Personally I don't agree what has been written here, but then again I am stubborn
I think aj215 is actually smart cookie and realised early that the worlds a tough place and people are willing to screw you over left, right and centre.
All I believe he has to do, is accept what he believes in, don't doubt what he needs/wants and go for it. By the sounds of it he's not really a bum, but he just doesn't want to accept second best. I don't see anything wrong with that. He does want to make something of himself and make his parents proud, so that says to me that he's willing to work hard in the right job.
When you have a strong focus on what really suits you, you tend to find work in that area.
So really brainstorm your strengths and weaknesses and what sort of job suits you.