Why I didn't go to traditional university
And why I don't regret it
Good evening everyone! To start things off, here is a lovely photo I took in the Peak District today on a walk!
University was the path that was laid for me
I remember in September every year, the busy main road that I live near would fill up with new and returning students, accompanied by parents looking worried about sending their babies off. Every year, my parents would remind me that ‘that would be me in x years’. Every year, the number got smaller until it was “wow, that will be you next year!”
My old man always used to mock the students walking around in shorts in the cold, northern weather. Now, I may not be a student but I am proud to say that I am definitely that guy in shorts. Anyway, back to what I was saying.
I never thought any differently until I finished my A Level exams.
Middle class kid, always did well in school, got decent A levels, most of my mates are going to uni.
That is just what I always had planned.
Scouseland
As a Liverpool F.C fan, I always wanted to attend the University of Liverpool and as somebody who enjoyed economics, I set all my hopes on going to study that at the University of Liverpool.
I said to myself that anything different to that would just be me going to university for the sake of going to university.
Results don’t mean everything
On results day, I got ABB and the two B’s were in the subjects I had excelled in the most in my time at sixth form. I didn’t get the grade to do Economics at UOL and despite being made the offer to do International Business, I didn’t want to go for the sake of it.
Anyway, the story does not really matter.
What matters is the lesson that is learnt.
In this case, the lesson is that letters on a piece of paper only define you if you let them.
Not getting into my first choice course, in retrospect, was one of the best thing that has happened to me and it has put me on the path I am on now.
Although I am still working out what that path is, I can tell you it is far more exiting, risky and fulfilling than the conventional one.
If you ask me, I think a universal force (‘the ancient one’ out of Doctor Strange) gave me two B’s because they had seen the timeline and they knew this option would be better for me.
What you can take from this
Results on a piece of paper do not matter.
What really matters is what your skills and strengths, things that we all have.
You may be at a point where you are completely unsure about what you are doing or where you are going. This is fine and do not worry about it.
I am not qualified to advise on this matter but what I will do is cite Jordan Peterson and end it there.
“If you can’t figure out what you should do, then guess. Just pick something you think you can hit hard and concentrate on. You don’t have to be perfect at it. You don’t even have to get it right.” - JP
That's all from me today, CM x