I have recently graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in engineering.
I lost my mother two weeks after walk at graduation, so I have been lost during what
could be arguably the most important span of time in my life. I had not made plans regarding
where to work during school, which is completely my fault, but now having spent a month
at home with my widower father, two possibilities present themselves.

A dear childhood friend has informed me that his place of work is currently in the market of
hiring engineers into entry level position. The opening wage being near 30 dollars per hour, and
me having accrued some serious debt through college, this option makes a lot of sense.

I've always wanted to work on privatizing space flight. Ever since I was a small child, making
space travel cheaper, safer and more popular was the end game goal of my life. My second option
involves traveling to France to study at a place called the International Space University.
I believe that this place can offer a networking opportunity that is unmatched regarding my end goal.

Here's the dilemma. To go to France seems like I'm running away from being a real adult
and to be honest I'm not sure how helpful or realistic this goal of mine is. ISU sounds like somthing
out of Gundam Wing, as if I were to join to the United Earth Sphere Alliance or something.

I guess I'm seeking guidance as to a direction. Ask me to clarify if I've been unclear.
This very well could be in the wrong forum.

i wouldn't settle on just having a job. if you have a way to get closer to your dreams you should do it imo.

at best i'd work at the place for maybe a year just to put it on a resume and save some money.

Vouch this. Get the job pay of your current college debt. save some money for ISU then go. following your dreams is a good thing its no excuse for anything. and having the job will be good on your resume like he said

Go talk to an Air Force recruiter. Ask him about going in as an officer and space command.

Apply to the ISU program. You probably won't get in anyway if it's extremely competitive (no matter how smart you are and how good your grades are), but if you do then the program probably won't start this coming fall. Not if you can still apply to it now.

And in the mean time, take the job and work until you go into the ISU program, if you do get in.

how the hell is moving to another culture , with all the benefits of doing such , " running away from being a real adult " ?
seems to me a child would want to stay at home forever , while an adult would want to broaden his horizens ......

this post makes sense to me.

Makes sense to me.

Overall it seems your goal is to be instilled into a NASA-esc program which, unfortunately, is not the time to pursue said objective.