I wish I could go back to school ...

[Desu]

... knowing everything I know now at age 23.

It would be pretty amazing. Actually, I think it would be pretty fun.

[xcriteria]

What would you do?

[no]

We lost another one.

[Desu]

Get good grades, A in everything.

I would try to negotiate and become friends with teachers (see if they'll allow me to do personal research / personal projects instead of their own work).

Not care about other people.

I would focus on getting scholarships to pay for college, then actually go to college and finish it out.

I wouldn't do athletics (unnecessary stress / time).

[Desu]

(01-14-2014 06:42 AM)planetfall666 Wrote:  We lost another one.

This is assuming I had no choice but to go to school. If I had the choice, I just wouldn't go (there's no way my parents would allow it).

[James Comey]

(01-14-2014 05:52 AM)Desu Wrote:  ... knowing everything I know now at age 23.

It would be pretty amazing. Actually, I think it would be pretty fun.

Umm, no. I feel I know quite a lot already (though I know that as years progress I may learn even more) and school is most certainly not fun.

[Desu]

(01-14-2014 11:26 AM)Hansgrohe Wrote:  

(01-14-2014 05:52 AM)Desu Wrote:  ... knowing everything I know now at age 23.

It would be pretty amazing. Actually, I think it would be pretty fun.

Umm, no. I feel I know quite a lot already (though I know that as years progress I may learn even more) and school is most certainly not fun.

Trust me. You will change a lot after you graduate.

You aren't living correctly if you aren't constantly changing your mind IMO.

[James Comey]

I definitely agree actually, and yes, I'll definitely change when I graduate. In fact, these past few days have been quite strange to say the least.

[Night]

I have to admit he's kind of right. Once you're out of there it gets weird. It's like you almost miss it.

After dropping out it just feels so weird to be able to sleep in whenever I want.. Just do whatever I want.
Mostly sleep in.
To the point where i've been getting up at 8 regularly.. on my own(I know it's not terribly early but fuck off)
I'm the most productive i've ever been in my life.

This is not to say there aren't any major flaws in the education system though.

It's like a really bad relationship. That you know is shit, and you're miserable in. But once it's gone you miss it for some reason.

[James Comey]

(01-14-2014 12:19 PM)Night Wrote:  I have to admit he's kind of right. Once you're out of there it gets weird. It's like you almost miss it.

After dropping out it just feels so weird to be able to sleep in whenever I want.. Just do whatever I want.
Mostly sleep in.
To the point where i've been getting up at 8 regularly.. on my own(I know it's not terribly early but fuck off)
I'm the most productive i've ever been in my life.

This is not to say there aren't any major flaws in the education system though.

It's like a really bad relationship. That you know is shit, and you're miserable in. But once it's gone you miss it for some reason.

Yeah, I agree. I think that what I'm going to miss though mostly are some of the people I didn't get to know yet I wanted to know them. That's actually scary for me, to say the least.

[brainiac3397]

And Id love to go back to 1936 knowing everything I know now. Make sure Adolf suffers an unfortunate accident...then become Fuhrer myself.

Course Ill need to learn some German.

[WhatEvenIsThis]

(01-14-2014 03:41 PM)brainiac3397 Wrote:  And Id love to go back to 1936 knowing everything I know now. Make sure Adolf suffers an unfortunate accident...then become Fuhrer myself.

Course Ill need to learn some German.

You can learn all about German language from me

[Desu]

What the fuck is your signature from?

That is absolutely fucking terrifying.

[xcriteria]

Personally, I didn't miss school or college the various times when I dropped out.

Experiencing total freedom and control over your days is very different than life organized by a grid schedule with ringing bells and single-subject teachers. Having "unstructured time" takes some getting used to, especially in terms of using it effectively. But, you have the choice of using that freedom in different ways, including designing your own structure, or finding things to focus your efforts on.

This is one of those skills factory-model schools don't tend to help people develop.

(01-14-2014 06:44 AM)Desu Wrote:  I would try to negotiate and become friends with teachers (see if they'll allow me to do personal research / personal projects instead of their own work).

This is another crucial skill school often doesn't help people develop. I'd do this, too... including in college. But at all levels, trying this tends to be awkward. The research/projects I would have been interested in would be set up around doing school/learning totally differently, figuring out the interests and passions of other students, and doing what I want to do now: design a new learning environment.

All of that tends to be very hard when people have roles they're used to. But, now, there are a lot more tools and stories that show the benefits and potential of more learner-centric modes of learning.
[/quote]

(01-14-2014 06:44 AM)Desu Wrote:  Not care about other people.

Caring about other people, at least in the sense of wanting to understand them, is actually another one of those crucial skills that's often hard to develop or practice in factory-model contexts.

Caring too much about what other people think, as in taking it personally, is of course something to avoid, but one way to do that is to try to understand why they think and react as they do, and who they are on a deeper level than however they might appear on the surface.

(01-14-2014 06:44 AM)Desu Wrote:  Get good grades, A in everything.

Why?

(01-14-2014 06:44 AM)Desu Wrote:  I would focus on getting scholarships to pay for college, then actually go to college and finish it out.

What would you study in college? And... you can still go to college if you want (not to mention learning equivalent things in others ways.)

Out of curiosity, what are you doing now?

What might you be interested in pursuing going forward?

[xcriteria]

Another thought:

I would suggest identifying what it is, exactly, you miss about school, and ask if you might not be able to find equivalent things in a different way than school-as-usual.

(I like the exercise of wondering what I'd do earlier on with the knowledge I have now... but it certainly wouldn't be to get all A's in school!)

Overall, It's possible to find other contexts to meet and interact with people... and even co-design learning and working environments that provide the benefits of school, without the factory-model context.

The reason I returned to college several times was actually in the hopes of finding such a thing. Some people do. But I found too much of the traditional factory-model structure: grid schedules, single-subject teachers, and collections of graduation requirements that didn't seem to line up with really learning about life.

There's this whole idea of finding one's way to communities of inquiry and practice, which overlaps quite a bit with education. These can be found and created though, in all kinds of ways.

[WhatEvenIsThis]

(01-15-2014 02:21 AM)Desu Wrote:  What the fuck is your signature from?

That is absolutely fucking terrifying.

Somewhere in the bowels of the internet.

Thought of using it here... for reasons.

[brainiac3397]

Made be laugh.

[James Comey]

This thread is pretty much the definition of hindsight is 20/20. I remember posting on here sort of thinking I was the shit, because 16 years old, fuck yeah! Ugh, I kind of still hate that me.

I remember Desu quite well. He could be a bit abrasive at times but I think he was mostly sarcastic; Desu made some very reasonable posts, too, some of the best on this forum. Sadly he was far too fed up with the bullshit of 2014, and left permanently. It's been far more reasonable since, I guess another chapter of "where are they now".

(01-14-2014 05:52 AM)Desu Wrote:  ... knowing everything I know now at age 23.

It would be pretty amazing. Actually, I think it would be pretty fun.

But yes, I'm starting to experience this feeling, even if I'm better off not going through that bullshit called high school. I somewhat wish I could've done some things better, because I've learned a lot of crucial skills over 2-3 years that I didn't really know, and discovered new forms of art, music, etc that has helped. I do kind of wish I could go through 9th-12th grade, but with the skills I have now. Who knows, I could fucking ball that shit.

I guess I feel I didn't accomplish much in high school, except get good grades and survive. Boring to be honest...

(01-14-2014 06:44 AM)Desu Wrote:  Get good grades, A in everything.

I would try to negotiate and become friends with teachers (see if they'll allow me to do personal research / personal projects instead of their own work).

Not care about other people.

I would focus on getting scholarships to pay for college, then actually go to college and finish it out.

I wouldn't do athletics (unnecessary stress / time).

Mostly the same to be honest. I kind of wish that I'd known more about my anxiety/other issues, and I'd gotten proper medication. Perhaps then, things would've been easier, but my situation was badly botched. The lost years I guess. Kinda wish I'd joined some clubs or something, I might've met some awesome people.

(01-15-2014 02:24 AM)xcriteria Wrote:  Personally, I didn't miss school or college the various times when I dropped out.

Experiencing total freedom and control over your days is very different than life organized by a grid schedule with ringing bells and single-subject teachers. Having "unstructured time" takes some getting used to, especially in terms of using it effectively. But, you have the choice of using that freedom in different ways, including designing your own structure, or finding things to focus your efforts on.

This is one of those skills factory-model schools don't tend to help people develop.

My god, this is so true. Honestly I still don't have an idea what the hell I'm supposed to do with life, except study/college work, use the phone, binge watch TV shows/movies... I need to be more productive xD.

(01-15-2014 02:27 AM)xcriteria Wrote:  Another thought:

I would suggest identifying what it is, exactly, you miss about school, and ask if you might not be able to find equivalent things in a different way than school-as-usual.

(I like the exercise of wondering what I'd do earlier on with the knowledge I have now... but it certainly wouldn't be to get all A's in school!)

Overall, It's possible to find other contexts to meet and interact with people... and even co-design learning and working environments that provide the benefits of school, without the factory-model context.

The reason I returned to college several times was actually in the hopes of finding such a thing. Some people do. But I found too much of the traditional factory-model structure: grid schedules, single-subject teachers, and collections of graduation requirements that didn't seem to line up with really learning about life.

There's this whole idea of finding one's way to communities of inquiry and practice, which overlaps quite a bit with education. These can be found and created though, in all kinds of ways.

Which is a good question to ask yourself. If you are somehow nostalgic of the old school system, what made you miss it? Was it school itself or something else?

Well I used to hang out with my stoner friends. Sadly one of them moved to Atlanta. See kids, that's another thing you'll have to deal with soon enough.

I used to make semi-daily trips to the supermarket too. Usually when walking (or the odd day I had my car available), I'd get some groceries and go home. More often than not I got something to eat myself, too. Ah, disposable income, I miss thy.

I used to write some awesome essays actually, so I could channel this in some way... maybe as some kind of tutor. But one thing I legitimately miss is doing films at the end of the day. I wonder if there's some independent movie-making classes out there, just for fun or something. Maybe I could pursue a minor career in acting, like a prop .

No wonder I miss senior year... huh

[brainiac3397]

If I went back to school as I am know, I'd be totally different. It's taken a while to mold myself into how I've wanted and I'm getting closer to narcissitic perfection.

[SoulRiser]

If I went back to school, knowing everything I do now, I'd get kicked out pretty quickly. I'd beat the shit out of all the bullies, not pay attention in class, or probably not even bother going to class... never do homework, not bother with tests at all. I'd tell all the teachers how full of shit they are, and for what reasons. I'd probably win arguments with them about how pointless school is, and rack up so much detention time (that I wouldn't attend) for "disrespecting" them that they'd just kick me out.

If I actually accidentally time-traveled and found myself back there, I'd beg my dad for internet earlier, and start SS even sooner than I did. Along with all my other sites, and a whole bunch more, and make TONS of $$ and make my parents jealous even sooner. That way they won't even mind that school kicked me out.

[GamerGurl]

If I went back to school, I'd probably be in a juenvile detention center for committing "truancy" until turning 18. I'd rather die than feel like I miss school. I dropped out over 3 years ago and still think school is as shitty as I did when I was being forced to go.

After I dropped out, for a time my parents were even trying to get me to at least consider community college or trade school, and I'm looking at them like, what makes you think I want to go back to school, and PAY for it, and when it's within my own POWER to attend, when I didn't want to go when it was forced in the first place?

Seriously, fuck that place. I'll carry my hatred for school till the day I'm six feet down under.

[Rule_BreakerXVIII]

If I suddenly found myself in the body of an 11 y.o. me, I'd snap and kill everything in sight.

[awesomejuan36912]

(01-14-2014 12:25 PM)Hansgrohe Wrote:  

(01-14-2014 12:19 PM)Night Wrote:  I have to admit he's kind of right. Once you're out of there it gets weird. It's like you almost miss it.

After dropping out it just feels so weird to be able to sleep in whenever I want.. Just do whatever I want.
Mostly sleep in.
To the point where i've been getting up at 8 regularly.. on my own(I know it's not terribly early but fuck off)
I'm the most productive i've ever been in my life.

This is not to say there aren't any major flaws in the education system though.

It's like a really bad relationship. That you know is shit, and you're miserable in. But once it's gone you miss it for some reason.

Yeah, I agree. I think that what I'm going to miss though mostly are some of the people I didn't get to know yet I wanted to know them. That's actually scary for me, to say the least.

Exactly.
You only miss it because you could of hanged out with your friends. They're gone now, having the same exact problem as you.

---

(01-14-2014 12:25 PM)Hansgrohe Wrote:  

(01-14-2014 12:19 PM)Night Wrote:  I have to admit he's kind of right. Once you're out of there it gets weird. It's like you almost miss it.

After dropping out it just feels so weird to be able to sleep in whenever I want.. Just do whatever I want.
Mostly sleep in.
To the point where i've been getting up at 8 regularly.. on my own(I know it's not terribly early but fuck off)
I'm the most productive i've ever been in my life.

This is not to say there aren't any major flaws in the education system though.

It's like a really bad relationship. That you know is shit, and you're miserable in. But once it's gone you miss it for some reason.

Yeah, I agree. I think that what I'm going to miss though mostly are some of the people I didn't get to know yet I wanted to know them. That's actually scary for me, to say the least.

Exactly.
You only miss it because you could of hanged out with your friends. They're gone now, having the same exact problem as you.

[James Comey]

Yeah. My head's not up my ass high enough to admit I probably fucked up a lot of situations. But it's history, and we take note of it.

[navitasharma]

School days are the best…

[Sunbourn]

Ah, I sure do miss my circle of friends from high school. Everyone's either moved away or grown distant now. We've all changed, leaving behind ghosts of our former selves. High school and earlier is a unique period in people's lives because it is the only time when you are around such a diversity of people. After that, once you go on to college, there's self-selection involved. Maybe that's a good thing, but I know I'll never run in to many of the sorts of people I ran in to in high school at college, and to me that's just a damn shame.

Quote: Well I used to hang out with my stoner friends. Sadly one of them moved to Atlanta. See kids, that's another thing you'll have to deal with soon enough.

Some of my happiest memories of high school are skipping high school to smoke some chronic and chill with my friends tbh.

[gone]

I... Kinda see why you'd say something like that.

Personally speaking though, the only thing I'd miss in school was my small circle of good friends, and even some teachers I actually liked.

Other than that, if those were left out of the equation, I would really be losing nothing of value leaving school.

Now, if my parents were out of the equation and I never had to worry about what they were to say about what I do in school? Well, if I haven't already dropped out by then, it's very likely I'd get kicked out.
Teachers would be a complete joke to me, I'd be making noises and being alot more disruptive than the attention-whores I deal with in class... I'd basically see school as nothing but a big joke.