So, uni didn't work out... Now what?

[Belial]

Two years ago, I had to drop out of uni, because my mental health took a dive. It wasnt all because of uni - uni was more of a catalyst than a cause. Even so, I had to drop out, and it took two years before I was ready to give it a second go.

And here I am. three months in, and I am unhappy. I haven't attended any classes for a month, and I haven't really left my apartment much.

I am ready to give up again. But what then?

See, at this point I might have to admit that uni is just nor for me. Both times I tried I found a course that really spoke to my interests, but both times it wasn't enough. I am a smart guy; I am not ashamed to claim so. But maybe I just don't want to, on a subconscious level, spend 3-5 years more attending lectures and doing work, and being responsible for my own learning towards a degree that doesn't guarantee that I will have a job. Maybe my actual passion, the work I will find joy in, doesn't have to be academic, regardless of what I should be able to do.

So I am now considering other options. And for this, I need advice and stories. I have asked other places, and nwo I ask here too: If you too another way though life than university, or have another relevant story or lesson to share, what did you choose, and WHY did you choose?

I am considering military now, and believe me when I say that is very far from everything else in my life. I am overweight, lazy, and find joy in intellectual challenges. But on the other hand, millitary could beat me into shape, give my life discipline and structure. But if I go that route, it's 2 years minimum. So I'm not gonna just "try it out" on a whim.

Halp?

[Malus99]

well, I'm only 16 and so haven't the life experience to really give you advice, but I want to avoid uni if I can, mainly because if I can then I want to avoid spending 5 or so years getting myself into debt, I'm looking at becoming an accountant and so I am hoping that I can get into a trainee position with just A-levels. Have you had a look at what jobs you can take without a degree? Which offer on-the-job training and qualifications for the profession?

I hope to be able to finish my A-levels, and then get a job as a trainee accounting technician (or similar), which will then allow me to earn, and in my spare time I study for the ACCA (I think that's the correct acronym) which is one of the main qualifications for accountancy, the idea being that once I have a job, I can study for further qualifications and am alot more sure I'll have a good job at the end of it, since I will have already been in the profession for several years as a trainee. If you want to pursue an academical career, but don't want to go to uni, then maybe you should have a look at apprenticeships or other on-the-job training options. That being said, I live in England and I note that your location is Denmark so I don't know what the availability of such positions are like over there.

My choice is for entirely practical, and more specifically, monetary, reasons. When given the choice of spending 5 years racking up a large amount of debt and 5 years working, especially when said work offers personal advancement which in some cases is paid (!) for you, it was a simple enough decision to make, as with all careers, the difficulty will be when getting in, after that I can start working on the other hurdles before an established career.

The military is a big commitment, I have never personally considered it, but I do have family members who have, I can't really say anything more on this other than you will have to give it alot of consideration, there are alot of personal sacrifices on many different levels which the military require, but it does in return give you many benefits.

Beyond the military and academical, what areas of art do you enjoy working at? I love to write fiction, and I also like to draw, I play the piano aswell. All of these things I enjoy, and I think making a career out of any of these I would probably enjoy more than accounting or similar, I did consider pursuing Computer Image Design, of the sort used in animated films and similar, which I would love to work on, the problem is that I do not believe I am good enough at any of these to make a good career out of, so I pursue the arts I enjoy in my spare time as hobbies. I think that making a career out of something you enjoy doing alot is fantastic, and is definitely something to look at, if you can succeed, it can be very rewarding, much depends on your various talents and what the opportunities for such work are like where you are. I must confess that whilst I would love to be a musician or a graphics design artist, I did not have the courage to stake several years of my life on a venture which, as I saw it, was very hit or miss because of my mediocre talent in such things, when it comes to art, I think it is much harder to learn than academics, because art comes from the soul.

All I can say is that, have a look at what you enjoy, consider what careers you can make of that, and think on whether the risk would be worth the reward, I do not believe I have the ability to make a career out of it, I choose a relatively safer, less risky, but probably less rewarding route, but if you have the passion to do what you enjoy, I think that alot can be made of strength of will, fortune favours the bold as they say.

Hope some of my incoherent ramblings help a little, best of luck to you.

[Dalamar]

I dropped out of two unis so I kind of know where you stand.

I'm not attending any school right now and living through a painful process of getting my paperwork approved by the US government so I can actually get a job.

But that aside, while at university I faced the same dilemma you did... I'll be here 4-5 years... and then what? How's this place preparing me for the future life? The truth is, most higher ed institutions are giving you knowledge, but no skills.

Then my wife enrolled into this school... 9 months of classes (12h a week so really nothing) that prepares her to have a job in radio/tv industry, she learns from people working in the industry and learns skills that are actually required on the job as opposed to 5 years of theory she would never use.
They also work with her to find her a job when she graduates for as long as she stays in touch with the school. Yes, she could come back after 5 years and ask for their help in finding a job in the industry.

In the end, what you want to do is up to you, but these schools are cropping up more and more and are gaining much popularity over traditional 3-5 year courses.

[Rabidnid]

Uni is a great experience, or at least it should be. It will give you skills and expand your ability to learn, research and record.

More than that it won't do unless you choose an academic career. After working 17 years, 7 years of Uni and 4 years unemployed, I'm now the happiest I've ever been.

Find something you like and do that. Uni probably won't help you get that job, but it will make you a better person and improve your life skills.

I went to uni when I was 35, and believe that education is wasted on the young.

On the note of self discipline, the military dosen't require any. Discipline is imposed and you will be socially stunted by the experience.

The only reason you are fat and lazy is because you choose to be. You need to change your life and become the person you want to be. Start small with managable things and add steadily to the list. Over time even the smallest changes will add up and make a difference.

Good luck

[Asikari]

Here's the thing - a least in the US: You can claim to have any skill you want, even if it is the truth, and many employers won't believe your claim unless you have the documentation (degree, certification, whatever) to back it up.

I had a friend who was brilliant with computers when he was in high school and so thought he'd take computer science when he went to college. He quickly became bored because he already taught himself everything the professors were teaching him the first year and so decided to get a degree in something he found interesting - archeology. His senior year he realized to make a living in archeology, he'd be doing a lot of traveling and spend a lot of time applying for grants, work he didn't want to do.

In the next 5 years or so, he tried to get a job doing computer networking, but had little success. Finally he did find someone who didn't care about certifications, but what he could do. Through that he did get certifications.

I guess my point is this: think hard about what you want to do with your life. If it's something that requires a degree or certification, find the best way for you to go about it. You want to join the military but you claim you are overweight and lazy. So what motivates you? Can someone yelling in your face demanding more from you actually get you to move? Or are you the type of person who will just roll over and go back to sleep regardless if they dump a bucket of water over you?

It's your life, your decision. What do you want to make of it?

[Loki]

Belial, I know sort of where you stand. I spent 3 years at college before deciding it wasn't for me and dropping out. I then went to work for a grocery store for the next 2 years. After working in a shitty retail job, I was convinced that I needed to go back to college in order to get a degree for the field I wanted (trust me, working in retail sucks the big one). Now, I'm progressing along nicely after pretty much starting over, but I still feel like I just want to be done. I just want to have my degree and get on with my life. Being in college sucks too, but its just a means to an end, not an end itself.

[Mr. anderson]

What you could do is military and uni at the same time. In australia at least, there are scholarships that allow you to study engineering or science and then require you to do military service as a sort of repayment.

If you really get involved in university (i.e. make friends there) it quickly turns into the best time of your life. I'm having a blast at the moment and I'd never quit uni.

As Loki said, having a crappy full time job for a while (ideally one where you have to work with - annoying - customers) makes you appreciate your degree so much more. Getting a degree in science almost guarantees you a job if your marks are decent. I worked in a factory for a while (which was hell) and then in a casino (which, in a way, was worse, although I made some great friends while I was there). Now that I started uni, knowing that I'll never have to go back to those jobs gives me all the motivation I need (luckily I really don't need any because I like what I'm doing). Chemicals don't talk back at you, computers are strictly logical (unlike customers) and the prospect of getting a well paid job when I'm through is just the icing of the cake.

For social life, I'd say geology (personally I don't much care for it), and especially biology and chemistry are great because there are so many people doing it, and having a degree in those sciences opens up a huge amount of areas to work in. I will have spent 7 years at uni when I finish my degree (including Phd), so I really have to look at it as something other than a tedious drag, or a hurdle between me and what I really want. Liking uni makes it a lot easier, and having lots of friends there makes liking it easier. It will be tedious at times (exams don't pass themselves) but in the end, the rewards are very much worth it.

[Auere]

In Denmark education at the universities are free, and on top of that you recieve around $800 every month as an education support for up to six years of study. This means that while the study is hard and demanding, you do not have to worry much about money problems.
I think that most young people are really enjoying their study lives here in Copenhagen. If we discover that the study was perhaps not the right one anyway, it is quite easy and not so costly for us to switch studies. Most of my friends have done excactly that. (Sometimes I think that we scandinavians do not realise how lucky we are...)


I started at the university (music science) aswell when I was eighteen, but I could not keep the motivation. I found many of the lessons borring, and only attended those I liked. I loved singing though, and the music science study also included some more practical lessons, such as singing lessons. My teacher told me that I was good at singing and three years later I applied for the Conservatory and got in. There I took a bachelor before applying for the Royal Opera Academy, where I also got in.


I think that if you want to find out what to work with or study, you need to consider what you can spend more than 6-8 hours on every day without getting borred. I know it is proberbly a tough question, and if there is not obvious answer, I think that perhaps the military or police force could be good options. Military in Denmark means desent pay during educaion and garantee of getting job afterwards if you go down that route...
Because both require fysical training (at least in denmark) which motivates the brain and body to think and work. A lazy body equals an unmotivated brain. If you wish to evalute yourself, I would advice starting by joining a "study" that requires some degree of fysical commitment.
If you sit on your ass taking lectures all day, it is only natural to lose will and commitment to the study. You need to get a balance into things. If you do not have the motivation to run or play ball after study, sitting-still studies might not do it for you!

Apart from that, you should come to Copenhagen. It is such a lively town!

My 2 cents.

/Auere

[Belial]

I have read al your responses, and first of all: Thank you. your input is very appreciated.

If I did chose the military(and do believe me when I say that it would be a choice radicaly different from everything I have done so far and believed in) I would start out with the basic, which in Denmark is four months, and is what some people in Denmark get drafted for. It is not something that requires much commitment, and is more or less a "try this, maybe you'll like it and stay on" thing. Even if I don't find my future career, I think it'd be healthy for me to sort of... step out of my life. Look at life and myself from a completely different perspective. If nothing else, I should get back in shape, which will most likely be very good for my mental health as well.

University is not an option at this point. I am not going to pick up a new study there, just to go down again. I'm not saying that uni will never be an option, but if it is, it is not now. That much I know. If I am to do that, I need to grow. It's not that I am an immature person - but something in the person I am just doesn't mesh well with uni, apparently. Studying has only made me unhappy, and I really do mean unhappy. Not just "ah, homework sucks".

[Calisson]

Hey Belial.
You have some qualities which are so valuable that even a foreign guy like me can tell it from very far apart.
Your English is excellent and you're friendly and helpful.

Anywhere in the world, uni does not only teach you some knowledge. This knowledge can become skill or not, that is not the only thing which matters. But the uni also teaches you how to get up in the morning with a goal for your day. And that is what bosses like with graduated men.

If you cannot grow enough interest in uni, fine. Think about what else you can do from your life.
What did you do during the 2 years gap between your uni attempts? Apparently you did not enjoy it either.

Anyway, for your adult life, you need a job. This job requires the following qualities:
1) mandatory: to earn you (and your family) a living,
2) as far as possible: to be enjoyable and give you a sense of accomplishment
3) bonus: to make you a rich man.

Condition 3 requires a very strong will and commitment. Apparently, it is not your path. Once it is known and acknowledged, it doesn't matter anymore.

Condition 2 requires you either to select a job that you know you'll love and to tell yourself, day after day, how lucky you are to have this job rather than anything boring. No job is 100% exiting. Most jobs have a few % awesome, which you have to realize in order to withstand the many more painful %. Example: you could believe taht being a pilot is great; but you have to realize how long the studies are, the training has to be done and redone, during a flight most of the time nothing happens at all, and so on; but there are some very nice seconds to live, which make the whole job interesting.

If my son was like you today, I'd advise him to concentrate on condition 1. As Loki said, with a job, you get a motivation (possibly to get elswhere, quick). Better find a job for which your kindness and English skills will be apreciated. Selling goods in a shop is probably something you can do. If ever you start that, you need to realize that this is your living. You'll need to get used to your job because this is what you have. If the job is boring, at least it pays you your Internet fee and your daily food, better learn to be happy with that.


Back to your more precise question. Going military?
The military will accept you with no diploma. They will ask you to do boring stuff such as remaining awake to guard a gate behind which nothing much important seems to be but that's your task and you're not supposed to question that. You'll have to perform silly drills. You'll be wet under the rain, cold under the snow. You'll be likely to find more frustration than satisfaction. However, you'll make some friends, all the ones who live through the same pains. As you claim to be clever, your sargents will soon notice and propose you some more elaborate tasks.
At the end of your military period, you'll probably not have done anything worth mentioning proudly (the Danes in Afghanistan have done a superb job at the cost of the highest killed ration in Western countries, but they'll be gone when you arrive).

Speaking about what I know best, did you consider joining the Navy?
Danish Navy is specific in the world, it has the role of Coast Guard and Navy simultaneously. Danish ships go in Indian Ocean for pirate hunting and can get proud of it. Danish ships routinely go to Groenland, and the sight of such a salvage landscape is awesome. Danish ships save lives every weeks, those who do it can be very proud of that. This is a good sense of accomplishment.
If you can select to go to the Navy, being a little overweight is not as serious a problem than in the army, they will take you with no diploma, if you're smart as you say, you can become soon a petty officer and learn technical qualifications.
Condition 1 will be met, and most likely condition 2 too. Condition 3 certainly not.

That's my advice, as myself I'm leaving the French Navy after 27 years.

[Meteor]

27!? O.O

These are very insightful inputs by everyone, it certainly helped answer some of my questions despite still slogging through uni myself.

[Ulric darksoul]

I'm with Rabinid and Calisson.

I'm a perseverant unigraduated guy, and i have been through a couple of jobs of many kinds.

I've done dishwashing during my summer ("gringo's" winter... not an insult, by the way ), to present wrapper (don't know how to translated) to working at ECLAC for the UN. I can tell you, you should be careful with this decision, as it will be a really important one.

What i can tell you is, as Calisson said, there is no job that is 100% excitement. All jobs have its good share of boredhoom (i just invented this word!!), and it's if you like what you're doing what really matter.

Would you like to pump gasoline for the rest of your life? If you like the smell of it, attending people day after day,then that job is for you. If you rather be behind a desk, looking into a computer all day long, to have the balance of your business, well, then you should do that. At the end, there is no one that can tell you what to do, except for you. The only thing that i would say is that you should look the big picture. At Uni you'll expend 3~5 years of your life, "preparing" for your degree. This sounds really lame, but what would you be able to do with that? what kind of jobs will you be able to be working at with that degree? At least in Chile is really important to have a degree. Your salary would go from 250 bucks to 1200 just for the degree. and that's when you are starting.

As a side note, if you're imaginative, and can create a business, then you might give it a shot there. I've known this case where this guy spent his uni times selling shrimps. He finished off engineering (civil engineering is not actually about engines, in here) and what does he do for a living? he started his own business of shrimp selling, and he's doing awesome. Does the uni gave him the skills? does he had them all along? did he use some of the knowledge Uni gave him into his small business?

This is an example of what you could expect, or whatever you get out of it. Just remember to weight much more than what's infront of you.

good luck

[Darkmark]

You should consider getting a vocation. You'll often learn and earn at the same time, so you won't have to worry about debt. Also, you'll always have something to fall back on.

Forgive the amateur psychology, but it seems you want to transfer the hard decision making by stalling and doing time in the forces. If you're going to join at least choose a route that ends with you being qualified. Otherwise forget it.

Your other choice is shelf stacking until you realise education is what you need.

[Belial]

I realize education is what I need. I have had several smaller, and extremely tedious, jobs. I temped at a factory once. Never again.

When I mention the army, it was mostly as an idea. A way to give myself a clean slate and a new perspective on life. Maybe then, I would be better geared mentally to have a third go at uni... Or maybe I decide to do career... My uncle got a PR and journalist education in the army. Lots of opportunities to go in different directions.

If nothing else, I can take basic. Which is 4 months only.

Getting a vocation is easier said than done, I'm afraid. I know, since I was doing some intense job hunting for a few monthshalf a year ago, as part of a unempleyed program.

Not saying I don't want to, just saying that it's not an "easy" option, and since I have half a year now, until educations, be they for university, officers school, the policeforce, apprenticeships or anythign else, start up again in Denmark, I think I might as well spend that half a year on something that can help me in a more personal way.

[Darkmark]

You seem pretty set on uni, but I'm just trying to say there are alternatives. Staying motivated for 3/ 4 years on a course that you're not 100% sure on, and without money is really hard.

My brother-in-law just did his national service, 9 months in Finland, and I don't think it really did much for him except teach him to tie his laces

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Malevion]

Quite a few of my friends choose to join the military. I was considering it myself for a while although I eventually decided against it.

I can't tell you about it from my own experience but I can pass on what they've told me.

If you enlist as a regular soldier you want to go for a role that will give you a trade like a medic, technician or field engineer. Roles like infantryman, tank driver and gunner might sound cool but you won't get any transferable skills out of them... so avoid these roles unless you want to spend your entire career in the armed forces.

Enlisting as an officer usually requires a degree, as others have said there are also schemes that allow you to get a degree through the military. But since you don't like uni this might not be the route for you. Also it is very hard to pass officer selection and not many people are cut out for it. But if you do you are set for future careers as it shows you have leadership and management skills.

The fitness issue. The military will accept you even if you are out of shape and they will push you until you are able to pass the requirements. But this is a hellish experience. You should really get yourself into good enough shape to pass the the stated requirements before you enlist.

Social issues. From what I've heard the military can be a cruel place. If you are not good a socialising with others or you are not physically capable there is a high chance you will be bullied both physically and mentally. The army is the aparently the worst of the services for this type of thing.

The danger issues. Even as a non-combatant there is a higher than avergae chance of getting killed or injured as you are constanly surrounded by deadly devices and accidents do happen. If you get deployed you have the enemy to contend with as well. So basically you have to get it straight in your head that enlisting could lead to your death and be OK with that.

But having said this all of my mates in the army love it. They say they couldn't imagine doing anything else. But then again most of these guys always dreamed of being soldiers and were always going to enlist. This leads me to believe that there is a certain type of person who suits the military best.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[The virgin forest]

What do you do that makes you happy?

Does this involve any skills that you'd be able to employ professionally?

Also what kind of people do you like to surround yourself with? Academics, craftsmen, creatives, etc.

And ultimately, what would you like to end up doing?

[Lord damian valar]

I hope you do not take this the wrong way, but I think you need a wake up call. You will succeed nowhere if you keep looking elsewhere.

Look to yourself and change your own mentality. No matter what degree you have, no company wants to hire a lazy, unmotivated, overweight guy that doesn't know what makes him happy in life.

I am a firm believer that you can succeed in anything you want in life. I myself come from a broken family and as a school drop-out at 16 did not have much future perspectives. Going from shitty job after shitty job and talking to the forty year olds that did the same shitty jobs I knew one thing:"I'm not doing this for the rest of my life!"

At 18 I was drafted by the Royal Dutch Army where after my first period I became a proffesional soldier for 7 years travelling the world and learning about different cultures and the conflicts they had. So when others of my age sat in classrooms I learned about human nature and the political games and views of different people.

When I left the army at 25 I had alot of living experience for someone my age, but lacked book knowledge and diploma's. Since I knew myself well and had a knack in connecting with people I decided to make in Sales.

My first job as an accountmanager was for a large bank in the Netherlands. They had an opening, but as I did not have any diploma's I just stepped in and asked for the Manager in charge of hiring and in a bold way asked for ten minutes of his time. This he granted and when asked if I thought I would be able to sell financial products to the banks customers I said:"If I can conduct bussiness with a drunken Bosnian officer, I think I can do bussiness with anyone."

Well, that remark got me my first job and I took it with both hands. in 1 month time I knew everything about the company and what diffirentiated them from others. 6 months later and I had every certificate I needed to banking and within a year I was a top seller with loyal customers.

Now, at 35 I am in charge of Sales and Marketing for a Security Agency and am feeding my 3 kids and wife with a job I love to do and thus am happy.

The point I am trying to make is figure out what your goals in life are (my main goal is be a good father and husband) and act accordingly. This almost allways requires sacrifices on your path to get to your goal, but believe in the goal and you can make it happen.

So before you make any decisions, take a few days for yourself and figure out a goal. You do not need the army to get into shape and you do not need the university to get a good job. Both can help you on your way, but you must stand behind your decision bevause if you do not you will fail at both. Schools, Jobs, Army, etc are merely tools to reach your goal, they will not do it for you!

So look in the mirror and figure it out. And when you figure it out......ACT!

A wise man once said:"In life it matters not how hard you can hit, but how hard you can BE hit and still go no" (Rocky Balboa)

So wake up and make your own life. If your goal is to be an unhappy fat kid that stays in bed, by all means stay in bed. If not (and it is not) then find out what makes you tick and explore this wonderfull life and make it out there!

(Sorry if I am a bit straightforward here. I do not wish to be insulting. just trying to make my point)

Good luck kid and be happy!

[Belial]

No need to apologize for being straightforward, for you are absolutely right. I need to change my life and disposition towards it. Fortunately, I may have taken the first steps there...

A few weeks ago, I begun exercising. Not much, as I am in terrible shape, but a little more every day. In two weeks, one of my friends will move in with me, and he knows a lot about exercising, so he'll make sure I keep at it, and do it right.

I may not have figured out yet what I want to do, but no matter what, a healthy body is a good idea. Who knows, maybe getting in shape will give me the enery I need to continue my current studies... Maybe not, but it can't hurt.

As for long term goals... Well, time to figure them out.

[Lord damian valar]

Good for you man, you may see it as a small step, but hey, every step is a step forward.

Continue on a positive road, you will be surprised how easy certain things can be that you may have found impossible before.

Only look at all the wonderfull replies you've got on this forum. There are allways people around to help out. Just don't be afraid to reach out to them. Mostly people let themselves and their insecurities hold them back (like staying indoors). No one is going to find you there. Go out and make contact, it is sooooo easy, just go for it.

Before you know it you are exercising with your friend, then with a friend of him/her joining in. Then in a few weeks you could have a whole new social network, just because you took that tiny step.

(small tip that allways works: when walking past a girl, look her in the eyes and with a smile say "hi". 9 out of 10 times she will say "hi" back to you. Its implemented internal to do so. Then just walk on. A few seconds later she will register she doesn't even know you and start wondering why you said hi to her. From that moment on, whenever you see that girl, she will allways acknowledge you and greet you back if you acknowledge her. Try it, it works!)

[Calisson]

< Some necromancy >

Hey pal, good to see you back in there.
How's life going at present?

[Belial]

Hey!

The short version is... I got on exercising. Not excatly a lean mean machine, but I stick to my exercise, and the results are showing.

I figured out what I wanted to do. Education as a languageofficer in the Danish Army, with a specialty in Arabic. It's a very tough, very hectic, but also very prestigious education.

I made it through the first couple of sorting rounds, and was selected for testing. That in itself was a nice feat, since only a fourth of applicants get that far. I attended two days of tests, bith of my intelligence, my capabilites with language, and physical shape. I did really good on the first two, and mediocre on the latter. Unfortunately, that was enough for them to not accept me. It was a harsh blow, since I had high hopes(of the nearly 200 applicants each year, they only accept 23, but I did damn well on most of the tests), but they decided they weren't feeling secure about my physical shape, despite the fact that I met the minimum demands. It was 5 days ago.

It was a positive experience, though, in the sense that even though they gave me a no, it didn't feel like a rejection.

So, now I'm not sure where my life should go from here. But I think I'm on the right track, and that gives me hope and happiness. Right now I'm gonna go to a festival, however, and get raging drunk for a week, and push it all away for a short while.

[Malus99]

congrats on getting that far and getting things on track, and I think its good that even though you didn't make it all the way that you've taken positive things from the experience and didn't lose enthusiasm, keep at it and you'll get where you want to go!

Enjoy your week off, I've just finished my exams and am doing the same thing, its nice to take a breather and enjoy yourself.

I hope all goes well for you, best wishes,

Malus.

[Calisson]

Morale is the most important factor. Glad you regained it.
Money lost, something lost. Honor lost, much lost. Courage lost, everything lost. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Besides that, a strategy to get a job would provide you with a good reason to wake up early in the morning.
The future belongs to those who prepare for it today. (Malcolm X)

Keep going!

[Blaznak]

My father, who I believe to be infinitely wise, once quipped:

Education is nothing more than a ticket. You can get where you are going on any ticket you have, its just the journey that changes. In otherwords, maybe, for you, a bus pass is all you need to be happy. Or maybe you prefer a train ticket. for some people, nothing will do other than a first class airline ticket. Some people just walk.

No matter what, as long as you keep moving: YOU WILL GET THERE.

Just google people who had little or no formal training who were successful. Its infinite.

GOOD LUCK AND STAY MENTALLY STRONG!!!!

~B~