I was maybe 6 or 7. Right out of high school I should have gone to school for meteorology, but chose to go to a closer school instead with most of my best friends from high school. Went to school for an Earth Science major figuring I would eventually transfer or at least this would be a science degree I could work off of.

Unfortunately, I stopped after 3 years and moved down to Omaha. After another 5 years of being out of school and closer to Lincoln for Meteorology, I decided to go back to school. Had to start all over as most of my credits and requirements didn't transfer down here. I started out great, but then got to the upper level math and physics classes and struggled mightily. Retook Calc 3 a couple of times and a physics class where something like 1/2 the class failed every semester, a couple of times. In the meantime my student loan debt kept racking up. Every semester of college was on loans for me. Eventually, I realized that my love for meteorology was being outweighed by my mountain of student loan debt I was accumulating.

I met my wife and we started a family. At that point I knew I needed to make good money and insurance sales was my best option. 8 years later I'm still here.

For meteorology, I knew I never wanted to be on TV and then was worried about getting a job without a graduate degree due to the limited number of positions. My biggest interest in weather was always storm chasing and it's pretty hard to make a career off of that.

Definitely the biggest regret I have in my life is how I handled my schooling and the MOUNTAIN of student loan debt I have from basically going to college 2x and nothing to show for it in the end. I see that student loan payment each month and the depression kicks in! 

 

I appreciate your honesty. I'm all for higher education, but there are scenarios where the institutions just rake in money and peeps are given the shaft and (as you've admitted) a huge debt to go along with it. No way is that right where I come from. It's one of the biggest money grabs in our society, at the expense of the young and least experienced of our adult populace. Nice to see your story, just the part I bolded really hits a nerve. I counseled my daughter (senior in college now) absolutely DO NOT go for something that isn't a good paying marketable degree that she could reasonably complete. She chose to live at home to save more money and will graduate with an IT degree with a major in Cyber Defence next spring. I'm not sure if better guidance for students is the solution or what exactly, but institutions don't bat an eye at taking students deeply into debt whether they are getting something beneficial for all that effort or not.   

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Winter 2023-24 Snow Total = 52.8" (89% Normal Season)  Largest Storm: 12" (1/12-13)   Oct: 0.1 Nov: 2.9 Dec: 7.5 Jan: 31.7 Feb: 6.0 Mar: 4.1 Apr: 0.0

Avg = 59.2"  (Harrison): 2023-24 = xx.x" 

Avg = 45.0"  (KDTW): 2022-23 = 33.5"   2021-22 = 35.6"    

Avg = 49.7"  (KRMY): 2020-21 = 36.2"   2019-20 = 48.0"   2018-19 = 56.1"   2017-18 = 68.3"    2016-17 = 52"    2015-16 = 57.4"    2014-15 = 55.3"    2013-14 = 100.6" (coldest & snowiest in the modern record!)  2012-13 = 47.2"    2011-12 = 43.7"

Legit Blizzards (high winds and dbl digit snows): Feb 2011, Dec 2009, Jan 2005, Dec 2000, Jan 1999, Mar 1998, Nov 1989, Jan 1982, Jan 1978, Jan 1977, Apr 1975, Mar 1973, Jan 1967, Feb 1965, Jan 1918

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I appreciate your honesty. I'm all for higher education, but there are scenarios where the institutions just rake in money and peeps are given the shaft and (as you've admitted) a huge debt to go along with it. No way is that right where I come from. It's one of the biggest money grabs in our society, at the expense of the young and least experienced of our adult populace. Nice to see your story, just the part I bolded really hits a nerve. I counseled my daughter (senior in college now) absolutely DO NOT go for something that isn't a good paying marketable degree that she could reasonably complete. She chose to live at home to save more money and will graduate with an IT degree with a major in Cyber Defence next spring. I'm not sure if better guidance for students is the solution or what exactly, but institutions don't bat an eye at taking students deeply into debt whether they are getting something beneficial for all that effort or not.   

If I'd only known then what I know now.....

I'm all for college and believe it's important, but obviously it shouldn't ever be, "you need to go to college or else you'll struggle your whole life." Maybe that's not the way most people look at college, but I know that's what I heard a lot of when I was younger. I know my wife and I will make sure to have that conversation with our girls.

What's crazy too, is I maxed out my undergraduate limits for federal loans so I had to start taking out private loans. This was back just before the financial crash when banks were giving out money to anyone and everyone. I was always surprised when they approved me for another loan given my large debt already at that time and minimal income.

Then of course there's the cost of college and that most young people are going to start their lives with large debt out of college. I have ideas on that, but that's considered evil socialism. :rolleyes:

My job I'm in has nothing to do with what I went to college for and doesn't require a degree. I'm making as much money doing this with no degree as I would have made with a meteorology degree. That being said, I have lots of doctor friends who obviously are where they are only because of their schooling.

At any rate, looking back if I could change things, I would have done a sales job like this, maybe just taken a few meteorology courses to get some more education and knowledge of weather, and then just done what I do now with weather which is chase storms as a hobby. Sucks you only get one chance though on this planet and time travel doesn't exist!

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I'm a host a restaurant now. If you don't like where I sit you, I'll happily move you, but I'm probably internally pissed off.

What restaurant? If I was still in Lincoln I'd come torment you by asking for 5 different table changes.

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Formerly *ahem*: LNK_Weather, TOL_Weather, FAR_Weather, MSP_Weather, IMoveALot_Weather.

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  • 2 months later...
  • 1 year later...

This forum has been my second home for the past month with how active the weather has been, so now that it's calming down this place is a morgue lmao. But anyways, like most young dumb college students, I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Meteorology/weather is definitely more of a #1 hobby for me and I wouldn't want to ruin it by making it my career. I'm content with not knowing all the science behind it and just enjoying the show instead.That, and I'm not a math/science genuis LOL. I don't mind some calc/physics, but what stuff like engineering/met require are way too much for me. So yeah, I've been majoring in Ag econ since fall 2019. I think it's a good combo of topics I'm interested in, job opportunities, and courseload; so now I graduate from UNL in 2022. Still have no clue what I'm doing, but I have an internship with the USDA farm service agency starting this summer. I'm excited to help farmers, so I'll see how everything goes! If I know I'm making someone's day better, I think I'll like it. 

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Snowfall in Lincoln, NE:

2017-18: 21.4"   2018-19: 55.5"   2019-20: 17.6"   2020-21: 49.4"   2021-22: 5.1" 🤮

Average: 26"

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