Hi, I haven't been to these forums for a while, but right now I'm a bit lost I should say and I'm looking for guidance from "alternative" sources. I posted this on another forum elsewhere and there's no sense in me changing it... ------------------------------------- Hello, this is my first post here. I will attempt to explain my situation the best I can, however I'm pretty tired at the moment...stressed out...exhausted etc. I noticed most of the posts on this forum are epicly retarded, so I will attempt to not follow suit. I live in Texas and I'm 17 years old. I am attending this special program called the Texas Academy of Math and Science. Basically you apply here as a sophomore in high school and you attend the school your junior and senior year. You live in a dormitory on the UNT campus and you take classes that are supposed to be focused on math and science while completing your high school diploma at the same time. These classes are real UNT courses which means you get real college credits. It's weird...I'm both a high school and college student. Anyway, so I sort of decided that this school wasn't for me particularly. I already had a discussion about this in the IRC chat, so I'll try to sum up some things that were said there. I originally applied to this school because I hated high school for everything it was. It held me back, I was surrounded by retards, etc. I thought this school would be an enlightening place where I could really do something with myself...find my identity...all that cliche bullshit. This turned out to be false since I was again taking classes that were wasting my time (I'm basically only interested in math, physics and philosophy (for fun...on my own time)). I mean shit...they force you to take biology and chemistry at the same time for two semesters. Top that off with some english class and a U.S. history class. How many times am I going to have to learn this garbage? I'm not sure what to say exactly right now. It's my last week of the year here, and I already know I'm not going to do well enough on my final exams to stay (we have to have a 3.0 GPA at the end of the semester which I know I'm not going to have). Calculus is the only class I'm doing well in; it's also the only class I really gave a damn about. Some people asked what I "want to do". I'm not completely sure how to answer this question. I don't want to return to school to complete a whole degree. I don't think I could survive it. So basically I want to study things like mathematics etc. on my own time, and not have to work a job that sucks. By "sucks" I mean, doing something that is unenlightening, a waste of my time, only serves to benefit my corporate overlords or all of the above. I came to my revelation perhaps Friday or Saturday of last week; I simply realized something I thought all year long: I don't belong here. Yet again I'm sort of faced with the same problem of being held back, being surrounded by arrogant, privileged kids who think they know everything. My main problem is pretty clear: 1. I need to eat food. Food costs money. To get money I need a job. The only way to have a job that doesn't involve bending over for corporate dick is to go through college. I don't want to go to college. I need to figure out how to have money, perhaps by doing something that I'm interested in. I refuse to flip burgers just so I don't have to go to college. There must be another way. I have only been thinking about this today, so the only thing I could come up with is tutoring; specifically tutoring in math. People have told me I could be a good teacher, and no this wasn't an empty chin-up comment or me self-aggrandizing. 2. My dad is an EPIC conservative dipshit. When I break the news to him or when he finds out I failed out of college, he's going to want to know what I'm going to do to get money, get a job, get back into college etc. Keep in mind he's extremely narrow-minded, so I see no way to resolve this problem. I have to appease him somehow, while still going the path I want to go in. Jesus Christ...what a task. So this is a start. I know you all will have some questions for me. ---------------------- I've talked to others about the private tutoring thing and everyone says that sounds like a great idea that would actually work. Not only that, I live next to an extremely wealthy neighborhood as in, 1 - 5 million dollar waterfront properties, condominiums and a 4-star hotel right in the middle of it all. Thanks in advance for all comments. I'm a bit ... confused right now. My life changed in a big way recently.
I hope you understand that knowing math and teaching it are 2 different things, with that said... Private tutor, maybe group together with others and start a hard start daycare, sort of a way to accelerate young minds learning thru fun. Perhaps you have other intrests like?? As for your dad I am sure he just wants the best for ya and in his mind perhaps those avenues are best. You just have to show him your able to go other directions.
Yes, of course. I will get a good book on teaching/tutoring methods. And eh, my dad doesn't like anything that deviates from a normal course. He is going to want to know what my plan is to eventually leave home.
Suck it in, grow up, and go back to college. Pass the bullshit classes, you'll miss how easy they were later when you're in real college. Can't base the entire college experience on some classes which are holding you back. I also don't see the problem with learning English or History... you're in high school, what the hell did you expect? Tutoring thing could give you some loose change, but people don't trust anyone without a diploma these days. Shape up and go back to school, the simple fact that you don't like it isn't enough of a reason to give up on it at the age of 17.
College is not for everybody. Especially given the usual pedagogy. How about learning a skill? And how about starting from your vocations and dreams as a starting point? I've never been any good with school.
I was up at UNT just the other day. Your problem seems obvious to me. You don't know what you want to do with your life. I would suggest that college is a good time to try and figure all that out. But if not, you're faced with the same problem a lot of people are. I didn't figure it out till I was 21. Intermittently, you will need to do something to support yourself. It'll probably suck a bit.
The "degree and experience" economy is so ridiculous. You're like deep into debt before even starting a career.
I wonder if it would be fairly smart of me to go to business school. It seems like a degree I could use in such a variety of ways. To hone skills I am great at. Although will still do makeup artistry first I imagine.
I agree. The cosmetic stuff will give you something applied. And then you can branch out into more theoretical avenues.
I imagine myself writing for a magazine or being an executive somehow. Its fairly hazy And also starring in B movies and independent films, for fun.
I can totally imagine you writing for a magazine. Or having your own column, like Carrie. I imagine myself working at a hospital - day and night. Mmmmm....The smell hospitals....
I don't think you people know how profitable private tutoring can be...It's also a straight up misconception that people won't trust you without a piece of paper...erm degree. Of course, if you're trying to become a tutor through an agency then no shit will they ask for a degree, but that's an unnecessary step. I live next to an extremely rich neighborhood with 1-5 million dollar waterfront homes, I could charge 20 dollars an hour. People there wipe their ass with 20 dollar bills.
Aw thanks sweetie! Im very good with business too. I wouldnt mind it. My dad is a fairly prominent business man and I imagine I get it from him.
not to be rude, but suck it up. damn near every post secondary type of education will have yout ake courses/topics that you think are irrelevant and boring. its part of life, and really, its not that hard for most of them (history is memorization, english is the art of bullshit when it comes to school) also, expecting enlightenment from a school is ridiculous. enlightenment is from within, not from school not from a job not from someone else
