[Tasaio]

Greetings

I've always been a committed independent learner.

In other words, I learn best from the textbook, and through my own actions. I've never been comfortable with the idea of a classroom, and a teacher telling me "how to learn".

In keeping with this philosophy, I've taken the year off from my Math/Computers degree. (For one thing, it's $10,000 per year!)

When I first told my parents in September, they were appalled by my decision. After I explained, that I wanted to do some more preparation "for next year" (this was true at the time), they agreed that I had made a good decision.

I absolutely loved it! As an independent lerner, I've accomplished more this year than I ever did in my two years in university. I truly do feel prepared, if I wanted to go back...

However, I'm on such a roll, learning things by myself, that I am utterly opposed to going back. I want to maintain my momentum. Why jeopardize that love of learning I've developed, and reenter a system I hate?

And therein lies my problem: my parents are still assuming that I intend to start again in September.

Their main incentive seems to be that "everything will be paid more if I register full-time before I turn 21-years-old".

The question is, *what* will be paid for? I am currently on an anti-depressant, Cipralex, but I am willing to stop taking the medication if it will allow me to pursue my own learning.

More generally, what will happen if I take another few years off? Is there a law, for someone who is neither working nor in school?

Surely the government won't try and force me to join the military, will they?

My confusion is that what I'm doing is so productive, and so euphoric, that I don't understand why my fellow college students are just teaching themselves at home.

Thanks in advance for any info!

Tasaio