Decisions, decisions.

Basically, I have two choices. I'm sure there are more but this is what I got so far.

I am graduating early, at the the end of January. I am going to work full time for until May or so. Save my money, and go out west with my three best friends. I could go in to our relationship, but that would take awhile and I'm lazy. Anyways, we all want the same thing. We are going out there to work, and see new things. I want to go into the mountains. But this involves not going to University for at least 4 or 5 years, maybe never, because we all want to go backpacking through Europe after we are done living out west.

My parents don't want me to go. They tell me that I have to go to University, find something I love, and then get a job and do whatever it is for the rest of my life. But I don't want to be stuck in routine. I don't want to have a career and a husband and kids and live in a house with a nice yard. Fuck that shit. I want to see everything and smoke dope. But then I would feel like I am letting my parents down. There's too much out in the world to be stuck with one thing for the rest of my life. Fuck. That.

Am I being close-minded towards University and life? Or do I want to rebel against my parents? Peer pressure? I don't think so. The first choice is really what I want out of life, not what others tell me I should want. But my parents feel that it's the other way around. I don't even fucking know. Jesus

 

I believe that comes a time in every persons life when they have to break away from their parents, and follow their heart, embarking on a journey to fufill the goals they have set for themselves. Sometimes this may upset parents. That, too, is just part of life.

You don't mention if you have done any researching about universties, or any type of schooling after you graduate, so I can't say if you are being close minded about universities. But I will say this. University can be a fun experience, and you will meet new people, often times people who share similiar interests. I know you say you don't want a career and a routine, but you will need some way to pay for travelling expensese, living expenses, etc. I'd also like to say that careers don't need to be routine, and if you find something inline with your passions, you will love doing it, and get paid for it. Going to University will not only get you a degree, which you need to suceed in pretty much anything, but it will also expose you to so many new viewpoints, people, places, and experiences. I think it would be a good thing. If you have not already, you should at least research some colleges and universities, and see if anything interests you. I hink this will make whatever decission you make, look more responsible and educated to your parents.

Good luck!

 

Midget boy here has a very good point. My advice would be, if you really want to go out west and hike the mountains then do it. If you want to go out and smoke dope then do it. If you have a passion or a goal in life then achieve it. There is no worse feeling then looking back at something you have always wanted to do and realize you dont have the ability to do it anymore. You're stuck for the rest of your life wondering "what if." Now I am not telling you to make any rash decisions but, if you think about it, we only have one life. One time to do our best, to live to our fullest potential. Somebody told me once that we spend our lives preparing. Preparing for what? Death? I dont think I like that. Make the most of the life you have because once it is over there is no going back. Do the things that one day you will be able to tell your children and grandchildren about. Many people do not live their passion in life and end up dying old and unhappy. Dont you want to be happy for the time you have here? Just go where your heart tells you to go. And I wish you good luck in your life adventures.

 

After 5 years off, the odds of you making it back to University are slim to nil.

And the mountains out west aren't going anywhere... Do your 4 years and then travel. You'll have way more options.

 

werd! I go to school and travel in between semesters. education is very important. never turn down an opertunity to educate yourself.

 

I would say, and I'm a little biased cause I'm in love with it, go to St Thomas University in Fredericton... you live in Dartmouth, its not that far. Look into it, its comparitavely cheap and its such a nice small liberal arts University. As it was said, the mountains aren't going anywhere.

 

How does this plan sound?

After graduating, work. When you have been working long enough that you can afford to travel for a while, go out and travel.

When classes start at the university, go to the university. Travel when you have the money and the time.

 

For sure go to school because so many people who plan to go later never do. And you can travel during summers and you'll still have plenty of time to search for invisble men. (if you read her other post you'll know this chick is maaaad, but kinda cool)

 

I'll answer this by telling you what I did... By the time I graduated high school, I was feeling pretty burnt out. I was one of those kids who graduated with above a 4.0 due to honors courses, but I was just doing that because, as long as I got straight A's, I had no curfew. So I didn't really know what I wanted to do.

So I took a year off.

Then I went to a local commuter college -- a step above a community college, but nobody really lived on campus. I didn't particularly like it. So I did well in my classes, so that I would be in good shape when I decided to go to school again, but dropped out at the end of the first year.

Then I took a few years off, travelled, went to Rainbow gatherings, etc.

Then I went back to school in a small college town when I was 22. I knew then that I was there for me, not just because of anyone else's expectations of me. I knew what I wanted to do. I had gotten my partying out of my system, so didn't have to go through that early grade slump due to excessive partying. I graduated with honors and am now in a good grad school with full funding for all three years of my coursework.

I've had many professors compliment my work and comment that most of their best students are those who have taken some time off and experienced the real world before coming to college.

As spooner mentioned, people who take some time off before college are often less likely to make it to college. It's really easy to get bogged down in real life, especially if you go rack up credit card debt and a new car (gotta keep that job to keep paying the bills). Your chances get even slimmer if you wind up having a kid before you go back. And, then there are those people who wind up finding a great job that they're passionate about and that doesn't require a degree (getting less common all the time, of course). BUT, if you are conscious to avoid those pitfalls, and if you have supportive parents (who will at least let you come home after traveling and use their address for your applications), you can manage to go to university after taking some time off. If you want to.