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Posted by: Animosity Oct 4 2007, 02:22 AM

So I find myself in that pivotal point in everyone's life... college.

I am a freshman this year and I really have absolutely no idea what I want to do for a career. In my honest opinion, the classes are stupid, it feels just like high school only I have to pay ungodly sums of money to get this education.

If I could find a job that would let me live on my own and practice guitar everyday, buy new guitars, amps, pedals, etc... I would be a happy man until the day I died. The problem is I don't know what to do! The first thing all of my professors said to us was: "Why are you here?" I had no solid answer for this other than "It is what I am... supposed.... to do?"
So I am just wondering, asking, for some career advice. Did you go to college? What did you major in? If you didn't what do you do, and how does it affect your playing? If you did or did not go to college are you happy?

Please help!

Posted by: MickeM Oct 4 2007, 03:06 AM

What's best for you in the long run is to go for a career that you will enjoy for 40 years. I'm in the IT business and choose that path since it felt natural at that point (at age 17-18). Right now, after 17 years in the game I can't say it's a lot of fun anymore, I'd rather work in a music store f ex
But thing is that wouldn't pay aswell and it's not all about me no more but mostly wife and kids so I have to stick with it.

I suggest you ask yourself - What is fun? What in the fun area could I work with? ...and then take it from there. To please the soul for 30-40 years you have to enjoy what you do.

And I think it's all wrong if you let others steer you in a certain direction, like - You should study XXX and become YYY because... (fill in "it pays well", "you'll meet lots of chicks" etc.)

Good luck!

Posted by: VinceG Oct 4 2007, 03:39 AM

heh where on the same spot bro. Im actually majoring in something I personally dont like, Surgical Technician. It pays good on a long run. I figured that I should major in a good paying job and get enough money for me to do the job that I really want to do. If that dream job didnt work out, I still have a good paying job to lean back on so I dont have to be in debt or loose my apartment/house.

Besides, making film is a lot of money. I need something to fall back to when things didnt go as planned.

Posted by: exorcyze Oct 4 2007, 03:58 AM

I got my AA before getting into my field of computer programming. I had been doing programming since I was a kid and still enjoy doing things that push boundaries. It pays well and takes normal business hours, and if you're of the right mindset then it's fun too.

Personally I think there are two sides of the coin. The primary question is how do you want to live? I did the music career on the side while I was doing programming for many years. We would practice 4-6 hours a night, 5 days a week and 2-4 shows per month ( original material ). This all worked outside my schedule and I didn't have much in the way of financial worries ( even bought my own house in that time period ). Now I have a family with 4 children and my career can still take care of me.

There is *always* the future to look at, you cannot run away from it. If you don't want to have a family, own a house, etc and could be happy working at a music shop or whatnot, then go for it by all means! Otherwise, you'll want to keep in mind something that will be able to support you decently to allow you to focus on your passions on the side.

Enjoy what you do, above all else. It's your life to live and enjoy. A little planning and foresight at this stage in your life could pay out large later on when your views on life ( possibly ) change. Just think about the possibilities realistically and plan accordingly. You can always make time for your passions if they truly are passions, so just make sure to not sacrifice those - they're part of what define you and always will, even if they dissapate in the future.

My $0.02 from my life. =)

Posted by: Pavel Oct 4 2007, 04:36 AM

Some good points posted here!

I am at same position as Animosity right now and i will say about myself a bit. I have enrolled the 3rd year of college (university...same thing) and i am not satisfied at all with the education here but i do it just to get the diploma, so my parents are sure that i have the high education and can find a job in IT if my musical career doesn't work out.

BUT i also like the university because i meet people with really different approaches to life and they give me ideas and my own thoughts about what i do right, and what wrong. Also, i still need a couple of years to become a decent guitarist so i think this combination of guitar mastering and university is really good. I will have both diploma and i will have time to gain skills on guitar.

So, i know no one can turn me off guitar, but it is good to have a backup plan as life doesn't forgive. Just finish the college to have the diploma.

Posted by: DeepRoots Oct 4 2007, 04:38 AM

Yeh you're a few years from that yet Pavel!

Posted by: jeff Oct 4 2007, 05:27 AM

Something to keep in mind is that college will go by quickly. Study hard and get your degree regardless of how stupid the classes may seem to you now. It will be gone in the blink of an eye. You most likely will change your perspective about it over the next few years. And there is nothing wrong with not knowing what you are there for right now. That question poses no relevance in my opinion. I was asked the same thing and I had no clue back then. You can still graduate from college and have a successful music career. Will you be the next Eddie Van Halen?? Who knows, but you don't have to be. You just have to be happy. If you do not pursue your dreams they will never become reality. Also remember that a lot of succesful bands met in college. Use it to your advantage.

I am glad I went to college and I do have a rewarding career financially speaking. Along with a lot of GMC'ers I work in IT. That seems to be a big field for musicians. I would much rather be making music as a profession but out of my own personal fear of not being able to financially support myself, I chose the corporate world. In hind site and based on my own musical abilities I did the right thing. But you may be different than me. And remember too that it will always be your attitude that carries you throughout life in whatever choices you make. I would rather hang with a poor friend with a great attitude than a rich bastard .

Seriously though, you are smart for talking with people who have been there before about these kinds of things. A smart man learns from his mistakes and a wise man learns from the mistakes of others. (I got that from a fortune cookie) OK - no more rambling Dr. Phil speak from me. Best of luck man!

Posted by: AliMo Oct 4 2007, 09:27 AM

I'm not here to give advice, as I'm in the same boat as you Animosity. A little earlier tho, as I'm still in my senior year in high school. At first I thought I would have to decide right away because I needed to know in order to choose a college, but instead I picked one already and am going to decide what I want later. I keep getting told by people like teachers and my parents and guidance counselors that I should be this and that and none of it really appeals to me and it's only being suggested cause its "good money". Of course something in music would be cool, but for me I don't think thats realistic and I'm fine with that, I play because its something I want to do. What I am more worried about is keeping up with playing while im away in college, do you think this will even be a problem or am i just worrying too much about?

Posted by: JVM Oct 4 2007, 09:40 AM

I'm also in the same boat. I don't know what to do. I have a big chunk of money from my grandfather's will, and I can get into a lot of good schools (probably not some of the tops ones but, definitely into some "good" schools). I'm most worried about location, more than tuition. I'd almost rather not do college altogether. I do think it'll be fun but it will also get in the way of a lot of things. I do have complete determination and ambition to have a musical career, so I'm trying to balance this with some kind of a backup plan in a good location. Going to school in the right place is the most important thing for me, but the "right" location happens to be out of state for me, so finances have to come into play. It's all really confusing and exhausting.

Posted by: Delusions of Granduer Oct 4 2007, 10:21 AM

Well....Comeing from the guy who's been unhappy with work since the day he left college..... I went for 3 years...trying to get my BA in photography and my minor in Art............but the thing that killed me was "you have to take this Math, Englash ,Soc. Stud. , Phys. ....blah blah blah Ect. " Why was I takeing classes that had nothing to pertain to what I wanted..... But there's not a day that go's by that I wished I had stuck to it cause I might not be in a dead end job like now.... Go with your DREAMS...is all I can say..... If you want to be a Rock Star...go for it....it might be hard ...but you'll at least be happy trying...... I'm not saying you won't end up as a carpenter like me....... but you tried......... If there's something that you realy want to study..then do that...and do it to the best you can.......just don't let other people influence you into doing something you'll be unhappy with.......... Just don't give up on YOUR Dreams........ nuf said....

Posted by: Hungus Oct 4 2007, 10:33 AM

Well I stopped education at high school.... I dont want a career I want to just do random things and enjoy life. I really dont care that I wont be making much money, thats just fine by me. Im not saying people shouldnt get an education or anything like that im just saying that you should do whatever makes you happy. Maybe go travelling and experience the world, see whats out there and maybe you will find your calling.

My plans are to just do whatever happens and maybe when im 30 or 40 I will start a career...

Posted by: Animosity Oct 4 2007, 10:49 AM

There is some really good advice, and I am glad that I am not the only one in this position!

The thing that bothers me is that I don't really see any job that can come out of college that I am interested in... my dad kind of told me that business was the way to go, but I don't know that I would be happy in business... I see myself being like the guy in Office Space, and just completely going crazy in some cubical...

Honestly, I would be content with working in a guitar shop, learning to play, and just being able to save up for guitars, amps and pedals. But I don't know if it is possible to get by like this. Is there anyone out there that is working full time in a place like Guitar Center, or any other guitar/music store, that is living on their own(in an apartment or w/e) and is able to get gear they want etc...?

Again, I really appreciate all your advice. Keep it comin'!

Posted by: Delusions of Granduer Oct 4 2007, 12:52 PM

Office work........ It has it's perk's....of course so does working in G.C. . My brother works in an office pounding a pen and punching #'s all day.......... and Id bet he's about 30 lbs over weight because of it.... ; ) but seriousley....... I think it's all about what makes you happy...Your still young...... I'm 36 , wife , kid ...... the only dream I have is retirement.. LOL... and maybe putting a band together for fun... but If I had to do it over ......HHMMmm Maybe you should look into a school that is for music ...and then work at G.C. that would be cool.......

Posted by: Hungus Oct 4 2007, 01:29 PM

Just get out there man and try to get some work experience at different places. Read up on different things and find something that interests you and you think will make you happy.

Life isnt about getting qualifications you dont want and getting stuck in dead end jobs you hate... its about having fun and enjoying yourself. When your laying on your death bead when your an old man you should be able to look back and say F yhea I had an awesome time and not regret doing anything ...especially not regret doing something for 30 years+

Posted by: mattacuk Oct 4 2007, 04:28 PM

I just thought in addition to all the usefull advice above I would mention that life often does not go in the direction you expect or want it too. By all means strive to acheive your goals with the best of your ability, but dont be too down hearted if things go wrong - you can still acheive the things you want out of life, but maybe in a different direction

Posted by: VinceG Oct 5 2007, 04:15 AM

funny story. One of my friends, hes like 20-23 i dont know, he doesnt have a job and stays at home with his parents playing guitar. Then he decided to leave Michigan for a while and started walking to california and getting rides from strangers. Eventually, he met this billionare guy and they hanged out for like a few weeks. He has planes, helecopters and all that stuff. Really cool story. Hes a bassist btw. Really great guy.

I always want to be an exterminator. Something bout it sounds just bada**. hehehe

Posted by: Hungus Oct 7 2007, 09:00 PM

Thats a pretty cool story man... Did anything come of this friendship, does he own his own helecopter now lol


and yhea being an exterminator would be pretty extreme.... I dont think it would be all that great in reality though. When I was about 14 or 15 at high school I thought it would be awesome to be an undertaker

Posted by: Animosity Oct 8 2007, 05:10 AM

I really appreciate all of the feedback guys!

I came back home from college this weekend and talked to one of my buddies who is going to the local community college. He is taking a networking course and sounds like he is having a blast. I have always been interested in computers and have often considered setting up my own LAN Center. So a networking degree would be very helpful(not to mention it is also a high paying career). The nice thing about this community college program is that my buddy said that the networking course also gets your certified with Cisco!

Now I get to tell my parents that I don't want to go to the University anymore and instead want to transfer back home to the Community College. That should be an adventure..

Again, thank you to everyone who responded! Really appreciate it!

Posted by: VinceG Oct 8 2007, 05:42 AM

I go to a Community College. Feels like high school because im still comming home. I have a sweet schedule though, I go to school twice a week(Tuesday and Thursday). Plenty of time playing guitar and still keeping my grades good.

Posted by: blindwillie Oct 8 2007, 04:33 PM

Just something to think about.

Work always gets boring.
If you make a career of the thing you love, it will be just.. work after awhile (pretty soon).
If you pick another career you'll have to live from start with the fact that work isn't the most fun thing in life. But you will still have your "Hobbie".

Posted by: Spiderusalem Oct 8 2007, 05:29 PM

About a year ago, I was working a stable job, going to college and in a stable relationship. LIFE SUCKED.


Why did it suck? Because I wasn't doing anything creative. I've been eccentric all throughout my childhood and when they gave me the high school diploma, for some reason I thought it was time to grow up, get a job and be like everyone else. I was wrong, and I was unhappy.


Now I'm unemployed, taking only classes I care about (and plenty of them) so I can eventually ease into stuff I have to take, and I'm at home playing guitar or studying music all the time so I don't have time for any ladies! and let me tell you, Life has never been more awesome.

We are artists. Choices like career vs. passion are a part of what makes us special. And if you're anything like me, than its something you can only deny for so long. You'll set that guitar aside, and years later you'll watch a show and say to yourself "that coulda been me". For us, or atleast for me, thats the worst feeling I could ever get.

Of course, you might be a full time musician doing gigs everywhere and living in a charming little run down appartment building and see that guy with a happy family and the big house and high-paying job and go "that coulda been me".

so the fun way to answer this question is "how do you want to be dissapointed in your later years?"

Posted by: AliMo Oct 9 2007, 12:31 AM

lol, that makes me feel much better about making a decision

Posted by: Lurgen Oct 16 2007, 04:32 PM

Wow, this is a really interesting thread guys. Here's my thoughts on the subject...

When I finished high school, I enrolled in university. An engineering degree to be precise, since IT degrees didn't really exist back then. At the time I hated it. The course content felt irrelevant, the lecturers seemed incompetent, and I questioned the value of the whole thing. Three years in I had somehow failed half a dozen subjects and was looking at my three year course taking four years. Not ideal. So I quit. I walked away from a three year investment (both time and money) and took a moderately well paying job.

What I didn't understand at the time was the university gave me more than the obvious stuff. Yes, they teach you specific pieces of knowledge but more importantly they teach you how to learn. It isn't obvious at the time, but it makes a difference in the long run.

Another thing I didn't realise was that the lack of a degree would hold me back in later years. Sure, the earlier stuff in my career was OK without one, but later on the issue just kept coming up. Eventually I gave in and did a Master's Degree using my industry experience to qualify for admission. Sounds like an easy way in, but believe me - it sucked. For two years I basically had no life. I studied full time, I worked full time, and everything was hard.

What I learnt from all this is that there are some things that are better done early on. Yeah, it was tedious and felt a little pointless at the time but it was a whole lot harder later on. I can't imagine what I'd have done had I not gotten into the part-time course, returning to full time study with bills, rent, a family etc would have been impossible.

Another tip is to do what you love. Don't take a job (or a course) just because it'll lead to money. I work a lot of hours, and I would be very unhappy doing a job that I hated regardless of what it pays.

Finally, don't feel you need to shape your life (early on) around your hobbies. I found that by the time I was in my early 20s so much was happening that I just couldn't do it all. That was depressing. Now I'm in my early 30s and I can do it all. I have the money to explore my life properly, the qualifications and skills to earn plenty more of the green stuff, and the experience, reputation and qualifications not to worry that the fun is about to stop.

Do the hard work up front, nice and early. Get it out of the way. Then enjoy the rest of your life.

Oh, and a cautionary tale for you... a close friend of mine started his own company at age 19. Grew it to 15 employees over 10 years. Makes good money. Does work that he enjoys. But it isn't his passion. He writes great software, to the point where he presents to huge audiences regarding user interface design. He's respected in his field, and does well from it. But he wanted to be a pilot. He had his pilot's license, was working towards a commercial license, then let himself be talked out of it by his family. Sure, it was riskier, but he'll spend the rest of his life asking "what if".

Posted by: PlayAllDay Oct 16 2007, 09:19 PM

This is a great topic. Someone told me today - your business/job is your subconscious in expression.
So what you DO is the manifestation of what is currently inside you - your beliefs, strengths, shortcomings, delusions - all of it.
Made me look at my work and my life and go aha! Now I can see my true self a bit clearer!!

Posted by: tonymiro Oct 16 2007, 10:04 PM

Very psychoanalytic, although Lacan would probably claim that it's the areas where it breaks down that reveals the most.

Cheers,
Tony

Posted by: Maximus Oct 17 2007, 11:00 AM

Here is my 2 cents worth. Very few people know what happiness really is. It always seems to be something just out of reach. It is all too easy to say that school/college is a drag when you are 18 years old. I think you will find that you make the most critical decisions that impact your life in about a 5-7 year period after your 18th. I bounced around colleges from 18 -23 years old (Now 37) and had my fair share of wild days and sleepless nights. By the time I was 25 I completed my first degree in Physical Therapy. I painted houses from the time I was 11 years old until i was 25 with my Dad because he said I had to go to college and I needed to help fund it. I know what busting your ass for a small paycheck is all about. Here's the point: Go to college and bust your tail for a few years while doing it. Everyone on this site knows how to dedicate themselves on a maniacal level to at least one thing. If you can practice guitar for hours on end you can pick a smart degree program that will quickly give you the financial freedom to follow your dreams. Money doesn't solve all problems but it sure smooths the edges. The money you spend on college will come back to you 1000 times over. Do it and do it right. When you are done with school you will look back and say thank God I bit the bullet and invested in myself when I was young and had the chance. To close this out I will say that the most precious and valuable gift you have is time, so you should be getting more than minimum wage for it. Besides, you know you would rather have the Les Paul and the Marshall Amp anyway (without taking a second mortgage on the house).

Posted by: jammer91 Oct 18 2007, 06:23 PM

Im in a really similar situation as you guys, but im in high school (grade 11). Im doing my IGCSE (a board exam by cambridge university) this year. This is one of the most important test and decides whether ill be flipping burgers at mcdonalds or become a millionaire in investment banking.

Im having a huge test day after and havent started studying yet. Most people my age in my situation have given up guitar, computers, their band etc except me.

So any of you guys at GMC did your IGCSE or GCSE's (or doing)?

Did you stop all your social activities before the exam (a real bummer)?

Well good luck with your future guys, im starting to realize guitar is just a hobby and will get me nowhere in life (i know people like Pavel can get into a musical carrier easily, i mean look at pop punk bands like greenday and blink 182, but i have no chance so i should just work on whats right for me)


And its not always whats "fun" thats important.... No one would like to work, we need money to survive and its about what we can be committed to a do best. So it doesnt really matter what you take in university as long as you can follow through.


One question.... Do you guys think youll really make it as a guitarist? It take more than just playing stuff in your bedroom to achieve that. You need more than just playing skills (a good personality and a whole lotta luck to be at the right place at the right time)

Posted by: Spiderusalem Oct 19 2007, 02:06 AM

Can playing guitar make you rich and famous?

How do you define "Rich" and "Famous"?

How do you define "making it"?

My point is, if you play for the love, the reward runs deeper.

If you play solely because you wanna get famous, well you dont need a guitar to be famous.

Play because you wanna play.

Posted by: Smikey2006 Oct 19 2007, 04:17 AM

Id like to add to this topic because im in the same boat as anyone else. Im currently taking Business in university. Why..? because i want to be my own boss and i want to work with people. On the same not since guitar is one of my favorite things in the world i descided to start a guitar shop.. Its not going great.. im not making enough to survive off.. But as soon as im outta uni thats what i think im going to dedicate my life to. As long as some nuclear strike doesn'thit and destroy all the worlds guitars i should be okay running a business like that. Maybe if i descide to do it for the money i can start a chain of guitar stores. There will be a Faul Sound in every city on the planet. .. not really But for now im happy and really you only live once.. Happiness in life should be all you aim for.

Posted by: Animosity Oct 19 2007, 07:00 AM

Wow, I'm so glad what this thread has turned into!



A lot of good advice stemming from this thread! Keep it coming guys!

Posted by: PlayAllDay Oct 19 2007, 07:07 AM

+1

Posted by: jammer91 Oct 19 2007, 08:07 PM

Youre getting a business cause you wanted to be your own boss and started your own guitar store already?

Your exactly how i want to be (im 16 though). I was at india this summer, I went around met a lot of people and theres a huge market for guitars but the dealers are really far away and spread around the country. Right now im really looking forward to the day i can start a chain of my own guitar store selling every main brand. Yep, ill hopefully be a millionaire and be doing something i want.

I have a bit of advice for you guys. Make a list of the guitar gear you want, but are too expensive and not available nearby. Next see if there are other people in your area who want the same gear and are also looking for gear (UG is a great way or even GMC).

Then once youve closed in on some brands why dont you approach a bank and take a loan (start small dont ask for a million immediately). Start franchising a few brands at first then expand over time.

What do you guys think of my master plan?

Posted by: Testament Oct 19 2007, 08:44 PM

make some room guys, looks like i'm coming aboard!

i think we can all agree that being this young (i'm 19) and having to choose what you wanna do for the rest of your life (or at least until 70) is a pretty hard pill to swallow. i feel like as soon as i graduated from high school, the party was declared over-- even though i still party hard, heh. it's nerve wracking and at the same time very refreshing to be presented with a choice like that. i can't deny that even though i'm dreading my future right now, it feels pretty cool to know that i can choose whatever direction i want my life to go. but always that nagging question is poking at you from the back of your mind.

what if i don't make the right choice and end up hating my life years from now?

the only thing that i really wanna do is play music. my good pal's dad felt the same way when he was a kid, but he chased his dream to be something in the music industry. now years later at the age of 58, he plays gigs that he hates to support himself and his family. he's lucky if he gets 30 bucks in a night and he's a bitter, bitter man. a very sad realization for me of what would probably happen if i did the same.

Posted by: kevin-riff-after-riff Oct 20 2007, 06:57 AM

im not even there yet. im still in highschool, 2 years left, then im doin sixth form college (i think thats senior high in america etc) then id like to go to music college by playin piano. but durin 2-3 years at college im gonna practice guitar like crazy in spare time so when i get my degree & stuff i can be like tony mcalpine, but i have a degree so i can be some teacher or sommit. I think its always good to have some qualification incase major plan backfires, like many others of you have said. just get your college finished, get your degree, get sponsored by some rich man for however many years you need until u get your "BIG BREAK", or work as a teacher or sommit and get enough money for an apartment enough for you and all the girls you bring home . but if the big break dont come then you should just keep practicing in spare time ALOT! whilst doing whatever ur qualification lets you do.

Posted by: Twibeard Oct 22 2007, 02:54 PM

Just some comments from an oldtimer of the "Peace and Love" generation

I'm an electronic engineer, been since '86. I worked as a Lecturer at the university in Copenhagen for 10 years, then got my own company and climbed the latter loading my bank account with gold, got kids, wife and a sosial life.
But thats not normally how the story ends guys.
You can loose absolutely everything, you can loose your children, your wife, your job, your company, your money, your health any definately your mind - no matter who you are and what ever choise you make in life. Prepare for that ... ouch!
I think that everyone will agree that we live on a beautifull Planet but in a violent and troubled world. No matter which way we look, we don't see any real security be it for our jobs, our homes, our children, for the environment, and especially for those in the far reaches of the western-society whose vulnerability is used shamelessly to maintain our standard of living by those who claim to represent us.
When you come face to face with the fact that now, when we are said to be at the height of civilization, blessed with amazing technology, the fact that we are less secure than ever in our recorded history tells us that something is terribly, terribly wrong. If this picture seems too bleak, you haven't been paying attention.
How did we get in this situation? ... Because of lies.
You are lied to by our governments and leaders, by our schools, by our teachers, by our families and our friends. While some of these lies are conscious, others are the mere repetition of lies passed down from others, lies that everyone accepts and believes simply because everyone else appears to accept and believe them. But a lie is a lie, and they are no less dangerous for being unconscious or accepted out of naiveté or trust in the wrong person.
Terms are diffenent in the US, the UK, Ukraine and in Scandinavia. We have different life issues. Where I live 60% will loose there families, 70% will loose/change there career, 20% will get lifetreathening ill, 5% will kill themself (95% of those are very well educated).
Well enough of politics.
Some years ago I lost absolutely everything. I now work as a Fireman (firefighter), great jobb by the way! And I can tell you that for the first time in my life - I feel that i'm breathing. I got a group together, I sing, and i'm getting my Ibanez going
What I want to say is: You can get what you want, yes. And you can loose what you don't want to loose too! You have absolutely no security what so ever!
Studying and education can be fun - it was to me. Driving a Truck can be fun too... it is to my best friend (he is actually an ex ceo - lost it all too). Do what you love, what would you love to do? Maybe you dont love studying math, but if you love the oppotunity of where it will get you, well then study math. No matter what you do, everything in life can change in a glimpse, se that as a part of our reality before you make a choise.
To me - this is subjective - Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

Twibeard


p.s. “The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us, even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled down over your eyes to blind you from the truth, the truth that you are a slave. As long as the Matrix exists, the human race will never be free.” - Morpheus.

Posted by: Arrival Oct 22 2007, 03:44 PM

I like.

Well, I'm 19 years old at college at the University of Minnesota. My entire life, I hated homework. I hated going to school. The only reason I did any were simply the punishment that awaited if I didn't. All my life, I've looked at everyone else and wondered why people don't recognize how smart, creative, etc. I am. Everyone simply looks in the results: A, B, C, D, F. Everyone told me I was lazy. I'm sure some of you have heard it. I was observed for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) early on and again in high school, then observed for depression. Every time, there was nothing wrong with me, so I bit the bullet and said okay, I'm just lazy as s***and I'm not going to accomplish anything.

Now, in my second year of college, I've stopped going to classes, I'm failing all of them. I personally don't believe in laziness, I have plenty of motivation for things outside of school. And when I contemplated dropping out and told my parents, we scheduled another appointment to "talk" to somebody. This doctor said she thinks I have ADD, after almost 20 years of being a lazy slacker.

Now, I really do not know where my life is headed. I feel like I was cheated out of so much opportunity. If something like this hadn't held me back in my high school days, I think I could have a future at a respected school where I can consider my peers equal, and not a bunch of fools like my current school. I think I want to pursue a life outside the box. I don't want a college degree, I don't want a degree to validate my usefulness. Clearly in my eyes, my transcript to this point in my life doesn't represent my worth.

Can anyone tell me something that will change my life?

Edited for language - Andrew

Posted by: Testament Oct 30 2007, 02:57 PM

well, i don't think i could quite tell you anything that could change your life, but i sure do feel for ya man. that's pretty much my life to a tee.

twibeard: i think i know what you speak of. hopefully, things will get better in this world before they spiral off into a complete mess. we can only hope, huh?
an area about 10 feet from my house caught fire the other day and it really changed my view of the world. i'd gone to bed after just having dropped off a few friends from a night of fun, so it was a huge shock to see a place so close to my home turned into a raging inferno. i swear, it looked just like what i always imagined hell would! but i'm sure you've seen your fair share of that, being a fire fighter and all.

whenever i feel really desperate about the whole college and future thing, it always makes me feel better to know that it could be worse. there was an analogy i was told about that not too long ago, which went something like this. there was a boy from a very poor family who's father could not afford to buy him shoes, so he had to walk around barefoot. he was always very upset until one day he changed. a friend of his asked him what had made him forget about his trouble. "you have no shoes," the friend said. "you see that boy over there?" he replied. "he has no feet."

that's a pretty bad version of the story, but it's the best i can do.

Posted by: Smells Nov 2 2007, 10:12 PM

Yup its a tough one, I`m now 37 and have really only just realised what exactly I should have done/been doing.

Given back the time now I would have gone to college and done some kind of sound engineering course and got myself involved with TV/music industry.

With a family and mortgage to pay for theres just no way I can leave what I`m doing to persue that kind of career now, I wish you luck with whatever you decide on doing and I`m sure you`ll do great at it


Choose wisely m8