Advice for college drop-out?

[The David]

Realizing now that I am not interested in shelling out $100 a month on speed just so I can keep up with the world, I have finally decided to drop out of school, this time without definite plans to return. I am not interested in what I am studying, I never was interested to begin with, and since I cannot juggle academics with a social life, I should probably wait to return until I am content with shutting myself away with my textbooks for four years.

Now, of course I enjoy having a decent apartment in the city, being exposed to new people and ideas, and having access to a lot of things I never had before. But...that is not what college is about. College is academics. And right now, I am not interested in their academics.

I have several options:

1. Move back in with my parents. They live about fifteen minutes from the nearest gas station, in a house that is probably not even sanitary and does not have room for me. I can't drive, so I probably could not get a job. I would
basically just be a leach and that be a burden on everyone.

2. Move in with my sister. This is a step above, but it's still crowded, and probably not a good idea long term.

3. Get an apartment on my own, either in Chattanooga or in the neighboring city of Cleveland, TN. This would be the easiest solution. And, finally,

4. Make a run for it. I could move somewhere entirely different, try to make a life, and risk crashing and burning.

Any advice from people who have been in this situation? Is it even reasonable for me to leave home right now? Getting a job is hard, I don't have a car, but I'm sure people have done it before, and if I don't plan on going back to college anytime soon, moving back in with family seems like a bad idea.

[nick pagan]

It seems like one of the first things you should do is learn to drive and get a license. That will open up you location choices and your job options enormously. Otherwise you need to live in a city with excellent public transport so car ownership is not necessary.

Education is highly expensive and a wasted education is something of a tragedy. Getting a job is a great idea. You will learn more about real world limitations. Then you can decide if you can handle those limitations without higher qualifications or whether it becomes clear that to do whatever you want to do demands them. Some professions are impossible to get into without the right qualifications. Some professions don't insist upon qualifications. What singles out the high-achievers from everyone else is their ability to analyze and solve problems as well carry them out. If you get into a line of work where you can do this then you will have great prospects even without qualifications. University courses normally only deal in conveying knowledge and very rarely in building job skills or problem solving.

Maybe this post can help you: Making Difficult Decisions

Nick

[The David]

Moving back to Cleveland would definitely make it easier to get my license, although I lived there for 15 years and made marginal progress. The main benefit would be the ability to walk everywhere, because it's puny.

[Dan.Linehan]

My advice would be to make a run for it. The perspective and wisdom you gain from true independence is invaluable. There is no better method to find out where you enjoy living than to try living in different places, and jobs will be available along the way. I wouldn't worry either - moving isn't nearly as scary as it may seem at first.

[rebelwithacause]

I tend to agree with Dan on this one.

You sound like you probably have the makings for a great entrepreneur...at some time...

Get out there, do some deep soul searching, take life on, and pay attention to what your soul is telling you...

I was the same way. I did get my education, but most of it was just academic...I've learned all about life through living it, and reading over 700 books...you will learn more through doing, and reading the stories of people who have been through what you are going through.

Formal education isn't the end all...many people believe it is...but I know more millionaires and Multi-millioniares who dropped out of high school and college...

There is usually a spark inside you that gives you those clues...so go out and explore...take some jobs if you need to...maybe learn how to market on the internet...

You can do very well without spending hardly any money if you know what you are doing...

All kinds of options...

And yeah, it would be great to get your license...that will definitely help you get around...

Best,

[The David]

Well, I did some research and the best choice for me right now would be to just take a really light load this semester. I'll try to go easy on myself. Ironically, my sister just called earlier and we discussed possible plans for moving to Chicago this Spring/Summer.

Needless to say, it's been a weird day for me.

[elastigirl]

hey there david

just want to wish you the very beest,well done for making an empowering decision,one that is right for you.

I learnt more away from school and college then I ever did when I was there!me and my partner often joke that our home is a college as we learn so much


all the best

[Rivelli]

don't confuse education with school though.
I had 0.01 GPA in high school
I was in RSP in Elementary School
I go to ITT for the BS, Finished the AS
It's all BS. Traditional Education is crap, I have no idea why I was in RSP, ITT or any school really means nothing. It comes down to the knowledge, skill, motivation and other related keywords really matter. I like what Steve was saying about Identity change. Find an interest, find a mentor for that field of interest and become like that person and other successful people that are applicable. I think a lot of why I had a "bad" academic history is because of my enviornment. Ill be frank, my family and early friends are...well they don't value brains. I put myself in a different enviornment and my identity changed. I'm not old either, at 20 I think I learned most of my good fundamental stuff in the last couple years. Right now, I am an Information Security Consultant making good money by simply combining tech, common, and business logic together. I'm not special (execpt left handed like the other great Geniuses :P) and could have easily have gone down a similar path as you but it is really easy to be "successful". You just have to do it and not put it off. I think there will be a little work till something clicks and it becomes fun like a game.