That resonates. I just advise to make decisions that broaden your future options. And you don't have to choose now, just get in take some classes, look around. He is in the local orchestra (one of the youngest), coaches skiing and kayaking at a pretty high level. His grades are off the chart so he's got to go to university, I wouldn't be inclined to push that now days but his results are too exceptional to do that to him. I just say get a degree, get a trade (coaching fits that well enough), start a business - those could be your five to ten year goals right now.
The problems is those set you up for the rest of your life. Nothing wrong with a trade - but many of them wear the body out, and they don't pay well. I would argue it is worth paying the price now for an engineering degree which will pay more in the long run.
Of course if he starts a successful business that can pay better than engineering. Does he want to - I don't have the personality to do well there but that shouldn't stop him.
These aren't either or propositions, he can do a full time white collar job, have a serious skill or trade (he's already got that with three ski coaching) and have a side business all at once. I expect that they will wax and wane over the next twenty years. Part of it is I want my kids to see there's a way past the AI distopian future being portrayed.
