In need of some life advice...

[Robels]

It just depends on what you want to do in your life. Today you can find so much information in internet that its absurd. You only need degree if you pretty much want to apply for some company where they want you to show the paper to them. I also quit my business management bachelor degree in last semester, but thats just because i actually dont need it for my career. For example im into stock/currency trading so i dont need a degree from school to do it. I can learn everything from internet/other different sources on my own. I guess if you want to work on cars for a living, you also dont need the diploma as you could easily learn everything just doing it or by learning it from others.

Just do what you really want to do. Dont do something in your life because others tell you to do it. You will never be happy with what you do. I know alot of people who have problems with their parents, as their parents want them to just study and get a degree. As I told before, the only way i see where education is needed if you are going the other route and aiming to work for somebody else. I will never work for somebody as you can find different routes in your life where you can make any amount of cash by your self. That doesnt mean that you dont need to know anything... you do, you will need to find and learn everything by yourself, but in my case its not a problem. I want to learn, but i learn what i really need in my occupation. When i went to uni, they made me learn hundreads of different things and only 5% what i really wanted to learn (about trading in financial markets).

Decide what you want to do in your life, how much money you want to earn, what you need to do in order to achieve it...and spend rest of your life going for it.

[NEOe30]

Right on! I'm going to share your message (anonymously) with some of my students who struggle academically and with motivation. Can't agree with you more about the morning classes and going to see your professors during office hours. Sage advice!

Go ahead! I'm proud of my progress and hope that it'll help others too. Thanks for the compliments. Good luck to your students!


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[geovangelist]

Hey all, just wanted to thank everyone for the motivation and figured a follow up would be nice for anyone who is in the situation I was and for anyone who was kind enough to reply. Inevitably I failed my class I was having the worst trouble in with a D+ (C is passing at my university). I'm proud to report that I just got an 87% on the same exam which I received a 64% last semester. I'm on par to bump my gpa out of academic probation after this semester. Talking to my parents, girlfriend, peers, and you guys helped me realize that I need to focus on myself. To anyone who may be in the position that I was, get to those morning classes. Get to office hours for professors. Sit down and figure out what needs to be done, what extra credit or late credit you can get and get it done. Try to sit in for a weekend or only pick one social activity and try to stay focused. Hit the library if you have loud roommates or neighbors. Make time for it.

Right on! I'm going to share your message (anonymously) with some of my students who struggle academically and with motivation. Can't agree with you more about the morning classes and going to see your professors during office hours. Sage advice!

[superj]

good job, man!

I am glad you got things going again.

[NEOe30]

Back in Business

Hey all, just wanted to thank everyone for the motivation and figured a follow up would be nice for anyone who is in the situation I was and for anyone who was kind enough to reply. Inevitably I failed my class I was having the worst trouble in with a D+ (C is passing at my university). I'm proud to report that I just got an 87% on the same exam which I received a 64% last semester. I'm on par to bump my gpa out of academic probation after this semester. Talking to my parents, girlfriend, peers, and you guys helped me realize that I need to focus on myself. To anyone who may be in the position that I was, get to those morning classes. Get to office hours for professors. Sit down and figure out what needs to be done, what extra credit or late credit you can get and get it done. Try to sit in for a weekend or only pick one social activity and try to stay focused. Hit the library if you have loud roommates or neighbors. Make time for it.

[KIRIEIW]

I ended up taking BMW's A.S. degree program at a local community college that happened to offer it. You take 4x BMW classes and another 6x or so general automotive. Your trained on brand new 2017 vehicles (as of the time this is written, 2018 next year) and you walk out as a level 3 tech, level 4 being the lowest, level 1 being the highest.

There are also MULTIPLE locations that offer BMW's "STEP" program that provides you with FREE training, you walk out a level 1 if I'm not mistaken. Its a 1 year program or something and all you pay for is food and rent. The catch with STEP is you sign a contact saying you'll work as a technician at a dealership for a minimum of 1yr or you'll be penalized a $10k fine because of the fact training/ books where free.

http://www.bmwstep.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-NK0l9uE1wIVEHZ-Ch3qbAViEAAYASAAEgJMHvD_BwE

http://www.bmwstep.com/programs/bmw-automotive/

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[Vincent Brick]

I don't know anything about finance or gambling, but have been trying to learn the last few years since I was forced to move an old 401k into an IRA. I'm not a fan of capitalist systems but I will admit that money management does interest me enough I have contemplated trying to go to school for it, I am very good with managing what little money I have and attribute it to how well I live despite a lifetime of low income. I'm in Oceanside, there isn't shit for jobs in North County, and employers in San Diego don't want to hire me because I live so far away (commuting 3-4 hours a day in an E30 is no fun either), but I can't afford to move to SD unless someone actually pays me real money. I've been working with a state employment program for the past year but they haven't been able to find anything for me either that isn't part-time/minimum wage. I have some health and medication issues too that prevent me from taking a lot of jobs that normal people can work.

After the side job I have been doing wiring up an MGB EV conversion over the past couple months, along with past years of automotive electrical experience, I am almost tempted to spend a grand on Weatherpack connectors and various supplies and try to start up doing track/drift/offroad electrical. Supposedly there is demand in SD, just not sure how to link up with customers.

I have to try not to talk about this stuff much. Thanks for the advice.

[2mAn]

I REALLY wish something like that existed near me, I expected to find something like that too and was quite surprised to find out they just don't have anything like that, at least not within 50 miles of me, I have been researching it for two years. I looked into going to school in Ohio where my Dad lives, but community college cost 3x as much there as it does in California, and he is in such an low population, economically depressed, heroin-infested area that it wouldn't be a good move anyway. I feel really stuck, and have for an incredibly long time. I put a lot of effort into not panicking completely, really stressed out from worrying about the future. I just want to earn a living wage at a full-time job again, like I was able to do in my 20s. I have given up on ever having my shit together enough to have a woman or kids or anything, I'm racing the running-out of my minimal retirement savings that I have been living off of for years

Thanks for the wisdom and sorry for the hijack.

Maybe its time to take up a new hobby and learn how to invest in the stock market. Done well, you could get really good returns, yes its risky, but at this point what do you have to lose? Its basically like gambling, but you could do it within a retirement account and reduce your tax bill by maxing out your contributions. Arent you in San Diego? There has to be something out there...

[Vincent Brick]

Vincent you sound like the perfect cnadidate for those night/ trade schools where you're done in like 2 years.

I REALLY wish something like that existed near me, I expected to find something like that too and was quite surprised to find out they just don't have anything like that, at least not within 50 miles of me, I have been researching it for two years. I looked into going to school in Ohio where my Dad lives, but community college cost 3x as much there as it does in California, and he is in such an low population, economically depressed, heroin-infested area that it wouldn't be a good move anyway. I feel really stuck, and have for an incredibly long time. I put a lot of effort into not panicking completely, really stressed out from worrying about the future. I just want to earn a living wage at a full-time job again, like I was able to do in my 20s. Fortunately no woman or kids to worry about here.

Thanks for the wisdom and sorry for the hijack.

[2mAn]

Vincent you sound like the perfect cnadidate for those night/ trade schools where you're done in like 2 years. I wish you the best of luck. One reason Ive never quit trying to finish my degree with all the BS Ive gone through is because I dont want to get to a point where I no longer have the freedom to finish. Im married now and thats bad enough, but theres no kids and I know the classmates I have are having a hard time devoting time to school and losing time on their kids' growth.

Edit: I had a similar experience in my own frustration when the California State schools kept dicking me around and I was ready to throw in the towel. I didnt quit and now Im at a private weekend/ evening college finishing my Business Degree to compliment all of my professional licenses and I will be done Spring '19, exactly 20 years after I graduated High School

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=383687

[Vincent Brick]

In my too-many years in college, all of the older students in my classes were the ones to study with, not kids out of high school. College isn't for everyone and it isn't for most of the kids who are there right now. It's probably not too late for you to succeed, but the real question is whether can you afford to dedicate the time required to graduate in a timely manner?

I think I only had one student over 25 through my two semesters in college, and he barely spoke English (it was an English class). I was much closer in age to the instructors, all the 17-19 year olds that populated the classes wouldn't shut up enough for me to pay attention, and was a major factor in my lack of success there. I was unable to find any students I connected with on any level.

At this point I won't be able to get a degree before 45, it's already way late for me and with a learning disability and trying to support myself it will take much longer than for a typical student. I'm not sure if duration even matters, I just really need to figure out a non-physical job I can support myself with through old age since I will not have the ability to retire. I can barely find work at all anymore so free time I have. I don't really think college is for me, as much as I would like it to be, but being middle-aged and working part-time, low wage, dead-end, under-the-table jobs is definitely not for me either, and I don't see any other options. There is no adult education or trade schools here, literally just community college or university. You have to go to college to learn a trade here, not that I think I am a good fit for any trades either at my age, my body is deteriorating fast. Will likely start collecting disability soon, but it doesn't pay enough to survive and I'll still need to work.

[varg]

As someone who is really wanting to go to college for engineering I have so many questions I don't feel I can ask them without derailing this whole thread. But I'm 40 with not much education past 5th grade so it's probably too late for me and I'm only dreaming, I just don't know what else to go to college for, and not having a college education isn't allowing me to earn a sustainable living wage or even find full time employment at all anymore.

In my too-many years in college, all of the older students in my classes were the ones to study with, not kids out of high school. College isn't for everyone and it isn't for most of the kids who are there right now. It's probably not too late for you to succeed, but the real question is whether can you afford to dedicate the time required to graduate in a timely manner?

i graduated #2 in my high school class. i found it really easy and almost never studied for anything and almost never had homework. i just paid attention in class, and did my assignments as the teacher was talking or finished them up while i was waiting for class to start.

college was a completely different story. my first semester of work rewarded me with a 2.7 grade point average of just pre requisite classes. i found out pretty quickly that my high school study habits weren't going to cut it by a long shot.

Common story, applies to me (without the #2 in high school) and quite a few people I've met over the years. Discipline and focus matter more than intelligence for this reason. I could not have managed to pass the classes I am in now when I was fresh out of high school.

[Sail Boat]

Just want to add...

My "wealthiest" friends all do what they love, with the exception of two... one is an investment banker and the other is a lawyer.

One of them dropped out of UVA in 2011 to become an "Artistic Plumber". He's nearly completely booked for 2018 and travels all over the world. A recent purchase of his was a mint series 1 3.8 e type convertible in cash.

I also know three Ivy Cum Laude graduates that make less than 55k a year 4 years out of college.

Hard work and passion pays, financially and emotionally.

[MrBurgundy]

two cents;

For those saying do what makes you happy, F that! I'd rather cry in a BMW than on a bus!

jk jk

I'd rather make 40k a year doing something that doesn't feel like work than making 120k a year doing something I hate, or rather, doing something and find myself looking at the clock every 5 minutes.

The question is what do you want out of life?

Happiness will come from what you do with your time and whom you spend it with. If you feel like you're wasting your time on a career that you pursued just because of the pay, you will not be happy. It may be nice for a while, but it won't last. Also, I'm not saying people don't find pleasure and happiness in high paying jobs, but that shouldn't be the sole reason.

I know this may not be the answer you're looking for, but it's something to think about before you devote time and effort in something that will change the direction of your life.

Remember, you only live once.

[gte175x]

Here is my 2 cents -

There is no guarantee of success in life. One can be very successful without an education as much as with one and there are examples of both.

So, should you stick with the education?

It depends. In my opinion if you are not sure exactly what to do in your life, stick with it. It will open more doors to opportunity then you will have without it. And providing your self with more opportunity is one of the best things you can do for yourself. If you are sure the subject is not for you and you'd like to study something else, then perhaps rethink your focus - education is great, but it's just that. It can open opportunity to things but as stated before it's no guarantee of success. In the end, it's just education that you get. So after paying all the money, you're only left with what's stuck in your head. The rest is up to you. And that brings me to my last point; Anything worth having is worth working hard for, the easy path has been well worn and picked clean. So what if it takes you longer or if it doesn't come as easy to you as it does others - if you want it, it shouldn't matter to you. Don't quit because it's hard or you're not the super star of the team - that would be the wrong reason. There is always someone smarter, stronger, faster, etc....but hard work can be a great equalizer. Just don't forget that life needs balance too.