Seeing my friends succeed in college...Upsets me? - Page 2

Originally Posted by hyakku 

Sup beck, I'll pm you later but I've got a couple of friends in your position that often talk to me about things like this. I can't say that I can solve anything, but I'd like to think I've given my friends a couple of ideas, and all of them don't necessarily require you taking the conventional office route.
Immediately upon reading your posts for instance, I wondered why you aren't looking into Coding, programming and comp sci independently? You could pick up Python, both Cs and get to objective programming pretty quick with your dedication and extra time. More importantly, this is a lot more in line with your freestyle type of working inclinations than a conventional position, and the opportunities for self study are there. In order to maximize your potential, you could look into uni (unless you lateral into a start up or just go through entrepeneurial route) after maybe finishing your GEs and electives at a local CC. I know a good amount of people who dedicated their time to a CC, come to a school like mine and graduated doing really well for themselves in ways they couldn't imagine.
You'll also be more likely to get aid (merit based if you can slay CC while studying your comp sci on your own), and once you're taking classes your self study will put you ahead of the curve in most intro to mid level programming courses (I study nothing with comp sci but did a bit of coding in my spare time and even that was enough to help me understand difficult concepts in a coding class that many engineers or CS majors had not, imagine your potential with the time you have !)
Just a first thought or so. Would help cover all that seems to be ailing you in terms of staying busy, working towards something, maintaining independence and developing a technical skillset that's applicable towards your future. Plus while it's boring as all hell in the beginning, later on coding and programming can be really entertaining for "creative" minds (I'm not that artistically inclined,but I could see the appeal.)

I have tried to do independent coding and programming before, never really head over heels, more of just picking at it. I think with the way I am I would max my potential best if I was a freestyle worker and did projects without an office..Only problem is that to become that and to learn that, I really believe that I need structured education. I learn best when I am taught it with a book+teacher , I have tried online studies to just free-studying. I never am able to stay on tract and complete it all in sections. I feel like that is what I am wanting to do, I just need some positive guidance in my life and to exceed my peers I need to branch out. I believe that if I just apply myself and not look back I would be successful. I should stop listening to the nay sayers and take the plunge. I am sure it won't kill me.. I am just afraid of the costs+the "will I have a job after this", I have been reading alot lately of bachelor degree students coming out top of their class and working at Caribou Coffee for $8.50 to pay off the loan sharks. I wish it wasn't as much as a gamble as it is, but what's worth trying for if you never try? I have done some Generals and am already in the system it's just, taking the plunge which is giving me cold feet. My parents never were that supportive of higher-education. I don't know why, I just want a better life then what I had, for my children. Thank you for the response

-Beck