Chet, that's great stuff. If your company pays for tuition you should definitely take advantage of it, just don't let people pressure you into studying, that's a recipe for disaster. I went to college because my parents said so, and I now realize I missed alot of opportunities while there just because I didn't have the correct mindset about it.

Also, keep in mind that 18 an hour is great when you're 18, but 3-4 years down the road it will no longer be so great

Pro racer huh.. That's quite a lofty goal. Best of luck to ya

 

screw that, im bringing my laptop. my handwriting sucks really bad. and i can type faster than i write. i look forward to next weekend very much

i have a lack of motivation to go to school though. i was one of those kids in school who never studied, or did homework, but aced the tests somehow

but maybe if i meet or talk to the guy charles is referencing to, i will go. but only time can tell. Thanks though

 

i build the stuff myself if I can help it.

 

You know, chet, I do agree with you in some ways as well. I was reading over my post and I did get the sense that I was sounding just like my old man haha.

But don't get me wrong, I didn't want to make it sound like I had absolutely no fun as a young adult. I had a blast in fact.. Otherwise I would have probably made it to a four year university after high school. But no I think I was a pretty screwed up kid in high school also. I ditched alot of classes and got alot of D's. Even when I transferred to a JC (didn't even bother to apply to a university with my grades), I didn't take it too seriously. I really didnt' know what I wanted to do. But I knew I loved two things, computers and fine arts. So I took a chance and applied to CSUF in their art program. I didn't think I would get in, but I did. The art program there was great. I had chosen to become an artist without even considering what the career was like. (No one becomes an artist for the money!).
There at the university I made all these really cool friends, learned to smoke out, enjoyed girls, etc. And there I also did a lot of ditching. Art school was a breeze. When I got out of school after four years (should have taken 2, but I was enjoying myself too much), I had a $15k loan to pay off and only entry level opportunities for art grads that paid $13/hr. I admit, I was shocked at how little graphic designers were paid. I did absolutely no research on my career. I just thought the idea of being an artist was great.

I did know a little about computers (okay, alot, I'm a geek). My brother worked at a software company, and he said with my talent it wouldn't be hard for me to get my foot in the door... The fact that I was his brother also helped, I'm sure. Nevertheless, I was in, starting out at $25/hr as a senior software analyst.

Anyway I digress. Do what you want, but just remember--- the harder you work now, the less you work later. I saw how my dad worked his *** as a aerospace technician, up until he retired, and he did very little to save. Much of his money went to caring for our family, of which was a total of 7 people. As much as I admire my father, I didn't want to live his life. I wanted to live easily, and make sure that when I did have a kid, I would already be well off to take care of him or her. I grew up not having alot (other than family hardships). I wouldn't want that for my kid.. Thus only now am I getting married.

Think about it.. I'm retiring in two years.. that is, I'm 39, and I don't have to work PERIOD for the rest of my life. The interest on my investments earns me enough to live comfortably.

I think that's a hell of a better trade off to blowing all my checks to impress my friends (or myself for that matter)...