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nicodawg101 t1_j9ct9bl wrote

Most people I went to high school with are either addicted to drugs, in jail, or dead.

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finger_milk t1_j9esycv wrote

The Offspring might have been onto something

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n00bn00bAtFreenode t1_j9cxp7a wrote

Sad. For me, most people I was in HS are now dead to me as they just was cruel for me, and I don't want to meet them. Idk if any of those could be compared, but honestly, yours is worse imho. What a pity. Cheers Mate, have a good one when you would think about past.

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CyberMasu t1_j9fgozd wrote

No kidding man, I got out of highschool decently recently and so many of the people I knew have kids now it's fucking insane, I feel like if I had a kid right now I'd fuck that kid up.

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ThisIsALine_____ t1_j9er5yf wrote

Well, i didn't go to highschool! And im addicted to drugs, in jail, and dead. So not all people that go to highschool are drug addicted corpses! Middle school dropouts can too! We can be too!

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BigPickleKAM t1_j9djgqr wrote

I went back to college in my mid 20's after not making it the first time around.

I was a much better student and got my monies worth a degree and career that allowed me to live the life I wanted.

I also noticed the older students like myself typically did better than average.

My mom was my inspiration she gave up her goal of a degree to support her family. But she went back starting at age 40 and took 4 credits a semester of night or online classes to finally get her degree at age 55! She missed a couple semesters here and there for various reasons but she did it in the end!

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printers_rock t1_j9gbnmz wrote

Same'ish. I went back to college when I was 29. Everything about that experience was awesome and I got more than I wanted out of it. I had total control over what my educational path was going to be and I took it super seriously.

I think we do better because we understand what college actually is and the world in which it exists. We use advisors as exactly that, advise and consent. Some kids out of high school just do whatever their advisors tell them to. Older people going to college are far more likely to know exactly what they want after having thought long and hard about it and are more willing to put sincere conscious effort into making it happen. Whereas some young people just "want a degree" or just "want a job." It's almost sad how little thought or effort some kids put into college. This set of differences makes us better students and gives us a higher likelihood of changing our long term trajectory so we don't end up in /r/antiwork or whatever is going on with kids these days.

I am very passionate about going back to school.

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jam3s2001 t1_j9grigl wrote

I started and dropped out to join the army. Didn't start again til I was 26. I got my Bachelor's at 31 after a couple false starts, masters at 33. I'm 35 now and jumping back in to get my doctorate. The key to success is finding both motivation and discipline. My first time, I was motivated to go, but I also wanted the social experience and couldn't find a balance. After I finished the army, I had plenty of discipline but had to learn to be motivated because I was much older than my classmates and didn't have a real social connection. Then I got to grad school and was a lot closer to average age.

At the end of the day, though, nobody needs that stuff unless you are a nerd like me. Just figure out how you want to live your life and make that happen.

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liketreefiddy t1_j9d9023 wrote

Do the numbers add up? This guy took a 8 year hiatus and the guy took 15 years just for a bachelors. Something doesn’t sound right. You don’t get hired as a professor with just a bachelors degree.

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Cross33 t1_j9dk0bu wrote

I think he's including the visa process which presumably started before the degree acquisition

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Thr0wawayforh3lp t1_j9dm834 wrote

Yeah but since the 8 year guy was tutoring the visa guy the visa guy had to be behind him in his studies so no these maths do not add up

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Co0kiesFreeDom t1_j9eha9j wrote

Probably visa guy started bachelor way before tutor guy, then got held up because of visa issues. Then when he got back, tutor guy was now his senior, tutored him, then went on 8 year hiatus. Visa guy finished bachelor and probs masters/degree, idk whatever qualifications to become a prof during the 8 year it takes for tutor guy to return. It's possible.

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_30d_ t1_j9ef21j wrote

He could have tutored him in English.

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wdym88 t1_j9e8zvp wrote

Hey man.... it's about the message alright!

0

Miley-Cyborg t1_j9eioww wrote

visa guy was already 8 years into his studies before being tutored

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hawkshaw1024 t1_j9eyck2 wrote

If the other guy was at the very end of his Bachelor's degree, and was getting tutoring for the very last course he still needed to pass, I think it just about works out? Bachelor's -> PhD -> adjunct professor is something you can just about manage in 8 years, I think.

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HORSELOCKSPACEPIRATE t1_j9f7en2 wrote

Doesn't make much sense to assume Bachelor's. Most international students pursue a Master's and most 5-year programs are Master's.

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yacjuman t1_j9gim8n wrote

I agree 100% - only came to the comments in hope someone else saw it too.

Another lateral though - If someone is super smart and can afford to study abroad, they could probably also continue their education elsewhere and transfer the credits instead of putting their life on hold due to visa issues.

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sudobee t1_j9e45f7 wrote

r/croppingishard

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Smartnership t1_j9f9uff wrote

> The finish line don’t have

There’s a lot going on in this post.

From the “yee-haw redneck” grammar, to the questionable “4th beer” cropping…

On the bright side, I suppose it leaves a lot of room for engagement.

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CrystalWeber1 t1_j9dp74u wrote

I got kicked out of HS my senior year because I was pregnant. Got a job, not a career, to raise my daughter. Had 2 more kids after that. Decided to get my GED at 24 and went back to college at 32. I wanted my kids to know that it doesn't matter how old you are or what you go through in life that anything is possible. I graduated with dual degrees one in Business Management and the other in Accounting at 38 and my GPA was 3.86. Moral of the story... it doesn't matter how old you are or what life throws at you follow your dreams. With hard work and dedication anything is possible! You don't have to follow other people's timelines... follow yours!

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Siebje t1_j9ear2d wrote

I was in uni with a 64 year old retired dentist. He became a dentist because it's what his parents wanted, but always wanted to be an electrical engineer.

He came to class in his Porsche or his Maserati. Fucker.

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Lady_DreadStar t1_j9fbyaw wrote

Just the fact that he could afford to go back to school without selling those cars… wow…

I gave up on my music performance degree in favor of accounting/finance (I came from a very poor family and realized that neither music nor my family would ever pay my bills) - and as much as I fantasize about being able to go back and finish it ‘someday’, I don’t even think a whole career in my field would ever pay for that. Not after paying back my student loans and acquiring a house.

I’d have to hit the lotto. 😔

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Siebje t1_j9feei0 wrote

To be fair, that was 2 decades ago, and our tuition was/is nothing like the US. It was something along the lines of 1.5k per year for EU citizens.

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_TheHalfTruth_ t1_j9j59aj wrote

Dentistry is such a wild industry. Virtually every dentist I’ve ever been to was just one old kinda weird white dude making like a bajillion dollars while being constantly surrounded by dozens of the hottest mid-20s women you’ve ever seen

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JaySocials671 t1_j9fvd7z wrote

At this point why go to school? Better and as effective to read Books and chill out. What’s the point of the degree except to say “ I told u so”?

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Siebje t1_j9fzl8n wrote

Because he wanted to I guess. And it's not exactly a degree you can easily do yourself by just reading.

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buffalo171 t1_j9dhs0f wrote

I got thrown out of university twice (having too much drunken fun) and all my friends graduated. Took me eight years to finish my undergrad, but they all came back for my graduation. BTW, I now have two Masters degrees. We all work on different schedules, don’t judge yourself by anyone else’s timetable. You’ll get there and we’ll be proud of you 💜

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AdonisGaming93 t1_j9cw59t wrote

We all have an expiration date. All we can do is vibe and enjoy life till then.

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goathog t1_j9cy7d9 wrote

Our lives start and end with a date. Make the most of the dash in between those dates.

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flash_27 t1_j9e5d4h wrote

Like that half a gallon of milk staring at me when I look inside my fridge.

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DaddyOhMy t1_j9el1ih wrote

I remember when a friend went back to finish college someone said to her, "Why? You'll be 28 when you get your degree." Without missing a beat, she said, "If I don't, I'll be 28 without without getting my degree."

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secretid89 t1_j9dnsp6 wrote

My aunt went to college in her 40’s and got her degree. Now she’s a CFO. Never too late!

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deathbylow t1_j9doy23 wrote

I have health issues that have thrown serious wrenches into my schooling. It feels terrible knowing that literally everyone I know did the standard college to job path with no hiccups and I will probably have to reapply for grad school because my deferral will run out before I get better. I'm so losing my race.

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Cooltincan t1_j9e9brg wrote

It's never too late to go back to school and get that degree. Hell it took me almost 10 years to get my associate's and only 3 more to finish my bachelor's. Was never really focused until I was. I'll be working towards a masters soon starting at the age of 34 most likely.

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Cash907 t1_j9eck6a wrote

Yeah it does: death, it’s an abrupt MF’er

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Hollyannexo t1_j9ewok1 wrote

Yeah I'm 30, nearly 31 into my second term of college. I feel this exact same way. But also I'm super fucking proud of myself for finally taking the initiative to better myself and find a career I love as a disabled human being. I have so many fears and anxieties about what's to come after I graduate because I am entering a pretty competitive field. But I've made it this far and I'm absolutely acing my courses. That's definitely worth something :)

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BethyW t1_j9f5un4 wrote

I am set to graduate this December. I was supposed to graduate in 2008. My degree is older than most of the folks in my classes and who will be graduating next to me.

In 2007 I had a 2.0 GPA, now I am getting 4.0 every semester, and am on track to admission into some pretty good MBA programs.

Its not about how fast you get it done, its about getting it done! GO KNIGHTS!

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BethyW t1_j9f6alc wrote

Also last week one of my group members told me:

"30s mean nothing anymore. Rhianna danced pregnant at the superbowl in her 30s, so you are just as bad ass!"

So going back to college and interacting with the younger generation keeps you young and really boosts your self esteem!

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Hungol t1_j9e5ar1 wrote

Went back to repost this 8 times a day since it was first posted 8 years ago. You run your race; repost for infinite karma dont have an expiration date

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ThatsMrDickfaceToYou t1_j9ehelk wrote

When I see people discussing college attendance while lacking basic language skills (or the will to use them), I realize how much trouble our society is in.

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imzcj t1_j9epppe wrote

Colloquialisms and vernacular language in an informal setting is not going to end society.

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ThatsMrDickfaceToYou t1_j9f1cxq wrote

Do you view all things in this oddly binary fashion, or can you make value judgments in smaller increments of quality?

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imzcj t1_j9fgcr0 wrote

I hereby amend my previous statement to allow for variance in outcomes, thus -

"Colloquialisms and vernacular language in an informal setting is probably not going to end society as long as the general populace continues to properly utilise formal language in scholarly settings when required and/or requested."

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foggy-sunrise t1_j9et59r wrote

Going back to school after a break rules.

I was able to connect with my professor so much better when I did t relate as well to the student body. I learned so much more.

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TheOther1 t1_j9etmxq wrote

Finished my degree at 42.

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notme1414 t1_j9e2hsd wrote

I went to college 20 years after I dropped out of high school. It's never too late.

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Mendel247 t1_j9e600m wrote

I needed this. I should have gone to university in 2007 but took a year to work and save some money, then 2008 happened and I hadn't really managed to save much anyway. I started working in 2007 and never had the finances to go, and had no support from my family. In the UK there are student loans but loads of my friends were waiting months and months for their loans, and I simply couldn't afford it under those conditions. Now I'm in my mid 30s and I'm finally looking at going to uni to study something completely different from what I'd wanted to study back then. I'm a completely different person now, and finally medicated fea neurological condition that affects my ability to learn and work, and I'm feeling really positive about it, even if I know I'm technically old enough to be the parent of some of my likely classmates

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mvndaai t1_j9fjza0 wrote

Not having ADHD medication made me waste so much time in college. I spent like 8 years wandering through and eventually failed out. I took 3 years, got a real job, got married, then went to a different college. Once I had my life together even though I was working full time taking mostly night classes I graduated with honors. I am a programmer so I probably didn't even need the degree but I never have to think of going to school again and I am happy

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Mendel247 t1_j9fm3yg wrote

I have ADHD, too. I was diagnosed last year after years and years of struggling. I've actually been teaching English as a foreign language for the best part of a decade (without a degree, go figure!) and I've found I'm really good at it, but what I'm better at is working with gifted or struggling students and helping them/their parents identify what's causing their issues (and gifted students are very likely to have issues, too!) and get help. Following my own abysmal experience with getting ADHD treatment, and the appalling way so many of y students have been treated, I've decided I want to become a neuropsychologist. I finally got adequate treatment at the end of last summer and since then I've finished a series of coursera courses - more to see if I can actually commit to studying and to get back into studying than for the courses themselves, and I've been really consistent and I've done well on the courses. I wish I'd been treated sooner, but I wasn't, so I just have to make the best of now...

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Megaclyde t1_j9fk04i wrote

Same, this post and some of the other comments. Im similar to you (close to mid 30's from the UK facing down the prospect of starting uni for the first time) and pretty apprehensive about it if im being honest.

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MithandirsGhost t1_j9euq87 wrote

I went back to school in my mid 30s. Information Technology. I was really worried about competing with younger fresh out of high school students. Turns out most of them didn't have a particular interest in I.T. and just chose it for reasons. I on the other hand had spent my time since high school as a computer nerd building test test labs and experimenting for fun.

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HeckasaurusRex t1_j9f664q wrote

Started college in early 2000’s. Took a bit of a hiatus. Went back in 2018, finished in 2020-at 39 years old. I’m glad I did it, but boy was it awkward.

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justarandomshooter t1_j9elxmf wrote

55 year old college senior here, thoroughly loving it!

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freedomfightre t1_j9fgmre wrote

The finish line does have an expiration date: death.

Unfortunately, we usually don't know what that date is.

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Lilslysapper t1_j9dliws wrote

This makes me feel better about myself. Started school a year behind, because I joined the National Guard straight out of high school and had a year of training. Ended up getting deployed 2 years into college. Decided that I wanted to change majors to something more relevant to what I was doing in the military. So here I am at 23 in freshman-level courses, and was doubting myself just about every day.

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imacmadman22 t1_j9eoy7f wrote

I was a college freshman at 48 and I was not even the oldest one there. Learning never ends when the mind is hungry for knowledge. Age is just a number.

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DryBlackWet32 t1_j9es183 wrote

Focus is the key for the finishing line. Keep kicking and keep pushing. No matter how slow it is. Just keep pushing!

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Dutchtdk t1_j9eylux wrote

I'm finishing up uni now, i'll have entered my tenth year by the date at which I'll have to defend my thesis.

Lost 2 family members in the space of 4 months. Actually 1 died less than 24 hours after we heard the other wasn't gonna make it.

5 years of bloody depression and fruitlessly trying to continue my studies, 3 rounds of therapy and a few years of being a "ghost student"

Now finally rounding it up

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FastgrannyC t1_j9f9n6p wrote

My husband to 32 years took finish college due to his military service. He finished made more than $100,000 a year and we are now retired and building a new home in Florida. Keep your eye on the prize!

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marcysmelodies t1_j9fab5j wrote

I went back in my mid 20’s after not being able to get any loans to continue with school. Now I have to work full time while I do full time classes. My manager at my job graduated high school a year after me and has like 5 years experience in his field already. It’s rough, but I’m doing so much better in school this time around, averaging a 3.8 GPA the last 3 semesters so far!!

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MechanicMcMac t1_j9fcl85 wrote

Only thing I miss from high school are the animals. (Agg/Tech)

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Redgreen82 t1_j9fdtcc wrote

I've got a friend who started college in 2000, same as me...we even roomed together in 2003. I graduated in 2004. By the time he graduated, the incoming freshman were born the year he started, and I could not be more proud of him.

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Lindaspike t1_j9fe3qj wrote

i hope these initial poster in this will be taking some english language classes including spelling, punctuation and grammar if and when they go back to college.

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wantonsouperman t1_j9feyvi wrote

Has some COLLEGE education and types out “the people I graduated high school gone be”

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waterloograd t1_j9fg47a wrote

When I was doing my PhD I was a TA and sessional instructor, so I taught labs and classes. The older students were always the best students. They were there because they wanted to be there, because they knew how important it was. They didn't always get the best grades, but they were the most respectful, asked the best questions, and improved the most. If I could have a class of only older students it would be amazing.

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Mr-Zero-Fucks t1_j9fgeo7 wrote

it does have an expiration date, it's called death.

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She_Persists t1_j9fgrzv wrote

I thought I wanted to teach. In 2008 I student taught at a local middle school as part of my Master's program (which I did complete). In 2018 after I had decided that teaching wasn't for me, I was still working at the bank I'd worked at all through college. And one day one of the students I taught during my Master's was suddenly introduced as my new manager. It was awful.

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Wolfhound1142 t1_j9fh5ru wrote

Dropped out of college in 2008 with two classes left for my bachelor's degree. I'm getting my degree in May at 39 years old. It's never too late. Shit, I even joined a DnD group.

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AlucardXK t1_j9fhyuw wrote

Lol huh? She’s worried about few year difference? I went to college back at 29

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Clyde-MacTavish t1_j9fj65v wrote

"the finish line don't have an expiration date"

Ah, I see we've discovered the powers of immortality!

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HeartlesSoldier t1_j9fjfe2 wrote

Don't base your success on other people's achievements, which includes speed and aptitude. Reaching a goal is your success, not theirs

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OhThrowMeAway t1_j9fkl78 wrote

I went back to college at 45. This isnt a race you don’t have to be anywhere at any specific time. Enjoy the journey.

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HoppyMcScragg t1_j9fpigv wrote

“The finish line doesn’t have an expiration date” is a nice sentiment, but an odd analogy. I assure you, if you’re slow enough at a foot race, they will eventually take down the finish line.

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Jadty t1_j9fsh3g wrote

>gone be

They better get back in as soon as possible with that grammar.

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powaking t1_j9fsxsd wrote

Don’t measure someone else’s success using your own ruler.

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JaySocials671 t1_j9hpk1m wrote

I heard it the other way. Don’t measure my success with someone else’s ruler.

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Responsible-Watch-50 t1_j9fuwgc wrote

I crammed it for your degree into 10 years and now I have to postgraduate degree. It can be done

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Mercinator-87 t1_j9g2kyr wrote

I didn’t the military thing for four years, enlisted at 20. I graduated with my bachelors at 29 while working a factory job. Took me six and half years to complete my four year degree. It’s about the end of the race not the start of it.

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windywiIIow t1_j9g3ycx wrote

I saw something a few years ago that stuck with me. It was basically a kid saying to their parents that at 25 they are too old to start a medical degree as they will be 32 when they finish.

The parents respond with either way you'll be 32, might as well be 32 and a doctor.

Feel like this is a similar/parallel point.

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Artanthos t1_j9gg81n wrote

Try explaining to Balto and Togo that the finish line didn’t have an expiration date.

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Nofxthepirate t1_j9ggmf4 wrote

Currently 34 and about to graduate college. Live your life on the timeframe that makes sense for you!

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DocHickory t1_j9gquy7 wrote

Should cross-post this in r/LifeProTips

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Spicy_Butter t1_j9gssf2 wrote

Not gonna lie, even if this was fake, this was beautiful. I teared up a little. I feel like those who know in person only acknowledge in quiet silence.

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MidToUpperAgitated t1_j9gxxgo wrote

I started college at 32. Graduated at 37. With kids and a career. It can be done and it doesn't matter how you get there.

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Ohheywhatehoh t1_j9ks9fg wrote

My grandma went to nursing school at 50 and graduated. You can do whatever you want at any age

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Fancy_Female t1_j9kt6yj wrote

Finally real advice. You can't make the world fair or equal. In fact you may make less or succeed less, and its not a result of the system, it's a fact of life. You will never be as good as other people. But you can try to be the best you can be. And that's what you should do

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withervoice t1_j9epkje wrote

The finish line DOES have an expiration date. We all do.

0

frocketgaming t1_j9erc4n wrote

Is death not the expiration date?

0