Topic: What is your biggest regret?

[ShyGuy]

So what things did university offer you that you can't put a price tag on?

[Ceric]

So what things did university offer you that you can't put a price tag on?

By going to University for them, I did put a price tag on them.

[Fatty The Hutt]

So what things did university offer you that you can't put a price tag on?

it wasn't until university that I became a person. Before that, I was just a dumb kid.

This.
 
Also, I met my wife, lifelong friends, mentors.
And all that other stuff I wrote about above. Read it again. Go ahead. I'll wait.
 
 

[ShyGuy]

Good things happened while you were there, not because of the institution. I'm sorry, I just don't see where college has exclusive domain over the serendipity of life.

As for the education, I believe a student should be learning new ideas and critical thinking in the first twelve years of his school life.

[Ceric]

Good things happened while you were there, not because of the institution. I'm sorry, I just don't see where college has exclusive domain over the serendipity of life.

As for the education, I believe a student should be learning new ideas and critical thinking in the first twelve years of his school life.

They should be learning those things. The curriculum doesn't really lend itself to that currently.  There are many reasons we are among the lowest in K-12 education.  Other countries do Calculus before High School.

No one says College does.  Its just something that helps your chances.  You can become the President after being a Hermit all your life without an education for all it matters.  Nothing is implicitly stopping you.  Its just your chances will be much lower.

Plenty of people make it without a college education everyday.  They do perfectly fine.  Some do better than fine.  Others really lucked out in life (inheriting a house would be big, I could make half of what I do, which would put me at a low social workers pay (which they really aren't paid enough), and have a better quality of life without the house payment.)

[EasyCure]

Good things happened while you were there, not because of the institution. I'm sorry, I just don't see where college has exclusive domain over the serendipity of life.

As for the education, I believe a student should be learning new ideas and critical thinking in the first twelve years of his school life.

Agreed. As I said (or at least may of hinted at in my previous post) I know too many people who pursued college and aren't as far ahead in life as I am; at least career/income wise. Yes some are married or at least have children, whereas I'm not, but as far as careers go.. wow.

Know who my lifelong friends are? The ones I made in elementary school (true story, my friend Joe I've known since K and we're still in touch to this day, by far my closest friend) and a few others, anyone I met in high school or my one semester of college are losers (mainly because my only choice of friends were losers I had common interest with, such as music, or losers who were into gang-baggin and thug lives).

How have I gotten farther ahead than my friends who have completed college? I work my ass off. I naturally have a strong work ethic, I've been offered fast promotions at any job I've been in so far and usually the only thing that keeps me from accepting those is a better pay check elsewhere. No it doesn't look good to not hold a job more than two years, but hey if they're willing to hire and pay more, that's where I'm going.

And how did I get this far anyway? Oh that's right, I can socialize without having to pay for the experience. I'm not saying this comes easy to everyone, sometimes you need to be thrown into the pit (so to speak) and fend for yourself; honestly that's what I went through. I had my close circle of friends in HS and yes I could easily branch out to meet new people, but I didn't. It was my choice to let a few get close enough to say they know me and keep that connection beyond HS. Once I started working though I had no choice but to socialize with new people, some who I may not have otherwise bothered with "in real life".

Even know, I met someone through work who told me if I ever want to switch careers and work with him, he'd gladly hire me on the spot. I can't even remember what it is he does but it's good to know I have that option available to me.

Oh and luck, luck is a big part of it.

[Stogi]

My biggest regret is probably too serious for this thread.

[Morari]

My biggest regret? I once shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die. I now regret not doing it for the money instead.

[Oblivion]

My biggest regret is probably too serious for this thread.

Well, I made in thread in hopes it would be serious enough for things like that.

[UltimatePartyBear]

My biggest regret is not taking more advanced math courses in college.  I coasted through all my high school math so easily that I thought I should concentrate on stuff that didn't come to me so easily in college.  I figured I could teach myself whatever math I needed.  I was wrong.  I just don't have the drive to do something so tedious.  I also regret not going back to school for a higher degree.  I've been out of school too long by now to tolerate that life again.

[Ian Sane]

My biggest regret was that I was too responsible in high school and college.  I focused a lot on getting good grades and it all led directly to my career.  I can honestly say that my job, my car, my savings and my house all came from my initial career plans that I started in high school.  I succeeded at what I set out to do so one would assume that I have no reason to regret things.

The problem is that I compromised my social life during my teens and early 20's.  I had friends (and these guys have remained my closest friends for over 15 years now) but it was a small group and I didn't date much during this time.  I didn't go to parties and I was very shy and kind of a stick in the mud.  I turn 30 in a few months and I'm still single.  When I was younger I did not figure that would be the case.  I just assumed all that "grown up" stuff like a career, house and marriage would all work out in my 20's.  The problem is that I was really only working towards the career oriented stuff.  You get a job, save up money and buy a car and house.  You don't go to the wife store.  That part of your life is unrelated to your career.

When I was 24 I made a conscious effort to be more outgoing and to improve my social skills.  It worked quite well.  I get along with people better and feel confident in social situations.  I am much happier as a result.  I have had girlfriends and have had a fairly active dating life since then but nothing has stuck.  I feel like I'm five years behind the rest of the world on this stuff and it puts me at a significant disadvantage.  My social skills are adequate but not as good as they should be for a 29 year old.

Meanwhile I'll go to church and I'll see people I knew in high school that never put much effort into their schoolwork.  They've got a spouse and kids and things seemed to have worked out for them.  They've got the house and career like I've got, but they also have a family.  Working hard in school has actually gotten me LESS than what they've got.  And it isn't like my career is very fulfilling.  I know the only real joy I get in life is in human relationships.  It is my friends and family that make me happy, not a career or money or possessions.  I would rather work a lower paying joe job and come home to a loving wife and children, then work my better job and come home to my cats.

Your life doesn't end at 30 so I still have time.  But I certainly did not make things easy for myself.  I wish I was the person I am now back when I was 16.  I'd like to go back in time and tell myself "hey, stop being such an anti-social nerd!"

Despite these feeling of regret however, based on the circumstances and knowledge I had at the time, the choices I made in high school made sense.  Things have not worked out exactly as planned but it isn't like I made an obviously poor decision with lots of risks that didn't pay off.  Everyone tells you to study hard and do well in school.  It is hammered into you your whole childhood.  My upbringing, not just by my parents but by society itself, taught me to make the decisions I made.  Had I done what I wish I had done, it would have been seen as very radical.  In a way I don't feel regretful as much as ripped off, like I was given bad advice.

[Lithium]

im still young enough that i dont have any regrets, the only thing is bugs me about my life is that i still dont have any clue where i want my life to go in the 3 years since i graduated highschool, I've gotten lucky that i've somehow got a pretty good paying job with only highschool diploma with room to move up however i feel like im in danger of this job ending up being my career.
 
Right now its not about regret but rather unease about the future

[Ceric]

im still young enough that i dont have any regrets, the only thing is bugs me about my life is that i still dont have any clue where i want my life to go in the 3 years since i graduated highschool, I've gotten lucky that i've somehow got a pretty good paying job with only highschool diploma with room to move up however i feel like im in danger of this job ending up being my career.
 
Right now its not about regret but rather unease about the future

Compliancy and risk adversion will cause that to happen.  That how I ended up in a career that I figured out in College had a 50% chance of being just frustrating and limiting.

[Lithium]

im still young enough that i dont have any regrets, the only thing is bugs me about my life is that i still dont have any clue where i want my life to go in the 3 years since i graduated highschool, I've gotten lucky that i've somehow got a pretty good paying job with only highschool diploma with room to move up however i feel like im in danger of this job ending up being my career.
 
Right now its not about regret but rather unease about the future

Compliancy and risk adversion will cause that to happen.  That how I ended up in a career that I figured out in College had a 50% chance of being just frustrating and limiting.

the thing is i've allready saved up the money for college so i basically can go anytime i want to but I dont want to blow all of my money to go to university just because society says i have to. I figured i'd wait until i at least had a vaugue idea of where i want to go in life but so far i still dont have a clue. I dont feel going to college/uni for the sake of opening up my mind , critical thinking, learning how to learn etc.. will be worth it for me, I was lucky enough to have very good teachers in highschool who already gave me all of that.

[Ceric]

Try different things.  Since you have the money saved consider doing activities related to things you might be interested in.  (Seminar, club, convention etc.)  Once you find it then get whats needed to be successful in that field.