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Important advice needed

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yippie
Posts: 268 - Karma: 91
Hello there, active members,

So I really need some advice on my college situation. I'll start from the beginning.

I live in Belgium and here highschool is grade 1 to grade 6. I followed Industrial science which is 8 hours maths a week. I never really studied because I hated it and I can't concentrate while studying but I got descent grades just by reading my book in bed. Yes, this was the same for exams, except for my last math exam in grade 6, where I studied 2 hours in total.

Now I'm doing first year in college, following Industrial engineering: building which takes 5 years. The system here in Belgium, isn't like in the USA so it doesn't really cost alot except the dorm I'm in, which is 326 euro or 427 dollar a month (parents pay this, and I feel bad them paying this, because I don't want to be here anymore). So I'm here and I still hate studying and my dad tells me I need to study 8 hours a day and with my lack of concentration skills this is very hard to do. Also when I'm in class I dream away and then when I "wake" up it's 5 minutes later and I missed alot of important stuff.

I'm at a point where I'm unhappy nearly every day, not having any friends here (I can't understand their accent) , wanting to tell my mom and dad that I want to quit and follow evening classes so I can start on my own. The problem with the last part is that both my parents are very school-based people (dad did university). They always want to see good grades and when I got good grades, they ask why my lowest grade isn't higher.


I'm a gamer (don't play very much anymore because of college). Still in highschool I did game alot so I was on the pc alot but when I build my summer setup I wasn't on the pc anymore because I was really motivated and I really enjoyed building it. I like creating or fixing stuff.

What I want my life to be?

I want to be able to leave for 2-3 days and go ski pow(I live far away from the mountains) and not work monday to friday, planning vacations 3 weeks prior and then having bad snow. Like mentioned before if I start on my own, the chance is alot bigger that I can do this.

I really don't want to disappoint my parents but I feel like I can't do this the way they want. Like most parents they want the best for me, but I don't need a big house or a big car. I'm happy with what I have .

So that's why I come here, hoping to get some serious answers or advice.
what would you do in this situation?

Steven/ Yippie

P.S: I'm not really used to writing alot so it may seem a little chaotic
Dec 10 2012 8:28PM
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BrewskiJr
Posts: 5738 - Karma: 1,478
Yeah.. So do I buddy. You won't be able to get all of this. You should not feel entitled to skiing pow all week, not working Mon-Fr, and taking last minute vacations just because snow is good. If you honestly think this is a possibility, then you might want to reevaluate what you're doing. To get that lifestyle you're going to have to work your ass off to be your own boss and be the one who determines when and what you do.


Or you can be a ski bum that makes nothing and live in a van.


Your choice
Dec 10 2012 8:33PM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
So if you ditch school, what would you do exactly? What do you mean when you say you wanna "start on your own?"
Dec 10 2012 8:35PM
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.tony
Posts: 321 - Karma: 74
No offence, but you need to learn how to study. As stupid as it sounds, you will not get far without going to school, and quitting can easily become a part of your routine if you do not like something. Skiing can wait, learn/find something you want to pursue, such as maybe something to do with the computer or games. I don't know you so I couldn't help with a choice, but you need to learn how to focus to the best of your ability. And I am looking to become an engineer when I go to college. It is a lot of work, but the rewards are what matter in the end. You go to school to learn, not to have friends, to ski, or to mess around. Sit down, learn something, make money, then do whatever you want.

Sparknotes for my shittiest comment so far: Go to school, learn, hate it or not you might enjoy it. Either that or find a different career or do nothing, no income, no education, ?. Idk what else to say, school isn't for everybody.
Dec 10 2012 8:36PM
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*rkp*
Posts: 8198 - Karma: 258
good advice so far.

if you can't handle an academic environment, why don't you go learn a trade?

you'll see tangible results, and won't have to spend 5 years of your life doing something that you will fail at if you continue down your current path.
Dec 10 2012 8:40PM
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Sneaky_Aziz
Posts: 691 - Karma: 230
I'm not sure there's a job that exists where you would have the ability to do those sorts of things on a whim... I mean maybe if you're packing some heat down there you could make a decent living shooting mature porn with some sexy cougars, but otherwise I don't see a solution to your problems.
Dec 10 2012 8:40PM
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yippie
Posts: 268 - Karma: 91
That's not what I mean. I mean working monday - friday for the rest of your life because you just don't have the time to take time off except planned vacations every so often. Ski al week? never said that. Atm I ski 1 week a year and what I meant with 2-3 days of isnt every week or every 2 weeks.




What I do want to do? I really don't know yet tbh but I would really like to work for myself. I have some idea's like ex. plumber, they fix and sort of build stuff and they are needed in Belgium. If I do want to quit college I'm going to have a talk with my dad.
Dec 10 2012 8:53PM
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yippie
Posts: 268 - Karma: 91
Sorry for double post.

I know you need to learn how to study, I tried. The concentration thing is a big problem. I can't study for 5 minutes or I'm dreaming, drawing or doing random stuff like screwing open a lamp or a remote control car..

Not far without going school. Not really. Alot of people that didn't go to college or uni are doing good.

And I know college isn't about friends, but they say you get to make real friends in college and they are a motivation to stay.
Dec 10 2012 8:59PM
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3652 - Karma: 8,889
Finish the semester before you make at decisions!!! You have already put the time and money into this so jus finish what you started!
On turkey day i was talking to some of my parents friends. One of them was a doctor and he told me that one of his biggest regrests was that he did not take a year or two off to go out and enjoy life and ski all winter. he wentto me school, met his wife and had a famiy. Before he know it his lf was pretty much over!
That conversation made me contemplate taking a few years for myself. So i went and talked to some advisors.. At my school you don't have to drop out. I would simply skip registering and pay $55 once I am ready to start back up.
Dec 10 2012 9:03PM
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momentz
Posts: 875 - Karma: 285
Get a Obama phone, fixes all your problems!
Dec 10 2012 9:14PM
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dunesquirrel
Posts: 464 - Karma: 70
similar situation for me man. I'm just finishing up my first semester in engineering in canada. Let me tell you it is also a grind and while i love designing, building, and fixing, i'm not sure i can see myself crunching numbers for the rest of my life. My passion is definitely in skiing and cinematography but not really sure how to make a living off of this. Just finish the rest of the semester and re evaluate. even though you can't study, how are your grades?
Dec 10 2012 9:22PM
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