Attn !! Lanse !!

For what it's worth man you should never think that school is something to dislike. I know I was in the same shoes you are in now. School was boring because it seemed too hard, The classmates around me was ahead of me because I didn't apply myself, So I was less confident and give up. At that point when we were ask what profession we wanted when it came time . I said "truck driver" I never set a higher goal so that is what I become.--This wasn't so bad, but in time my health became my worst enemy. I thought I could do this until forever but with anxiety attacks and high blood pressure I was forced to retire. The CDL system will no longer accept me because it is not safe for me to be driving a 80,000# tractor trailer.--So I then opted for a small box truck local deliveries and of course a lot less pay until I retired two years ago. I had to take the job only because this is the only training I had .

I am very sorry I didn't listen to the teachers back then ,but I felt I was going to prove them wrong and I sure showed them, I quit in 9th grade and got a truck driving job on a xmas tree farm and it went from there.

What I saying to you Lance, What you have, [ the opportunity], for now is too late for me. You can grab this bull by the tail and control your future just by applying yourself. If you dislike teachers , think of it this way , WE on this forum are all teachers and you don't dislike us. So please Not for anyone but yourself be very hungry for all you can learn and you will never regret it. E mail is open.

Jim Hayes

Lanse;

I agree with everything Mr. Hayes told you. Lives take some very strange twists as we get older. Interests change, wives and kids come along, the economy tanks, etc. I didn't hate school, I just wanted to play. I never applied myself. I graduated and tried college, but didn't like my teachers or the way the school ran. That was in the 70s. About 10 years ago, I got interested in writing about the outdoors. I wrote a magazine column for a few years until they changed editors. I write for a monthly publication and just picked up an assignment to write fall hunting forecasts for several midwest states for a nationally distributed magazine. I never dreamed of writing in high school.

The point of all this rambling is that we just don't know where our lives and dreams will take us. Grab every opportunity you get. If you have trouble with a class or teacher, get help.

Larry in Michigan

I totally agree with Jim. I am heading into my second year of college and as much as I dislike it I'm going to stick with it now so life is easier ahead. I walked through high school didn't pay attention at all ended up second in my class and walked into college thinking it would be a walk in the park. A year later I ------ away a full ride for the semester due to my extremely poor grades which I recieved due to me not applying myself (not partying and drinking since I don't do that crap).

My mom is stuck at her job in the position she is now because she doesn't have a college degree (over 4k a month job) and my dad barely passed high school because he had the attitude of i'm going to farm forever. He now drives truck for Air Liquide to support this farm. Be smart go to school do well go to college get a degree and the rest of your life will be much much easier.

I have to agree here. I kind of floated through high school doing the minimum amount of work to pass. Then I spent 6 years in the Air Force and decided to go to college to be a photojournalist. I did great in college, made the dean's list several times. Now I have a master's degree, work here at the university and teach on the side. Once you find what you like, it's easy to apply yourself.

You guys write pretty well for a bunch of slackers!

I was one of those guys that school came pretty easy for, until my senior year in high school. I partied too much and made good grades but didn't learn much academically. It's a good thing I didn't marry that girl.

Then in college I found out I was just a little above average and had to actually work for good grades. The math and physics I didn't learn in high school had to be repeated in college. I got married to a good one, worked hard, got on the dean's list, stayed there, and graduated on time.

Pennsylvanian speaks many truths. I did well in school finished the 4 year degree and the post graduate program. It is still challenging to support a family especially in this economy. Without a HS diploma ther is no chance of success. I feel old saying this , but years fom now you will fondly look back on HS as a time when your worries end for the most part at 3:00 PM and go away all summer. As long as I was in school I still miss the summer break. (I actually went to college in the summer too , but summer classes tended to be much easier. Even the Professor did not want to be there.) Stay in school as long as you can. If you are just not a book type , consider a technical college or other career building job. Money doesn't buy happiness but poverty doesn't help much either. A good living helps slay many of life's most formidable dragons.