17-12-2002 18:48									#61
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I dropped out of high school after midway through the junior year (11th grade) after i realized that my current GPA was not going to get me into a state college. I had been taking AP classes but only barely passing them and had done relatively well on the SAT but still, this GPA crap was holding me back.

It was suggested that i go to a program at the local community college for high school students who were considering dropping out. I went through the program for about half a semester before i realized that it was a joke, and that i should just go to the college full time. As it turns out I discovered that I really liked making music despite only being a marginal piano player. I bought a keyboard and a new computer and had at it.

Well between dropping out of college twice now and going back twice ive decided that im going to work for 3-4 years, save up a bunch of money, build a little studio for myself, and then go to a private college with open admissions and get my degree in audio enigneering.

What i do with that is completely open though. Ive wanted to start my own recording studio, teach audio engineering on the college level, do work for clubs/concerts, and maybe even do scores for movies or video games.

The beauty is if i had never dropped out of high school i think i would have been aimless to this day and in the very same position that i sit in today.

I do regret it sometimes though mostly because of the social aspect of my life that has suffered. All my close male friends are at good universities now (Berkeley, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, UCLA) while im still several years away from earning my degree. Still close at home, but i feel so inferior to them. Two of my closest friends were the only people in the school to be national merit scholars. And here i am, loading boxes into trucks for $9.35 an hour.

I also only have had one girlfriend in my life, and several brief dating relationships...I really dont know how this would have been different if i had stayed in high school other than there would have been a pool of people i could relate more to.

anyway, i need to sleep as i have a job promotion test tomorrow.

	17-12-2002 18:56									#62
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lightblue, Oh that's SUPER good news! Now, I'm going to check out UK schools. My only consern was that student visa thing. It's stupid, but it's lot of work and effort, and if it would fail because of one little detail, I'd go crazy and start killing spree .

	17-12-2002 19:02									#63
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MRT144, don't worry dude.. we are survivors. We will be winners! I know it.. well at least about myself. I'm not a dropout or anything though.. You know, we can make a pact.. if one of us does good, he/she hires the rest of us and we all do good . And when we all succeed, we choose a country which we have a wild crazy 'we made it' party, with lots of alcohol and strippers.

	17-12-2002 19:18									#64
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If one of us does good? We will do good. Even with the hardships of my decisions i still remain optimistic that i will do what i love for a living.

But yeah, ill bite. You get beer and ill get the stippers

	17-12-2002 19:39									#65
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Yep, I'm optimistic too. I'm just frustrated that I'm not doing what I want, not moving forward. And I might have to risk something in able to make it happen.
I'll bring the beers then

	17-12-2002 22:04									#66
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quote: Originally posted by Pekka So.. I'm thinking of just packing my stuff, just the essentials and go. Doesn't matter where.. but outside my country. It can fail miserably, but on the other hand, something might come up.. if you don't play, you won't win.

That sounds downright reckless.

	17-12-2002 22:37									#67
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quote: Originally posted by Pekka Hey I got a question for PH. I don't know if you know, but you know I'm EU guy too, so do I need student visa or something if I come to study in the UK? I'm starting to send applications soon.. so I was wondering this. I'm again trying to get my funding to university in US or maybe Canada, and I think I might have a shot here. Only thing is I'm soooooooo stressed out and worried about student visa, because I got fined for smoking weed some years ago. Nothing serious, but the nazis in consulate will tear my ass apart, I'm sure. And it would be so bad, if I got accepted in uni in for example the US, everything worked out, financing etc, and then some guy decided I'm not getting a student visa because of what I did when I was teenager and had to pay less than hundred bucks. I don't even drink coffee or alcohol for christ sake . It was only misdemeanor, but I don't think they'll appreciate it.

I don't think you need a visa my friend, but the best person to talk to about going to a British uni from abroad is Buck Birdseed/Snapcase or whatever he calls himself here nowadays. He is Swedish and studies in York so he would be able to give you plenty of helpful advice...I will prompt him on AIM when I next see him.

Now lightblue is the kind of person I am looking for in my other thread with a damn decent suggestion...actually a really good suggestion. Could you tell me how you went about this conversion? The application, financed it, stuff like that? I have been considering something like this and my mother has said that she would give me financial assistance if necessary as she has seen how depressed I have been with the present status quo...

	17-12-2002 22:52									#68
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Make sure you have some cash stashed! I quit my job a few years back and moved here, where it isn't cheap, and it took me a year to find a decent job. During that year I just about ate through all that I had saved. If I hadn't had as much in the bank, I might have had to go back, and missed out on the very good things that have happened since

Have a plan, and shepard your resources. But my suggestion would be to wait until you have completed some schooling, there is plenty of time for running about - I didn't really start until I was in my late 20s. Even still, you abolutely want to do some interesting things in your life, even if it is just living in a different country for 3 months or something.

	17-12-2002 22:53									#69
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quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger That sounds downright reckless.

Depends where you go, My cousin did exactly that,
went to Papau New Guiena. No plan at all.
Got a job teaching farming (using horses) came back a headmaster (20 years later).

I got sick of IS/IT (it is so full of politics anymore) that
i quit doing it and became a freight train conductor
(for 5 years). I do IS/IT again now cause they bribed
me silly to come back. (my co-workers at the time
say i'm never work in IT again, cause I'd be behind
the times)

You should finish your courses and graduate, even
if you don't do what you studied for a living.

	17-12-2002 23:06									#70
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quote: Originally posted by Sten Sture Make sure you have some cash stashed! I quit my job a few years back and moved here, where it isn't cheap, and it took me a year to find a decent job. During that year I just about ate through all that I had saved. If I hadn't had as much in the bank, I might have had to go back, and missed out on the very good things that have happened since Have a plan, and shepard your resources. But my suggestion would be to wait until you have completed some schooling, there is plenty of time for running about - I didn't really start until I was in my late 20s. Even still, you abolutely want to do some interesting things in your life, even if it is just living in a different country for 3 months or something.

It's a lot to think about in one day. I am earning considerably more than I spend so I am saving money, but it is knowing what to do with it...

	17-12-2002 23:09									#71
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Look, the decision is final, I am not returning to my PhD, that would be going backwards and something I don't want to do now...

	17-12-2002 23:39									#72
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quote: Originally posted by Provost Harrison Look, the decision is final, I am not returning to my PhD, that would be going backwards and something I don't want to do now...

How long to finish?

	18-12-2002 00:45									#73
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In theory, over a year, but with the facilities, probably longer. And there would be a bit of friction between me and the department if I did return. As I say, it is a chapter of my life I want to leave behind...

	18-12-2002 01:01									#74
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quote: Originally posted by Provost Harrison In theory, over a year, but with the facilities, probably longer. And there would be a bit of friction between me and the department if I did return. As I say, it is a chapter of my life I want to leave behind...

If it was just 1 more term.

A year is too long to waste, doing something you don't
want to do. For a career you don't want to pursue.

You already got a degree, and anyways, nobody is going to call you doctor unless your an MD.

	18-12-2002 01:33									#75
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Yeah, very true. It still just feels like I am constantly falling flat on my face, and out of my depth...

	18-12-2002 01:38									#76
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I really hope you'll reconsider someday. After all, you seem to like the proffession.

Pekka: I hope you get to go to University. If you will try to take the military career after all, there are plenty of places where people look for soldiers, and you get plenty of action. Once again, if that's what you want.

	18-12-2002 01:41									#77
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All this stuff looking through these career stuff, all these tests, different rounds of interviews and I can barely get past the first round or even get that far. What chance is there in this world for someone like me?

	18-12-2002 01:45									#78
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you're a Mol. Biochemistry M.Sc. and you still can't get a job?

have you tried internet searches? perhaps you should move to another country.

	18-12-2002 01:46									#79
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I don't know what to try, I just can't compete. I am ****ed

	18-12-2002 01:54									#80
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what do you mean by "can't compete." ?

You said that you liked the science. I don't know about the UK by this proffession is rather hot here. as are all chemistry and health related proffessions: pharmaceuptics(sp?), biology, biotechnology, bio-medical eng., biochemistry, chemistry, materials eng. ....

I guess you wouldn't like it HERE, plus you don't know the language,but europe should have those jobs as well, or maybe even the US...

Pekka: how about coming to Israel for a year or so, and becoming a pro-bodyguard?

	18-12-2002 01:56									#81
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I mean, I cannot compete against other people, they seem to be able to get the jobs which I cannot...I just consider my life to be a bit of a lost cause now. That is what you get for ever having any kind of ambition...

	18-12-2002 02:08									#82
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You don't have to do any particular profession.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is to change professions. A lot of careers pay better than you think. I made more as a freight train conductor than I did as a Systems Analyst. (i was treated better too)

As for interviews, one month you can do 30 and not
get a bite. Another month and they'll be fighting over
you. Don't try and apply logic to business practices
office politics or interviews, their is none, and you just drive yourself nuts.

	18-12-2002 02:12									#83
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I just don't know, no one seems to ever take me seriously, probably all my own fault, the way I am, the way I get nervous, how stupid I must come across. There is nothing I can do about it, it just feel completely and utterly lost.

	18-12-2002 02:14									#84
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oh, for sure, Ozz. I, for once thought it all out. I can't recieve prestiege through science I'll go to politics, if not politics commerce, if all fails, I'll become a truck driver.

PH: au contraire. you seem to have a lack of ambition. You should perhaps see a specialist that would help you gear up before interviews and stuff like that, come in with a winner attitude. Is the job market saturated with your kind?

	18-12-2002 02:16									#85
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It looks like it is saturated, yeah, or it is just me being ultra-crap...

	18-12-2002 02:25									#86
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quote: Originally posted by Azazel oh, for sure, Ozz. I, for once thought it all out. I can't recieve prestiege through science I'll go to politics, if not politics commerce, if all fails, I'll become a truck driver.

Actually I had more prestiege at the local watering hole
as a Trainman than a systems analyst, better stories too.

	18-12-2002 02:35									#87
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well system analist is a gray wheel in the machine. but chemistry... that's, like, real science!

	18-12-2002 02:42									#88
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PH, that would be cool . I am actually very interested for all the info..

UR, well maybe a little.. but it's also exiting and I believe if you really go for it, good things might just happen.

Azazel, Yeah, you're pretty much suggesting mercenary jobs.. I've thought about them.. but there are few problems (yeah, like people always get perfect solutions!).. for example it's very illegal, at least here in Finland it is. So I'd get in deep poop if I did that. I'd have to hide it from the law enforcement etc.. also it pays pretty lousy, it's super dangerous, people scew you over, and if you get caught by enemy.. well they pretty much torture you for 60 days. Well, that is exiting fighting and all I've been talking about I want to do.. but I'd rather fight in legal forces, if that is possible. But I haven't completely turned down that option, if it's the last one (I get no place to study, or work, no forces to fight with.. pretty much after that) I might go into that business, or at least consider it veeeeeeeery hard. It's just I don't see any future if I go there. I'm about 100% dead for sure, tortured and mutalated. That can happen in national forces too, but in merc business it's likely to happen.. so it's risky. And also there might some war crimes done, I don't want any parts of that kind of action (sure it happens with everyone, not just mercs, or especially by mercs.. ).. you get what I mean. I will look for other options first.

Becoming bodyguard in Israel could be something I'd like to do. It's little different though, it's super risky business, especially in Israel it seems like. I'm not looking for to live forever, but as bodyguard, you guard the client with your life, and pretty much not combat with visible enemies. I might think about that too, we have a great bodyguard school here in Finland. There's only one, but the teacher is famous for being very good, and he has a reputation all over the world.. so I might think about it, also it's good business in Israel, I would assume. Here theres pretty much no work in that sector, since the president is only one with bodyguards, and they are pretty much there because it's in the rules. Even the the prime minister shop in the malls like normal Jill and Joe and buy their everyday groceries in normal places, in the public. I guess we are lucky in that sense.
Interesting suggestion, I have never ever thought of it. I have the build for it (I don't look like Stallone, but I'm big and pretty strong), and with proper training I could do well. But it's completely different business than soldier stuff. Anyway, I'm looking for a place to study, that's my passion (comp sci), and that's what I really want to do. Soldiering is my other options, and other stuff than those too.. I just don't care, and I'm not interested, I can't help it.

	18-12-2002 02:44									#89
	Got spare money?

ANd no, I can't really make money and save it, every finn knows that. I eat everything I make now. Salaries here SUCKS big time. But that's cool, the chance taking here for me meant 70% about loosing security.

	18-12-2002 02:54									#90
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You can train as a pro-bodyguard in Israel but get a job somewhere else. Working as a bodyguard in Israel is rather boring, actually.

There are armies that offer mercenary contracts. The Russian Federation, IIRC is hiring. You should really check things out.

About studying: Yes, this DEFINETLY should be your first option. All I am saying is that if you like to work in what you want to study, try to get into college. If you fail, You'd rather want an interesting job rather than a boring one, right?