College Student Blues

[MisterAlexander]

Hey forums, this is my first time posting here.
I've been a fan of Steve Pavlina's blog for a good while. I find his articles very helpful and at the least very entertaining. He's a fantastic writer.
Anyways, I come here seeking for your advice.
I'm an eighteen year old college student in San Antonio, Texas. This is my first semester as a freshman and I'm not enjoying it much. I've never been the type of person that liked school. I was always restless and thinking of greater things. I'm a free spirit. I could do very well in school if I cared to, mostly making A's and B's when I put in some effort. But I am not content with staying here. I feel as though life in college moves too slow. The work is tedious and it fails to shine light on life outside of college. The classes do not interest me, especially since I am taking my core basics (writing, math, geology).
I am a very passionate and hard working person. I'm ambitious and will get things done if I want to. I've never been the type of teenager to sit and watch tv or play video games for hours.
Things I've done or liked doing:
Ran in long distances races
Competed in mixed martial arts
-boxing, muay thai, jiu jitsu, etc
Traveled
Taught myself how to play the guitar and have been playing some open mics
Constantly teach myself new things by reading philosophy and classic literature.
I love learning, and I'm not lazy. My father was an entrepreneur and started his own business.
My questions is: What do I need to do to get started on life outside of college? I don't like being here, but I need a plan first before I just quit. I've always thought about starting a business and I'm very passionate about music. I consider myself an artist and love to write songs and make music. But if that doesn't work out well I would like to start a business of some sort.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

-Jason C.

[Midnite]

I am right now contemplating whether or not I should move your thread to somewhere like the 'Personal Effectiveness' sub-forum, where people could really nail down what you're interested in, what kind of future you see yourself working towards, etc.

If you currently have some ideas floating around about what kind of business you would like to start or consider getting into, then I will just leave the thread here.

Right now it seems to me you are quite artistically minded, rather than into the whole education system thing learning the nuts and bolts about businesses. As a future business owner (though you can always just hire professionals) you will need to grasp some kind of understanding about both the accounting and legal aspects of whatever you decide to pursue, or risk running a failing business model or getting into trouble later on.

If for example you wanted to open up an Art Gallery, and you have no idea how one operates such a thing, then I recommend working for a successful Art Gallery until you understand all the daily operating procedures, buying and selling activities, and roughly what kind of capital investment you will need. It's a pretty rough example but working for your future competition will likely be one of the better decisions before starting any kind of business, rather than just hitting the ground running without a clue.

Finish your education. These days the levels of entry into any kind of organization are always rising. Though you may currently hate it, it will help you in the long run.

Life outside of college is very different to what you find on campus. You will have to learn some degree of independence, working and living by yourself at quite a few points, but also learning how to make solid decisions as to which way you would like to progress (without a course counselor). It may seem quite 'whatever' reading this over the forum, but when you're out there in the business world, those decisions suddenly become very real.

I recommend putting together a plan. Where you want to start, where you would like to get to, and how you are to go about achieving that. Detail what ground-level jobs you need to get into for basic experience, and what dream jobs you would like to strive for.

I may be wrong, you could be an extremely gifted musician and get poached by the best before you even start. But contingency plans will certainly come in handy if it doesn't work out.

[SnerpGoodWord]

One thing to consider is the hidden windfall of college - free time. Realistically, the typical college curriculum takes about 25 hours a week to complete. Compare that with typically working more than 40 hours per week to make ends meet on the outside. In other words, all that free time means college is the best place to teach yourself to do, well, just about anything. The credential is pretty valuable too - right now the unemployment rate for those without a 4 year degree averages about 12%. For those with a degree, it averages about 5%.

All this of course is dependent on the economics of your stay in college. If you're racking up debt to make it happen, the free time may not be worth it.

[HoldenC]

You and I are in rather similar positions. I did great in high school, though I never particularly enjoyed it. After my first semester of college, I lost all interest. Unfortunately I lacked the courage to drop out at the time, not wishing to disappoint my parents, etc. So now I'm in my third year of college, with no real idea what I want to do with my life. I've grown depressed and my work ethic has slipped more and more. After this semester I'm failing/dropping out with nearly $20k in debt and nothing to show for it. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you don't feel that college is right for you, then don't feel like you need to stay. If it's not the right choice, then the sooner you get away, the better.

You can still have free time outside of college. Don't believe that you have to work full-time. If you get yourself a cheap room within walking/biking distance of a city, and don't own a car then you can easily support yourself on part-time labor. This way you can have plenty of time to spend on music, planning a business, etc.

Career Advice from Alan Watts - YouTube

[mikethedrummer44]

Originally Posted by MisterAlexander

Hey forums, this is my first time posting here.
I've been a fan of Steve Pavlina's blog for a good while. I find his articles very helpful and at the least very entertaining. He's a fantastic writer.
Anyways, I come here seeking for your advice.
I'm an eighteen year old college student in San Antonio, Texas. This is my first semester as a freshman and I'm not enjoying it much. I've never been the type of person that liked school. I was always restless and thinking of greater things. I'm a free spirit. I could do very well in school if I cared to, mostly making A's and B's when I put in some effort. But I am not content with staying here. I feel as though life in college moves too slow. The work is tedious and it fails to shine light on life outside of college. The classes do not interest me, especially since I am taking my core basics (writing, math, geology).
I am a very passionate and hard working person. I'm ambitious and will get things done if I want to. I've never been the type of teenager to sit and watch tv or play video games for hours.
Things I've done or liked doing:
Ran in long distances races
Competed in mixed martial arts
-boxing, muay thai, jiu jitsu, etc
Traveled
Taught myself how to play the guitar and have been playing some open mics
Constantly teach myself new things by reading philosophy and classic literature.
I love learning, and I'm not lazy. My father was an entrepreneur and started his own business.
My questions is: What do I need to do to get started on life outside of college? I don't like being here, but I need a plan first before I just quit. I've always thought about starting a business and I'm very passionate about music. I consider myself an artist and love to write songs and make music. But if that doesn't work out well I would like to start a business of some sort.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

-Jason C.

You absolutely don't need school. You're the kinda guy who takes action. College is for people too lazy to take action – people who need someone to tell them what to do at all hours of the day.

Also for doctors and lawyers.

You're young, which means you need to get started now. What's your home situation like? Is there any way you could move back home and work on starting your own business?

Your dad's an entrepreneur, so if you explain to him that you need a bit of time to learn the basics, would he let you move back in with him for a while?

That's what I did and it was incredible. I can't believe how lucky I was to be able to start my first business under the umbrella of my parent's home.

So many people have to start their first businesses while working a full-time job and caring for a family. So if you have the option to go back home and start working like crazy, do it.

If not, get a menial and boring job. It's easy as hell to get a job (if you know what you're doing), and it'll accomplish two things:

1) Earn you money so you can drop out of college and get a cheap apartment
2) Provide you with hours of time that you can think about new businesses to start

Boring jobs suck, but they do allow your thoughts to wander.

Lastly, you need a place to start. It's one thing to say, "I want to start a business."

It's quite another to know how to start a business. For the ultimate blueprint for going from "How the hell do I start a business," to "I now know how to become a millionaire," there's nothing better than this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Fa.../dp/0984358102

I will rant and rave about this book for as long as I live. Absolutely incredible and will give you virtually everything you need to start your first business.

You can't afford to waste the time you have right now. Stop spending your time in god awful college classes that literally do NOTHING to help you in what I like to call the REAL "real world" (outside of the college bubble).

You've taken positive action in the past – now take it again. It's time to take control.

[Alice Hive]

I quit school three and a half years ago because it (and the whole academic way of life) didn't resonate with me and what I wanted to do.

I've never regretted my decision. I think it was just what I needed to do.

There are a few things you should know, though:

- It's not going to be easy.
You might get frustrated in the beginning. There's so much to learn that no one ever taught you. Some people won't understand your decision. You will need to be courageous in order to stay authentic and do what you need to do.

- You probably won't succeed fast.
After three and a half years I still don't have an income from my business that is stable enough to fully support me. That's why for the last three months I had a side job where I work about 20-25 hours a week (I don't mind that, though - it's a nice variation from what I usually do).
There were times where I couldn't afford food and where they switched off my phone and internet connection because I couldn't afford to pay the bills.

On the other hand, I was able to do so much in the last few years that I couldn't have done if I had been in school (projects that need 30+ hours a week, for example).

Also, I just like this way of living: Contributing to the world by doing what I love, creating my own rules, having all the freedom and time in the world to experiment with life. I love it!

I have got many friends who are going to college. The challenge they face is that they have so much on their mind that even if they got big plans most of them never do anything about them and keep postponing their projects to the future.

BTW, I agree with everything mikethedrummer44 said.

[MisterAlexander]

Originally Posted by mikethedrummer44

You absolutely don't need school. You're the kinda guy who takes action. College is for people too lazy to take action – people who need someone to tell them what to do at all hours of the day.

Also for doctors and lawyers.

You're young, which means you need to get started now. What's your home situation like? Is there any way you could move back home and work on starting your own business?

Your dad's an entrepreneur, so if you explain to him that you need a bit of time to learn the basics, would he let you move back in with him for a while?

That's what I did and it was incredible. I can't believe how lucky I was to be able to start my first business under the umbrella of my parent's home.

So many people have to start their first businesses while working a full-time job and caring for a family. So if you have the option to go back home and start working like crazy, do it.

If not, get a menial and boring job. It's easy as hell to get a job (if you know what you're doing), and it'll accomplish two things:

1) Earn you money so you can drop out of college and get a cheap apartment
2) Provide you with hours of time that you can think about new businesses to start

Boring jobs suck, but they do allow your thoughts to wander.

Lastly, you need a place to start. It's one thing to say, "I want to start a business."

It's quite another to know how to start a business. For the ultimate blueprint for going from "How the hell do I start a business," to "I now know how to become a millionaire," there's nothing better than this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Fa.../dp/0984358102

I will rant and rave about this book for as long as I live. Absolutely incredible and will give you virtually everything you need to start your first business.

You can't afford to waste the time you have right now. Stop spending your time in god awful college classes that literally do NOTHING to help you in what I like to call the REAL "real world" (outside of the college bubble).

You've taken positive action in the past – now take it again. It's time to take control.

I found your input very helpful!
You hit it right on the money when you said I'm someone who takes action.
As for the Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco, I had already read it a couple of weeks ago and I loved it! I feel your enthusiasm for this book.
But I will definitely be considering my options for the meantime. The winter break is coming up and while everyone else is going to be out doing nothing I'm going to be working my butt of day and night exploring my options.

-MisterAlexander

[MisterAlexander]

I'd also love to hear about anyone's experience regarding the topic
(i.e. not going to college, pursuing a dream, career in lieu of a formal education).
It's nice to hear of other people who have followed their mind and heart.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by MisterAlexander

Hey forums, this is my first time posting here.
I've been a fan of Steve Pavlina's blog for a good while. I find his articles very helpful and at the least very entertaining. He's a fantastic writer.
Anyways, I come here seeking for your advice.
I'm an eighteen year old college student in San Antonio, Texas. This is my first semester as a freshman and I'm not enjoying it much. I've never been the type of person that liked school. I was always restless and thinking of greater things. I'm a free spirit. I could do very well in school if I cared to, mostly making A's and B's when I put in some effort. But I am not content with staying here. I feel as though life in college moves too slow. The work is tedious and it fails to shine light on life outside of college. The classes do not interest me, especially since I am taking my core basics (writing, math, geology).
I am a very passionate and hard working person. I'm ambitious and will get things done if I want to. I've never been the type of teenager to sit and watch tv or play video games for hours.
Things I've done or liked doing:
Ran in long distances races
Competed in mixed martial arts
-boxing, muay thai, jiu jitsu, etc
Traveled
Taught myself how to play the guitar and have been playing some open mics
Constantly teach myself new things by reading philosophy and classic literature.
I love learning, and I'm not lazy. My father was an entrepreneur and started his own business.
My questions is: What do I need to do to get started on life outside of college? I don't like being here, but I need a plan first before I just quit. I've always thought about starting a business and I'm very passionate about music. I consider myself an artist and love to write songs and make music. But if that doesn't work out well I would like to start a business of some sort.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

-Jason C.

I see so many posts like this, that I keep thinking that colleges in the US must be very bad, or somehow Americans are very blind to the opportunities available in college.

You mentioned that you like music, business, running, martial arts, travel. Well, when I was in college, there were bands, choirs, student clubs about entrepreneurship, taekwondo clubs, a karate club, races, exchange programmer with overseas universities. In

Doesn't your college offer the above kind of stuff?

[mikethedrummer44]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I see so many posts like this, that I keep thinking that colleges in the US must be very bad, or somehow Americans are very blind to the opportunities available in college.

You mentioned that you like music, business, running, martial arts, travel. Well, when I was in college, there were bands, choirs, student clubs about entrepreneurship, taekwondo clubs, a karate club, races, exchange programmer with overseas universities. In

Doesn't your college offer the above kind of stuff?

It's more so that the cost of college is so incredibly high, it's simply not worth it to be exposed to any of those opportunities.

Those opportunities still exists, but you can do the vast majority of them outside of college – without accumulating tens of thousands of dollars in crushing debt by the time you graduate.

[Acting Like Godot]

Yes, the cost is a big factor.

But the OP is already in college. Presumably he can afford it, otherwise he wouldn't be there.

And since he's already there, why is he saying that he can't do X, Y, Z? Doesn't his college provide avenues for those, in addition to the usual academic syllabus?