Not listening in school
I was told to study. Advised to study. Forced to study, but I had no interest. School was a minor inconvenience that got in the way of my NES and then later my SNES gaming.

I would never listen in class, mostly because I could never understand the teachers explanation of a subject and I would get frustrated and bored. I later found out in my 20's that I was dyslexic, which probably didn't help but I can't blame that, I just had zero interest in studying and I was lazy. Completely bone idle.
I Wouldn't do homework to the point both my parents and teachers gave up and they stopped even making me participate in class. My parents even stopped getting me up in the morning which, back then, suited me fine. More time to play Final Fantasy I thought.

Fast forward to being about 23 and working in a supermarket, stacking shelves with no qualifications. Not even a GCSE. Finally all that stuff my parents and teachers had been saying made sense. Long story short, got my GCSE's, then A-levels on a night course, went to uni and got my degree and now finally have some kind of a career.

Far too many years too late
( Bamboo Steamer, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 20:42, 17 replies)

Have a.....
click! I wish more people like you realised the power of education, and the empowerment it gives.
( The Lone Groover has mal des nuts., Thu 15 Nov 2012, 20:44, closed)

If you can convince people you're educated, that is.

( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Fri 16 Nov 2012, 1:30, closed)

Respect is due....
...to you.

For realising that all those moaning b'stards did actually know what they were talking about.
For doing something about it.
For prolonged studying.
For achieving not only A level's but a degree, for chrissakes!!

For not simply sticking your head in the sand and demanding that the taxpayer, the government and the world owes you a certain standard of living whilst you smoke and drink all your Giro.

Well done you.
(Colonel Blink is now officially a pretentious prick, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 21:13, closed)

Thank you,

( Bamboo Steamer, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 21:34, closed)

The view
I always reckon you appreciate what you have if you work for it. Like walking up a mountain versus driving up it. You deserve your plaudits. I hope you are enjoying your career.
(justin(e), Fri 16 Nov 2012, 1:25, closed)

I always enjoy my soup more
when I use a fork to eat it
( P-MONKE We're all fucked, Fri 16 Nov 2012, 10:09, closed)

It's good so far, but its a little un-nerving that there are others in my job
that have twice the experience and aren't even in their mid twenties lol
( Bamboo Steamer, Fri 16 Nov 2012, 17:15, closed)

Good luck mate..
Sounds like the story of my life! I'm doing the same, working towards a degree now. It's bloody hard work and I hope its going to be worth it!
(specialbrew, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 21:30, closed)

In fairness,
I think a lot of people go to university too young anyway. It just isn't for everyone at 18. I'd much rather teach a seminar-room full of 30-somethings who're there because they want to be, than a room full of teenagers who're there because they simply lack the nous to do anything else.

I say this as someone who was once a teenager who went to university largely in the absence of any better idea of what to do.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 21:35, closed)

I went to university, pretty much by default.
I quit after 3 and a bit years, with no a degree and plenty of debt.
Totally worth it.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 23:22, closed)

^^^^
Exactly this.
(Figmaus, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 23:58, closed)

I have failed two separate degrees* about two thirds of the way through due to depression
Depression is a cunt.
I now work as a somewhat underpaid scientific engineer - it pays a wage for sure, but nowhere near the money I should have been making.

*Psychology and applied physics, if you are even remotely interested.
( P-MONKE We're all fucked, Fri 16 Nov 2012, 10:13, closed)

Sad.
Psychology was my subject, too, but I wasn't suffering from depression, I was just lazy.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Fri 16 Nov 2012, 15:32, closed)

Have a click
...from someone who pissed his first degree (Chemistry) up the wall, and got a law degree over 30 years later by working like a bastard. HGV driving's fun in your 30s, but past the Big Five Oh those early mornings and heavy lifting are a cunt.
(all my scars face forward possesses 2.5% of a hyperalloy combat chassis, Thu 15 Nov 2012, 23:45, closed)

Sage words..
... 'av a [click].
(minimalist ..., Fri 16 Nov 2012, 11:17, closed)

well done
Passed my degree this year in my late thirties after dropping out due to extreme laziness back when I was 19.

Clunge and beer were far more interesting than international politics back then.

(They still are, I just have a wife now to keep me in line)
(magic the cat will someone please think of the kittens, Fri 16 Nov 2012, 13:48, closed)

you are me.
left school with fuck all, had loads of shit jobs including cutting frozen chickens in half, stacking bacon at a factory on nights etc.
Joined the Army, loved it, got medically discharged.
Big sliding slope to self wallowing pity.

After about 6 mths I got given a PC by my uncle who had upgraded his so I could do a CV and look for jobs, found I had a knack for using/repairing them and never looked back, 15 years later with a lot of hard work I've got my own IT company, 1 shop and another opening very soon.

Glad to here you turned it around also.
(Kip, Sat 17 Nov 2012, 15:23, closed)