JR, simply put, get something that isnt to do with aviation as a minor. Chances are, going that way your chance of getting a job are slim, but who knows how things will be. But with something in a field other than aviation your options will be opened up if there is nothing avaliable, stacking shelves at walmart might be one of the few options avaliable. Sadly seen it happen to often.

Aye, you guys are killing us hopefuls! (jk)    Me?  I've heard too much of this story, so I'm gonna take the sure-fire way... the air force.  Show me an af pilot that is stocking shelves (and wanted to fly commercial) and I'll confine myself to the basement for the next 80 something years of my life right now (I basically mean af pilots always get hired-I don't mean they are exempt from being laid off).  Yes, I know how hard it is to get in the airforce.  I'm not going into the fighter program, I'll have everything you can get in GA by the time I join, will have a college degree in something or other, I have 20/10 vision and I have talked to a recruiter who says my prospects sound good.

I have to go to college either way, my family is extremely successful and thankfully supportive that I'm not trying to live up to my dad and grandad lol.  As for finances, we'll see how that goes.  Word on the street is the air force pays YOU to be in it (is this correct?)**, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.  Going commercial throuh GA is a long, arduous task that requires taking every oddball job you can find to rack up hours, and then getting rejected 50 times by airlines (unless you become a CFI-in which case you normally skip the oddball jobs and jump straight to getting rejected 50 times).  Many Airline hub directors ONLY hire military pilots. So, for me, I think I'll try this air force thing first and see how it goes.  I'm not gonna really worry about the money in the commercial aviation business-I'll wait until I stop loving the job to worry about that.  

**-i'm KIDDING.  I'm perfectly aware the air force pays you.  I hope you didnt think I was that stoopid.    Just safe-guarding against the one dude I know is going to say "umm, ya beef, the air force does pay you..."