Everything I want to do to pursue a passion costs money... help?

[Thenewguy]

I want a passion. Hell, I want a hobby that can make me smile besides Facebook, women, and video games.

I've thought deeply about things that I WANT to do that I feel would make me happy. The only thing that I can think of that I do that makes me happy that I do besides those things above is when I go for walks into new places and off-beaten paths. I really want a passion because I want more things to make me happy in this world.

I want to learn how to race cars and drift, I love driving fast on the highway and swerving past traffic (yes I know it's illegal to speed). I want to motorcycle.

I want to travel the world and see mystical places. I get a rush walking through somewhere and not knowing whats on the other side.

I want to do this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmlAW_1hgT8

and this. http://vimeo.com/channels/143109/35981251

I'm a guy that constantly likes to be on the move, be active, to travel. To always try to see the world and learn new things.

But alas, I'm a college student about to be a junior at a college that's in the middle of the farm country, Who is broke. This is why I want to be an entrepreneur, to start a business that will allow me to travel.

There's just something about the idea of ADVENTURE.... that just puts the biggest feeling of happiness in my heart...

Anyone have any idea to find things/hobbies that can make me smile please?

[Halo Effect]

Hitchhiking + Couch surfing? That's, like, free.

Here's a hitchhiking wiki page: http://hitchwiki.org/en/Hitchhiker%27s_safety

You can find couch surfing pages if you google.

That's very adventurous. But I am sure that if you do this, you will have a lot of adventures.

[Nick]

(06-15-2012 04:41 AM)Halo Effect Wrote:  Hitchhiking + Couch surfing? That's, like, free.

CouchSurfing is not reliable because 1) hosts can and do bail out on you (even I have done it on a surfer) so you better have a hotel reservation if you don't want to sleep in a street, and 2) for every application you send, there are 10 other people who have asked for a couch as well, competition is fierce and couches are few. In my opinion, if you travel the world and spend just half your time on couches, then the frugal gods have been kind (or you have put a lot of work into it).

That does not mean that if you travel you should not try couch surfing. You'll always meet some great people when surfing, it will save you money, and it's the fastest way to rub shoulders with someone who lives in the country/city you are staying.


edit: If you do decide on travelling, you should start hosting and getting involved in your local couchsurfing community. It'll help you establish a positive reputation which will be much more useful than no reputation at all. You'll also meet a lot of people who have travelled the world with couchsurfing, who have interesting stories to tell, etc...

Also, if you're going to travel, then travel light. I can't believe Mark just wrote this post on minimilism. Talk about perfect timing

[Thenewguy]

lol I appreciate the responses but don't want to travel the world until I at least complete my undergraduate degree. I just want a passion or hobby I can do WHILE I'm in college. Plus, I would still need SOMEWHAT of an income to even survive couch surfing if I DID do it...

I'd rather be able to gain enough passive income to take care of myself while doing so. I don't like being dependent.

[Nick]

You're in college so there should be tonnes of campus activities going on. Pick what interests you, and join in. If you're not into anything that is available, give it a try anyway, otherwise 1) figure out what your passions are (a sport, music intruments, newbie MMA, etc... you have a bucket list right? Half the items on there would be suitable) As it stands, the passions you listed (drag racing) aren't really going to work out in a campus environment. 2) Pick a passion, work out all the logistics, then find some people intimidate some friends into joining your little group. You wont find a better time or place than college to set up a group activity because there are literally thousands of people trying to figure out what to do with their time besides studying.

[Thenewguy]

hmm I guess I could try to MAKE a club of people to pursue a passion...

I'm thinking I Would need to be somewhat experienced in whatever I'm doing to form it though.

---

Wow I just looked up couchsurfing.org... It looks very interesting... I may definitely get into this in the future!

[Mark]

Study abroad?

[Thenewguy]

I don't think I can afford that on FASFA student loans... I'm pretty sure it only applies to America

[The Notorious PhD]

(06-17-2012 01:11 AM)Thenewguy Wrote:  I don't think I can afford that on FASFA student loans... I'm pretty sure it only applies to America

I'm positive that Study Abroad programs are covered under your college tuition + board. As in, your FAFSA + loans will cover your semester abroad through agreements worked-out between your college and host institution. Look into it, because it would very strange if this is not the case.

But let's say it's not covered. You can apply for lots of different scholarships to cover your expenses. This guide is a good starting point.

Even if that doesn't work, you can apply for the Stafford and Pell grants, and State equivalents depending on which State you're located in. Because you're in college, it's an interest-free loan (for up to six-months post-graduation, and up to several years depending on if you go to grad school). That's like free money. Hell, more than free money, if you're financially savvy

Oh the joys of an American higher education.

[Zelazny]

Play a musical instrument, read books in the library, start running, have dinner with friends, try to cook a new meal, learn to juggle, climb trees, go hiking, sit on top of a mountain, have good chats with close friends, get to meet people, tell stories, listen to stories, do some volunteer work, join a theatre group, do courses on car/motorcycle construction/repair, actually get to learn the city you live in, sleep a few nights in a field outside, learn to meditate.

The whole point with hobbies and passions is that there are many great things you could do, as long as you keep on trying and experiencing (either first-hand or second-hand through your social circle) things. And there are enough profound discoveries and new experiences to be had in your own surroundings untill you can get to the point where you can travel.

[Thenewguy]

(06-17-2012 04:23 AM)The Notorious PhD Wrote:  

(06-17-2012 01:11 AM)Thenewguy Wrote:  I don't think I can afford that on FASFA student loans... I'm pretty sure it only applies to America

I'm positive that Study Abroad programs are covered under your college tuition + board. As in, your FAFSA + loans will cover your semester abroad through agreements worked-out between your college and host institution. Look into it, because it would very strange if this is not the case.

But let's say it's not covered. You can apply for lots of different scholarships to cover your expenses. This guide is a good starting point.

Even if that doesn't work, you can apply for the Stafford and Pell grants, and State equivalents depending on which State you're located in. Because you're in college, it's an interest-free loan (for up to six-months post-graduation, and up to several years depending on if you go to grad school). That's like free money. Hell, more than free money, if you're financially savvy

Oh the joys of an American higher education.

I will DEFINITELY research this... If I could find a college in a more active area. It will definitely help me out to find more things that inspire me. Thanks.

(06-19-2012 12:41 AM)Zelazny Wrote:  Play a musical instrument, read books in the library, start running, have dinner with friends, try to cook a new meal, learn to juggle, climb trees, go hiking, sit on top of a mountain, have good chats with close friends, get to meet people, tell stories, listen to stories, do some volunteer work, join a theatre group, do courses on car/motorcycle construction/repair, actually get to learn the city you live in, sleep a few nights in a field outside, learn to meditate.

The whole point with hobbies and passions is that there are many great things you could do, as long as you keep on trying and experiencing (either first-hand or second-hand through your social circle) things. And there are enough profound discoveries and new experiences to be had in your own surroundings untill you can get to the point where you can travel.

lol it's funny because I've done about 75% of those things you listed... But yea that's what I'm doing right now, trying to experience everything I can to see what interests me and what doesn't... First step is trying to get out of the country as soon as possible.

[roark]

(06-17-2012 01:11 AM)Thenewguy Wrote:  I don't think I can afford that on FASFA student loans... I'm pretty sure it only applies to America

I made money studying abroad.

Anyway, you are writing something off very quickly. When you go on an exchange you pay tuition to your home university, not a foreign one. Go on a year long exchange. I met plenty of Americans who were on student loans and were exchange students for a semester or year. Also please integrate your claims with logic. Most higher education money is coming from the government in the United States (up to 80%), if you couldn't study abroad when you're on student loans, then exchanges basically wouldn't exist for Americans. But people go on exchanges, hence you should modify your supposition.

If you want to travel for the rest of your life, and you want to be an entrepreneur, most college degrees are probably a useless waste of your money and four years of your life. Studying abroad might be a very redeeming year out of the four, though. The amount of quality improvements to my life that I could make with the tuition, expenses, and lost wages the average American spends would be very large and outweigh anything a university could teach me. My experience is that I could have (and did) get a better education for free at the library than attending university. If you follow Mark's recommendation of reading 100 books per year, you will have more practical knowledge than any college graduate, who really only learns how to perform a keg stand.

Read: http://www.wanderingearl.com/how-i-can-a...nt-travel/
Also read Life Nomadic by Tynan
You might want to read "Skip College" by JJ Luna.

[Thenewguy]

(06-20-2012 04:12 PM)roark Wrote:  If you want to travel for the rest of your life, and you want to be an entrepreneur, most college degrees are probably a useless waste of your money and four years of your life. Studying abroad might be a very redeeming year out of the four, though. The amount of quality improvements to my life that I could make with the tuition, expenses, and lost wages the average American spends would be very large and outweigh anything a university could teach me. My experience is that I could have (and did) get a better education for free at the library than attending university. If you follow Mark's recommendation of reading 100 books per year, you will have more practical knowledge than any college graduate, who really only learns how to perform a keg stand.

I agree with you... despite having a 4.0, nothing I feel I learned in college is more useful to me then what I learn on my own simply by surfing the web and studying my business books alongside with other things I care about. I study business more than I do my actual college courses.

The only reason I still am in college is that I feel it would benefit me somehow just to HAVE a degree. And that I have nothing else to do while I'm studying business. But I DO need to transfer, and QUICKLY. I will work on studying abroad asap.

I'm just currently studying business so I can find/have a way to fund my travels with passive income. I DO NOT want to travel on a tight budget, the things I desire while traveling won't allow me to.

[BudCrow]

Whine!

Man, I got two kids, shit loads of debt. I'm most certainly gonna let that get in the way of any of my goals. What you need is FOCUS, that will bring you more money.

Right now, I'm all about carrer and regaining my lost hours to porn. It's great. I found out about this thread through a VERY private site, and I'm so glad that I did. Yay!