College

For some reason, I wrote up today thinking about college.  A thought like that would usually be in and out of my mind in a second, but it's sticking this morning.  I wouldn't think this post will take long to clear that out of my head.  I'm a college drop-out.  I graduated HS #38 out of about 320 something just by winging it.  I had no study skills.  Going to college and trying to take 18 hours my first semester, and going about it the way I did in HS didn't cut it.  I think my GPA was a 2.8 the first semester.  The second semester was about the same too.  I had to re-evaluate everything.  Was I even headed in the right direction?  I always thought I would become a chiropractor.  I really didn't even know anything about the medical field.  In my spare time, I took side courses to get my CNA (certified nurses assistant) certificate at Baptist Hospital.  During the hands on at the hospital, I really learned I hated helping people.  That sounds bad.

I told my parents I couldn't continue on, attempting to be a chiropractor.  They were supportive, but worried about what I would do.  I really didn't know.  A friends grandfather (that I still respect the heck out of even today) and my grandfather were both plant workers.  I never knew what they did though.  I went to the local technical college and did some questioning.  I think my exact words to the admissions/councelor were, "What will get me out of here the quickest and give me the most bang for my buck?"  She said, "You need to be an operator."  I think it took me 2 semesters and a summer session for that two year associates degree.  I also graduated with a 3.98 GPA.

I thought this would be a short post.

Right out of the tech college, I went to work for a company named Canadian Chemical.  I loved it at first, I got to travel quite a bit, always flying me where I needed to go.  I kind of felt like a big shot at 20 years old!  The money was great.  Actually, I really wish I knew more about money when I was that young.  I'm highlighting that.  Not sure why.  In HS they would teach you about wars you would never remember, but not how to setup a Roth IRA, true prices of financing, ect.  I hope they are doing that now.  Anyway, Canadian Chemical was great!  But it was starting to get into my personal life.  It was once two weeks on, two weeks off.  Then it was 3 on, 2 off.  Then it was 4 on, 2 off.  I couldn't handle that.  The day I was flying out for another job, Dow Chemical called and offered me a job.  I asked at which plant and they said Freeport.  I told the lady I had to decline, because that would be too far for me.  She said, well, where do you want to work?  I told her Houston is about as far as I would go.  She said, "Done!  We'll figure something out.  We want you."

Dow was a great company to work for.  They never made you feel like you were part of the company, they made you feel like you WERE the company.  I respected them.  I was living in Houston now.  I figured since I had a little traditional college under my belt, I would go back for more.  Dow was even paying the bill!  So I ended up driving many days, back and forth to my old college to take classes.  I don't know how many miles I put on my old Saturn driving from Houston to Beaumont.

Personal things changed in my life and I ended up dropping out of college again with about 12-15 hours left to a bachelors degree.

I really don't plan on finishing the degree.  To me, it is just paper.  I know the paper is something that is required of many employers and shows an accomplishment, but it is not for me.  I still don't see how people will take 40-60-100k student loans to get jobs that pay 28-50k a year.

I'm not trying to talk down on college.  I think it is very important.  I really wish that the government would get the cost of it down...at least at the state universities.  Private college are a business and can charge what the market will pay them.  That's business.  I also feel that if you applied yourself in HS and had good grades, at least your first semester should be paid in full.  If you maintain an excellent GPA that semester, your next one would be paid.... and so on.

DONE!  College is now off my head.