Don’t Go to College
Don’t waste your time. Seriously, what do you expect from a High_School_2.0 knock-off? Were the previous 13 years of school so fascinating, interesting, and entertaining that 4+ more years sounds like a positive way to spend your early 20's?
Of course not. High school was boring. Middle school was boring. Elementary was so boring they even let you take naps. There are few reasons to put yourself through more of that beyond postponing of adulthood or an odd, academic masochism.
But, wait! What about learning? What about that awesome teacher in Biology that actually taught me something? What about my dreams???
Ya…your dreams, especially when you’re a teenager, probably won’t be the same in just a few years. Even if they are, what’s stopping you from starting on them now? Peter Thiel would ask you:
“If you have a 10 year plan and know how to get there, you have to ask why can’t you do this in 6 months?”
DO find mentors like that Bio teacher. Spend lots of times around people that are better than you, reading books filled with ideas you don’t know, and practicing things you don’t think you can do. Keep good, smart company; osmosis is a powerful drug.
And definitely LEARN! Every day, every minute, every second — absorb as much data and information and perspective as you can. You were not put here with enough knowledge, and you sure don’t know enough yet. But, to learn you don’t need a school or a piece of paper. In fact, those can get in the way. You’re lucky enough to live in 2016, so use it! Use free MOOCs like edX, Coursera, Udacity, Khan Academy, etc. Read blogs and find tutorials on YouTube.
If you need help beyond what words or a person on a screen could teach you, then check out programs that give more guidance. They may cost a bit, but if it helps you learn and makes you money in the end…well that doesn’t sound too bad. Try short-term nightly classes at places like General Assembly or Amagi Academy. Another, more long-term option is to go apply to a hybrid apprenticeship program like Praxis or phi where you get a hands-on training in relevant, modern skills from the professionals who actually use them on a daily basis.
Stop wasting your life and money. Start living and actually doing things that matter. You don’t have to be your parents. You don’t have to do what everyone else does. If you’re different, there are myriad ways to prove it and plenty of options to help get you there.