I know how this sounds. Sorry if it’s a stupid question. I built a small little site in my hometown for kids in highschool. It’s got a good amount of users and I can see it growing. The only problem is I don’t really care. I’m about to graduate highschool and I want to do more ambitious things during college. I don’t want this project I don’t care about to take away my ability to focus on things I do care about. At the same time, it’s hard coming up with good ideas and I might have an opportunity to practice making something big out of a side project.
What should I do?
Ok, so you want to do “more ambitious things” and “things [you] do care about”, you say it’s been hard for you to come up with new ideas.
OP, do you… have a better idea in mind? If this website for your hometown’s high school is the only idea you’ve got, just focus on that. Worry about leaving for a better idea once you actually have a better idea. If you just can’t stand your current idea, however, then give the website to someone else to keep building/maintaining (such as school staff or otherwise someone more interested)
This is a good point, but there are so many things I could do besides working on a startup. Already I’m applying to internships at other startups, lining up research opportunities, preparing to go into a PhD. Ultimately, I don’t want to work, I want to create a startup to solve a hard tech problem I’m particularly passionate about.
If you couldn’t tell I tend to spread myself thin, but I’m just looking for the best step to take to get me closer toward my ultimate goal. Still though, you’re right. I have nothing better to do atm lol. Thanks.
You think a PhD will be more fun? Everyone I know who has done a PhD is usually whining about it.
Also… spreading thin is what everyone does, until one day they decide to focus on one thing.
What stops you from having an internship and working on your project at the same time?
Op is just a kid. I think the allure of saying you have a PhD is more interesting than actually doing the PhD. And yes it is dreadful.
Keep your expenses low and your options open. The choice is yours, 4 years to gain real-world experience, or 4-6 years of university to enter the workforce, 10 years of work more to pay off the school debt. Be smart, read books and CEO interviews. What you’re doing now is incredible. I would stay on course, intern for a startup and learn all you can about business (not a role/profession) keep researching successful businesses and applying that to your own ideas. By the time you’re 25 all you’ll know about is how to run a successful business.
Do university stuff during university. You have plenty of time after for other things.
Working at a startup could certainly be a highly relevant opportunity for you, given that creating a startup is your goal.
As for the research, definitely go for it as long as you know what type of research you want to do and why. The importance of your research skills depends on what industry you are in.
What is your ultimate goal? You haven’t said yet.
Can you scale it on a tenant basis to other high-schools? This is effectively how Facebook got started.