Colorado Technical University

Any tips on future life for a 13 year old?

Ok, I know the question sounds wierd, but I just wanted some tips from an adult who has been through university and knows how to "get places" and what's involved. So this is who I am: I'm a 13 year old boy living in Sydney who really just wants to travel to another big city, have a family and have a position of power in a business. I am very academic, and (not boasting) excel in most academic areas. I enjoy my studies, and want to find a career in business after leaving university. I've always had this fantasy, however, of studying abroad and building networks in central cities of the world like New York or Shanghai. I have no idea what it takes to study abroad at a great university in the U.S. The University of Sydney looks great, and I'm sure I could get into it, but what's the story with studying elsewhere? Can you do that through your HSC? Is it an easy task? A big U.S. college has always been a dream of mine. Does anyone in the business world have any experience in building up connections? People like Mark Zuckerburg inspire me. People who run trans-national corporations and are following what's happening in the share-markets everyday make me feel like that's what I want to do. I don't want to necessarily "create" the business like Zuckerburg, but I just want to be that kind of person (I hope your keeping with my train of thought here)! So where do I start? My Father has had influential positions in a number of businesses including one of Australia's big banks and department stores. He tells me that he got to those positions from working on the floor levels of department stores, but that just isn't fitting together in my brain. So, what's the process from school, to university, to building connections in business? Where do I start. Do I have to take my own initiative, or will a university guide me or something? I honestly have no idea. Finally, I also want to travel. So far, I have been lucky enough to go to places such as China, Japan, U.S.A., Canada, New Zealand and Fiji. I am what most people would call a "city-slicker". I love big cities and the vibe that they give me of places where "so much is happening". Just the feeling of every building that you look in there's someone who's made a life for themself and is playing a part in something bigger than themself. So, long story short, I want to travel without getting caught up and moving from place to place finding odd jobs here and there. Maybe a gap year or something, but I don't want to let travels distract me from a family. Maybe a family in another country? Any tips? Anybody with experience, I would greatly appreciate some advice. 1) What's the story with studying abroad? 2) What's the story with gaining an influential position in the business world? 3) Is travel a considerable option in my situation? If so, what would be a productive travel destination + purpose? Thanks, Xave.

Public Comments

1. I can help you with your first question - studying abroad. If you wish to study for your entire degree in another country, you will have to pay international fees, which are MUCH higher than the fees charged to native students. Take this into consideration and make sure you carefully research prices for individual universities. If you cannot afford to pay the international fees, many universities offer exchange schemes in which you can study abroad for a year and will only have to pay the fees you would have to pay to your local university. Some courses don't allow you to do this unless you take a year abroad in the middle of your degree as an extra year, and the credits gained at the foreign uni would not count towards your degree in this case (but you would not have to pay fees at all in this scenario). So it's worth looking up your local unis and your course and finding out for yourself. Sorry I can't help you with your other questions. Good luck with your life plans - keep dreaming big! And try not to get too stressed or bogged down in planning out your future. It's good to have ideas of what you would like to do, but remember that you still have years to decide, so take your time, research well, and make the right choice for you.