The saying in our generation was “Those who can’t do, teach”

Math teachers were definitely not the smartest. Maybe when you get to professors, but not teachers

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mike-42-1999@reddit

They just didn't want us using calculators. I was a calculator geek with some friends and it was an arms race to get better. This was late 80s high school. Graphing calls, programmable...until my holy grail the HO-48SX. It did calculus graphical editor. And I carried it in my pocket. It was banned in class by all my math teachers and later professors. Now graphing calls are required in high-school

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Backtaalk@reddit

Exactly this, "You will do a job that doesn't exist yet in a field we barely understand now."

I made my career of doing "the dirty work" of engineering in new/emerging applications of software, hardware, electrical, mechanical... Avionics. Rocketry. And my job was supporting the R&D efforts by reading/dissemination of contract requirements. Generating status reports. Standardizing software version/change controls. And eventually every one of those dirty "tasks" turned into their own departments.

I never had hopes and dreams. My parents were shit-bags and never inspired hope. To be honest I'm amazed I'm still alive. My parents were more worried about getting high to bother with me. I was too worried about eating and making through the day.

I surprised them all. I joined the Navy. I got not just a degree, I also got a masters, I have a good job with the government, big house, great kids. My mom is always looking to me for money and handouts. Your dumb daughter actually made something of herself. Suck it.

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Lawlers_Law@reddit

How did they react at how you turned out?

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Interupting_Cows@reddit

My mom now fauns over me, in front of me. Talks shit behind my back. Asks for money all the time, criticizes my life, talks about what a great mom she was. My dad died from a lifetime of drug and alcohol abuse when he was 59.

"My mom is always looking to me for money and handouts" "Suck it"

I really really really hope this is what you say when she asks for money and handouts.

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One-Ball-78@reddit

BeeYOOTYful!!!

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parker9832@reddit

Hooyah Shipmate!

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N2Beadz@reddit

ThAnK YoU for serving! 👍

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Interupting_Cows@reddit

I'm so proud of all of us that made it out. Life sucks sometimes. I worked as a motivational speaker for a while explaining to other people from crappy childhoods, its possible.

I waffled around with school for several years, always working FT and going to school PT with the ultimate aim of med school, until I met my husband and realized I'd like to have his kids. I also realized I didn't have it in me at the time to do med school and parenting well. I could do one well, or suck equally at both. I picked motherhood and spent 25 years raising the kids -- zero regrets, didn't suck at it. It was the right choice for us.

A few years ago, realizing the last of the kids were about to leave home and I'd be out of a job, per se (i.e. I'd be bored being home alone all day), I went back to school. Since I knew what I wanted to do, that's what I studied, and I also lucked out getting into my dream job. I couldn't have pulled that off in my 20s, honestly.

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ikokiwi@reddit

Computer science degree... but at Uni I became a musician - and my first job was with an IT department in a bank, and my immediate boss had a degree in music.

A month later I realised that if I stayed here I was going to become one of these people, so quit to become a rock star.

15 years later I got back into computers... another 15 years... now I make mathematical instruments that I sell on the internet.

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Technical_Archer7207@reddit

just curious, what are mathematical instruments?

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ikokiwi@reddit

Why thank you for asking :)

These https://goldenmeancalipers.com

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Casual_Observer999@reddit

Everywhere I went, toxic Boomer jealousy.

They'd tell me how smart and talented I was--as a putdown. They'd tell me I needed to work harder to measure up, then pile more work onto me while complaining I needed to do more, taking credit and awards while hammering me hard for "selfishmess" and incompetence if I stood up for myself.

So, now I sit in a cube, well paid, but my life wasted.

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dustractor@reddit

back when they kept giving us those aptitude tests in high school and asking us what we wanted to be every five minutes, i was such a smartass

School counselor: you have to decide what you’re going to be. it’s super important.

Me: A pirate.

School counselor: you can’t be a pirate. they don’t exist anymore. pick something else.

Me: ok well then i’ll be a bum.

School counselor: be serious.

Me: ok then i’ll be invisible

I was a Pirate (played guitar in the flipoff pirates for a little while)

i was a bum (couchsurfed in my early twenties)

now i’m invisible

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toblies@reddit

That is one of my favorite ads of all time.

So smart.

When I grow up....

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peter_gibbones@reddit

Yes sir! I wanna be a yes man! https://youtu.be/myG8hq1Mk00?si=QHAFwG_uD1rvLeQI

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JoeDonFan@reddit

My uncle (best described as a ne'er-do-well) told my father he wanted to do that: My uncle wanted to wear a suit and carry a briefcase. His brother in law, my father (who wore a suit and carried a briefcase at his job with a defense contractor) asked him what he could do.

Ne'er-do-well, like I said. He had only worked odd jobs; the only one I can remember was Terminex man. He had no idea what he could do; he just wanted to wear a suit and carry a briefcase.

I actually had to look that up. OMG, that shit's universal!

Biggest applicable take away from my education came from composition classes.

PresidentOfAlphaBeta@reddit

Yeah, but did you see this?

chairmanovthebored@reddit

Went to school for computer science and I'm an engineer, so pretty much what I went to school for.

Why don't you think you could make it happen now? Seems like there are more jobs and avenues to get into IT than there ever has been.

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kth646311@reddit

Never went to college but ended up as COO of a large publicly traded company.

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idlebrand8675@reddit

I wanted a job as a scientist. Made a decision to pursue it seriously at 13 years old. I’m now an old and a scientist, and haven’t worked anything else since graduation.

The disadvantage of ending up exactly where you shot for is you run out of career related goals. My job is still interesting and I’m always chasing new hypotheses, but

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🙋🏻‍♂️

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bingbongloser23@reddit

College dropout. I've worked in several industries and currently I am self employed and just started another company. Invested in real estate and that turned out pretty great.

Had ups and downs but life is comfortable now.

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Competitive-Bat-43@reddit

I went to college - got a useless degree (something in the liberal arts) Started in customer service at Disney and I now make 6 figures as an IT executive. For me it was all about the hustle. Meaning I never was able to apply my degree so I would do all the jobs that no one else wanted to do and I asked a ton of questions - learning everything from the bottom up.

balcon@reddit

People who know how to communicate persuasively and write well are rare. AI is helping those who can’t write to better express themselves, which I think is a good thing.

I got a degree in Computer Science (after fucking around for a couple of years). Never got anywhere close to what I wanted to do (make video games). Instead every step I took just drove me further and further away. I worked on medical devices, which was ok, then I worked at a data storage migration company, which was less interesting, now I support a sad government organization in their effort to use Salesforce as a basic bitch bulletin board.

I desperately want out of this industry but I'm the sole provider in my house for some reason and my adult children won't have endless money to go to cosplay contests if I don't stay.

*breath* sorry, I'm having a very distressing product deployment at the moment and fucking hate salesforce.

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Crone-ee@reddit (OP)

I joined the Air Force for 4 years to pay for school, but stayed in for 20 years and mad that my career. I got injured, when ended my career shorter than I expected, and had to fight to stay past 19 years, when they wanted to force me out. I was approved for that last year (which is HUGE from a benefits standpoint), but got really sick and almost died, and have never been the same. I have been disabled and unable to work since 2014, a full year after military retirement.

But don’t feel sorry for me. I don’t feel sorry for myself. I love people, and love God, and trained to be a missionary when I eventually left the service. Originally I intended to go back to Honduras, but stayed in the St Louis area and ran a ministry as a volunteer that counseled people coming out of prison with addiction, anger management, and domestic violence issues. He had de ent success with those who wanted to make a change in their lives. It was easy to tell who was just checking of boxes for the parole officer, and a majority of those guys went back to prison. But we also helped women and children get out of abusive situations and into shelters. And also I was the director of the food pantry where we fed between 300-550 people every month. I met and counseled so many people, and worked with the homeless community to not only ensure they had food, but blankets, sleeping bags, bicycles, and most of all, we helped them stay with the social services programs, and we had a few who were fully off the streets and in apartments.

I was honored roll and college bound..flunked out of college and became a union electrician

By all means. A high amount are bat crap crazy. Not of the level of intellect or disposition of serial killer, but cray cray non the less.

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john-th3448@reddit

im profiling people daily. Albeit not serial killers.

That’s what you think …

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Crone-ee@reddit (OP)

But are you SURE they're not? 😂

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i1045@reddit

I earned an honours BSc in physics in 1997... I've done various shit-jobs ever since. Customer-support, computer-repair, various callcenter jobs. It's largely my own fault, but I've never done anything remotely-related to my "field"

My dad was a first class machinist's mate in the U. S. Navy. In his position, he would frequently get college graduates that were now his boss. He hated it, they had zero experience and a degree. "Didn't know their ass from their elbow" was a common phrase from him.

He impacted my worldview greatly. He hated people with degrees. B.S. = Bullshit, M S. = More Shit, PHD = Piled Higher & Deeper. Expressed adamantly that he'd be disappointed in me if I got one. I was to follow his footsteps into the Navy.

I was set to go, at MEPS. Got discharged due to asthma. Was told to try again in 5 years. That was 1990.

I had won a scholarship to a local technical school for mechanical drafting (VICA drafting competition). I ended up using that and getting a 2-year degree in mechanical drafting and design. Became interested in getting a four-year degree in engineering but as stated earlier got zero support from my parents. Couldn't make that happen. 1992.

Got a mechanical drafting job in 1992 and married my high school girlfriend in 1993. Mom and Dad so that I can always move back in when this failed.

Intelligent-Guide696@reddit

I started a job at 19 that I knew I wasn't going to like but took it anyway. The reason I took it was because I would be eligible for a full pension and benefits retirement at age 50½. 5 years ago January 4th I retired with a six figure a year pension and great medical.

While a lot of people I went to high school with are just now starting to figure out what they are going to do for retirement in enjoying mine. And the best thing is I didn't have to spend any money on college or end up with a mountain of student loans.

I talked to one of my old teachers a couple years ago that used to peach to us if we ever wanted anything out of life and wanted a chance at a decent retirement we had to go to college. Well, ended up he was still working because he couldn't afford to retire yet.

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Redkneck35@reddit

Left school in my jr year because of my bipolar, always been a jack of all trades as they say. Factory work, janitor, clerk, construction, electrical (my own) roofing, siding, you name it I've probably had it as a job. I like getting my hands dirty and building things. If I didn't have to do the concrete work I could probably build my own home.

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Vanman04@reddit

Had a no parent childhood dropped out of school at 16 .

Ran with the rough crowd till mid 20s when the Internet was just starting got my hands on a computer and used the Internet to teach myself how to fix them. From there I started fixing all my friends computers then someone said you should do this as a job.

I decided to go back to school again but was living off my income and student loans. I got a 2nd job working graveyard at a convenient store, Friday to Sunday. I was also a full time student getting a Masters Degree in Computer Science - Software Engineering.

I would get off work from the convenience store at 6 AM Monday and drove straight to my other job, changed clothes in a bathroom stall and worked another 8 hours.

I would get my work done fast at the convenience store and sit on the counter with my laptop writing research papers, that sometimes were 35 - 50 pages long.

Finished my Masters February of 2020. Got a raise at work and was made Software Engineer I. I quit my 2nd job and 2 weeks before COVID hit big. I was given a laptop and was work from home since then.

3 days ago my company let go 10% of the department and I was one that lost their job.

I had a serious accident in 2008 that I broke my neck. From 2012 to 2016 I was on SSI with permanent disability. I lost our home in 2008 in the market crash and lost my job then as an IT Manager.

Had to file bankruptcy in 2017.

15 days before I lost my job, my wife lost her part time work from home job.

My oldest is getting divorced and is moving in this weekend to help with rent and utilities. Our 4 youngest are also adults and live at home and pay some rent because they can't afford to move out.

Now I have no job, no credit, almost $100, 000 in student loans. Medical bills like crazy because of my chronic pain. I had a neck fusion in 2012.

I spent the last couple days filing for unemployment, food stamps, and state medical. I contacted a lawyer to get back in SSI. I am applying for jobs everywhere including part time at grocery stores, just to get some income.

I worked so hard and pushed through so much pain at work to get where I was and now I have nothing to show for it.

I am almost 52, I had worked almost 9 years at my last job and now I feel so lost and tired and sad and pissed off.

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helena_handbasketyyc@reddit

I have a Bachelors of Design in 2001 (tookm5 years to complete) graphic design, etc. I got an in house design job about a year after I graduated, had two corporate jobs before 2008, and got laid off.

Went back to school for Massage Therapy, got certified and worked at a clinic for 7 years then burnt out.

Then, series of odd jobs, retail, customer service, min wage stuff, hard but did what I had to do.

Then pandemic, etc. Wanted stability and found my place back in design and communications, now almost 2 years into a very fulfilling role.

It’s been a ride.

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londongas@reddit

I did a master's on a topic I was interested in and ended up getting recruited before I even finished my thesis. Still in the industry but expanded a bit the areas where I'm active.

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GeoHog713@reddit

I didn't go to school for a specific career. I had no clue what I wanted to do until my last semester at college

Thank you!

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johnrgrace@reddit

There are plenty of part time things in accounting, the firm I co own picks up people like you to do part time work.

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Crone-ee@reddit (OP)

Sorry you've gone through that-hop it's looking brighter for you soon.

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Few-Pineapple-5632@reddit

I have a degree in pharmacy, was a hospital pharmacist and then worked for a couple of decades in pharma research and development. During Covid, I quit all that, started a garden, got chickens and a job as cashier at a feed store. I love it.

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Funny-Berry-807@reddit

English major in college. Went into retail management. Then, switched careers to sales and service. Then, switched careers again to manage a technical publications department.

Every time I went to college I'd have to quit because my mother couldn't handle taking care of herself so I'd have to work full-time to make sure the bills were paid. I wanted to do something in law/law enforcement at first. Then I wanted to be a pharmacist but when I found out how much that cost I said nope.

CorrsionOfConformity@reddit

98 is when I started. I was recently out of the Army and going to school for journalism or IT and got an opportunity to start a job with Scott Paper (now Kimberly Clark). The pay was significantly more than what I currently had the potential to make. They paid for me to finish my degree even though I don't use what I learned.The schedule is interesting, 12 hour day and night swing shifts with lots of time off. After 26 years I get 2 consecutive weeks off 8 -10 times a year but the night shifts are getting to me. I just turned 55 and hope to retire soon if I can figure out healthcare.

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zodiac6300@reddit

Got a degree in English.

Opened up a Poem Repair Shop and flourished.

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Perle1234@reddit

I have a specialized degree that I have relied on for my career. I’d definitely be in a very different place personally and financially without my degree. I went into about $100K of debt for it but it’s long paid off.

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iggly_wiggly@reddit

Graphic design degree. Working for the Forest Service as a facilities/operations guy

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PoorGovtDoctor@reddit

Didn’t know what I wanted to do, so got a degree in history. Eventually got more schoolin’

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TryInternational9947@reddit

I worked in social services. When I started, just a college degree was needed. Now one needs a masters in Social Work to do the job I did 20 years ago.

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No_Roof_1910@reddit

How many of you ended up with the career you went to school for? Or - did you even go to school?

Yes, I went to both college and grad school.

NO, I didn't end up in the career I went to grad school for (law school).

Been in business for decades and decades now, manufacturing.

AdhesiveSeaMonkey@reddit

Moved out of my house at 16. Dropped out of school at the same time. Worked fast food for a while and thought being an assistant manager of a Burger King was the bees knees! Moved on to a record store district manager - again, bees knees. Got into telecom sales, then some weird ebay/wholesale operation, then to prison for a couple of years. Now I'm a teacher at a small private school where I have been for about 20 years. It's the best and last job I'll ever have (fingers crossed).

Network/systems engineer for 30 years now. Got bit by the computer bug hard when I was first exposed to computing in the 5th grade. Knew from that very moment that this was where I was going to go.

Started college the fall after graduating high school in '92 but only lasted three quarters before everything in my life blew up due to family drama. Coasted along with service jobs for three years before joining the Air Force and getting my start on my path. By the time I went back to school in 2016 and got my AS in Computer Science, I didn't need the degree; my experience far outweighed any academic credits I could put on a resume. Going back to school was purely for myself to finally close that circle I started years ago.

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mindcontrol93@reddit

Kind of. I went to school and took art, design, and computer graphics courses. I got a BFA in printmaking. I ended up at a large corporate law firm as a designer. Now, I am IT, video, A/V setups, and a bit of infographics,. 24 years in the belly of the beast.

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OnionTruck@reddit

I'm on my 4th "career." Only one of those 4 had anything to do with my degrees, and I do not currently work in my degree field. I make a good enough living though. I have a roof over my head and internet to distract myself from reality.

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RabbitsAteMySnowpeas@reddit

Sortof applicable in my job but otherwise I do database sql and coding that I’ve all self taught.

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Johnny-Virgil@reddit

How is AI affecting you?

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Charleston2Seattle@reddit

So far, it has been minimally helpful. Because technical writers create novel material, AI will have a harder time replacing us than it will other types of workers. Or do I keep hearing/reading.

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Johnny-Virgil@reddit

That’s what I was thinking as well. Maybe useful when trained against specific company doc libraries.

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Charleston2Seattle@reddit

The one I'm using is trained against only our internal stuff. It helps, in that it knows not to change the spelling of product names and such, but it still doesn't enable it to document new functionality or anything like that.

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teacamelpyramid@reddit

I’ve been promoted enough to no longer have GitHub credentials, but I did have to get on the phone this morning and explain why fuzzy matching is a no-no for address matching outside of some very limited conditions.

Was a terrible HS student (and person if I’m being honest) but went straight to CC and became a paramedic (few steps in there) and did it for 17 years. It kicked my ass. A few other jobs and now I’m living my dream doing stand up comedy.

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kenjinyc@reddit

I need to write a book. Excerpts:

Could have played MLB or NPBL Was too heavy into graffiti Hung out with the biggest names (Lady Pink, Kaws, Keith Haring) Got an internship at TimeLife in 1984
Won a Clio for sports illustrated ad 1985 Worked for a tech company for 12 years, traveling the globe Saw the first hyperlink demo (who’s going to use that crap lol) Created a monster global CAD brand for nearly every apparel/retailer or soft goods manufacturers Left the industry to change careers -a complete 180 at 40 years old to join Major League Baseball Designed the award winning app At-Bat Designed and helped come up with the “Final Vote” mechanism for the All-Star Game Became the go-to designer for all online baseball incentives (Little League, MLBPA, WBC, USA baseball, Baseball Hall of fame, including events and players sites such as: Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, etc) Became an accomplished photographer for MLB

I took far too much for granted. Nearly retired, now I’m trying to do my own thing with 3 other ex MLB employees. I am the illustrative arm for www.coffeeandboxscores.com and we’re trying to get off the ground, this week.

Thank you for looking/reading….

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Physical-Network3006@reddit

I didn’t go to college. I went right to work after high school and did 7 years in a non union job I loved and 26 years at a union shop in a job to pay the bills. I semi-retired almost 2 years ago. I go back 1-2 days a week to help with training new hires and helping out where I can.

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Thunderpuppy2112@reddit

I sold weed in high school. I work at a dispensary now. So maybe?lol

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Cytwytever@reddit

I did not.

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Fire_Doc2017@reddit

I wanted to become a doctor and that’s exactly what I did. Not sure that’s what I’d do if I could do it again but I can’t complain, I still like what I do.

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intheyear3001@reddit

gif

Thank you. I’m retiring this spring.

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GuitarEvening8674@reddit

I got a job at a big utility and moved up in the company while i got a business degree and then an MBA. I then got burned out and left after 20 years to become a Nurse Practitioner... and have thoroughly enjoyed the past 15 years.

I now have amassed 12 rental properties, bought and built up then sold a home health company, now I'm cruising toward retirement.

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alien_survivor@reddit

I went to a vocational school and took drafting from 1989-1991, my junior and senior year.

There were 20 students in the class. 10 kids would be on the drafting board doing pencil and paper while another 10 would be doing AutoCAD computer rated design/drafting.

Crone-ee@reddit (OP)

Wanted to be a creative art director for an ad agency. Instead I became a sales exec in tech.

Regrets. I have a few. But then again, too few to mention.

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Walts_Ahole@reddit

Worked construction full time starting in 89 while going to Jr college, then got a degree in construction mgmt. Been traveling all over the states & many countries in construction since 98. It's been good to me & still love fixing large troubled projects.

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macgruff@reddit

Studied Kinesiology at SFSU, with a concentration in pre-Physical Therapy. Worked 10 years in hospitals; 5 years as a PT Aide and 5 years as a licensed PT Assistant. It was great but it wore down my body…, quickly. I have a bad back, repaired knee and other aches and pains from lifting people in and out of bed. Even with having only done outpatient work for those last few years; the damage had already been done.

I'm an IT analysis as well with just a GED. I would have had no idea what I wanted to go to college for back at my young age.

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OliphauntHerder@reddit

I was always interested in both science and law. I did a blend of science and poli sci/government in undergrad, got a law degree, and for the past 20 years (after some time at a firm), I've supported scientific research in academia as a attorney. For a while I was embedded with science teams on NASA missions, which was an incredible experience. I still have NASA projects in my portfolio and still get a little rush of excitement every time I go to a NASA center, but I also get to mix in all sorts of other cool and useful projects, plus I now have a team and a fancy title.

I think one of the things I like most about my job is that I have to keep learning. There's always something new when you're supporting people who are doing groundbreaking research that aims to help people.

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JT-Av8or@reddit

I went to school for aviation (pilot) and am an airline pilot. Used to be a military pilot for 21 years. Degree in “aeronautical science” from Embry Riddle.

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sassenach77@reddit

I went for interior design and ended up a psych tech working with behavioral issues

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CapitanianExtinction@reddit

I knew I wanted to go into a STEM field by 6. By 16, I knew it'd be in tech. The rest was just a matter of making it happen.

Graduated in 1984 as well with no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up. Wound up staring my working life driving dump trucks and hauling heavy equipment.

Graduated HS in '88, went to school to be a nail technician in '92. I did that for 30 years.

My plan all along was to go straight to college and get a journalism degree, but due to shit parents who actively discouraged me from going to college (probably due to jealousy), I didn't start until '95.

I could only go to college part time because I had to support myself. Got pregnant in '98, so took a short break until after my daughter was born in '99.

Finally graduated with my bachelor's in journalism in 2008 - just in time for the big economic crash! It took me six more years to get a job in my field, but in 2016 I was hired as a technical writer.

Did that for eight years and have been in corporate communications for two years.

It took me a while to get there, but yes, I DID end up in the career I went to school for! 😁

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OrigRayofSunshine@reddit

First career: imaging science degrees. Spent 30 years in that at various levels until the industry was circling the drain thanks to overseas outsourcing.

Went back to school and got a Network Engineering / Cybersecurity degree, so now I’m 5+ years in.

I’m not complaining.

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Altrano@reddit

I went to school to be a journalist and graduated just as the industry was imploding due to copy/paste stories on the internet. I’m now working as a teacher.

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Pastagiorgio34@reddit

I was a history major. Now I’m a VP in the finance industry - prob couldn’t do that today

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designsbyintegra@reddit

Went to school for fashion design and photography.

I didn't go to school for it, but about 5 years after high school ('95) I fell into a computer career. Did that for 25 years. After some serious burnout (and a divorce), I moved in with my brother in another state and did some broadcasting work. I met a wonderful, beautiful woman, got married, and now have started a new career with associated certifications.

I graduated in 86. I was really aimless, and didn't really know what I was going to do. For a while, I thought I wanted to fly fighters for the air force, but the recruiter told me I was too tall for that. So I went to school to study music and flunked out in my freshman year.

Community College degree in Information Systems. Graduate in 1995. One year of data entry then landed an entry level database admin job. Finished my BS a few years ago. Going on 28 years in tech.

SnowblindAlbino@reddit

That last paragraph is what still makes liberal arts degrees valuable. I'm a professor and we have alums that were humanities majors working at SpaceX, 3M, Google, etc. for just the reasons you mentioned.

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CubicleHermit@reddit

Went to college expecting to double major in history and computer science. Ended up with an anthropology degree, but expecting to work in IT anyway as a good portion of how I paid for school was doing Novell admin work (which was dying, but both Linux and NT were getting big.)

Did end up working in tech, albeit as a programmer rather than a sysadmin, and went back and got a MS in computer science once in the post-dot-com bubble world it became clear credentials were starting to matter more..

shrug No clue if this counts as close enough to ending up in the career I went to school for.

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evil66gurl@reddit

I did 1 year of college right after HS. I had a kid, got married, went back to school, had another kid. I pursued a degree that I thought would travel well since my spouse was in the military. Luck of the draw I ended up working in hospital administration. I was the director of compliance for a teaching hospital and retired in 2019. To be honest I didn't even know such a job existed when I was in HS and I certainly would never have picked it. But it turns out I was good at it. I really liked it and taught it at the college level for a few years in addition to my regular job. When I retired I did some consulting work around it too. Now I teach yoga 10 hours a week. It's strange to me how it ended up, it turned out much better than I expected, probably better than I deserved.

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I got into IT in high school, no college for it. But lots of certification courses and certificates.

I also taught 11/12 grade students IT and got my state teaching licensure for that by completing 50 credits of specific college classes and passing a major required year long evaluation and test. Only spent five years teaching though, then back to the IT grind.

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vixelyn@reddit

I'm doing a do-over now (though, I was born in '80):

high school dropout
taught myself web coding and Photoshop and worked as a freelancer for years
went to college as a mature student for 3d animation at 27
worked as a background painter in film/television for 12+ years
while also working as a college instructor for 12+ years
got a PE from COVID and decided to quit my instructor role and just focus on the film role,
writer's strike happened immediately after that decision, 2 years ago, my industry tanked - haven't worked in two years
took a minimum wage job making fine Art - finally quit because of how undervalued I was with all my experience
currently being taught to become a tattoo artist - I am told I'm ready to do my first ink on skin this coming weekend

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Appropriate_Oven_292@reddit

What medium do you practice on before skin?

Also, what does a “PE from Covid” mean?

That first customer is going to be worse than a surgeon’s first heart surgery, right?! Like I can see drawing on paper, but drawing on the soft uneven skin of stranger? And, not with a pen but that device? Damn. I don’t know who will be braver, you or the customer.

I love a scene from this old Phil Hartman and Sinbad movie called Houseguest. It’s kind of a stupid movie, but it’s fun. There’s one scene where a tattoo artist is giving a tattoo in request from a stereotypical biker. He wants a Harley on his chest. A few days later the biker comes back and shows the tattoo to the artist. It looks like a cartoon standard motorcycle. Haha. Needless to say the customer was not pleased.

It’s hard. Ageism is huge in the industry. I love what I do though and do a fair amount of mentoring.

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UncreditedRandomGirl@reddit

Went to nursing school because I thought it would be a stable career (HS class of 84). Two months out of school I was hired into pharmaceutical research and worked in various areas for 33 years. Early retirement last year at age 57!

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Crone-ee@reddit (OP)

Congratulations!!

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bones_bones1@reddit

Went to school twice. The second one stuck.

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SparxIzLyfe@reddit

I didn't end up being anything I wanted to be.

In fact, this past year that fact has had me really depressed because I constantly think about how I thought I was going to figure something out, and maybe at least make one of my smaller dreams happen, and instead it looks like I'm just going to be lucky to survive.

Old people are supposed to have accomplishments, memorabilia, signs of the things they did in life. I'm now an old person, and I have done jack all.

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Crone-ee@reddit (OP)

I think it's a fallacy that all old people have great accomplishments. I know plenty that have done jack. I also know some that didn't start to hit their stride til their 60s. It's never too late to be your dream.

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kevbayer@reddit

Went to college for Radio and TV broadcasting, with a goal of going into management of a radio station or audio production wherever. I had a degree in Communications.

I was a radio DJ for around 7 years total including while in college. After that, my degree helped me get a job in dispatching at various places, but wasn't related at all to what I had originally planned.

That turned into my career of 24 years, mostly as a supervisor.

Got laid off near the end of 2023. Just got hired for a permanent job in the local Superior Court which is even more removed from my original plan.

My original plan didn't pay the bills, at least not right away.

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slepyhed@reddit

I started a few different careers, taking general education colleges classes part time. Finally settled on a career in IT at about 25 years old, and finally finished a degree in it at age 40. It's treated me well, but now in my mid-50's, I've pretty much had enough of it. I'll be finishing up a Bachelors degree in Spanish this year, and after that not sure what I'll do.

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Cerrac123@reddit

I am. Kind stuck without an advanced degree, but I tried and it was sooo very different than when I graduated from college in 1998. I am thinking of trying to obtain a different, related masters degree so I can get ahead.

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Efficient-Hornet8666@reddit

I didn’t go to school after I graduated high school. Army. Marriage. Baby. Divorce. Remarriage. Babies much later. A job is a job. I do ok for myself, but my wife makes more than me (she also didn’t finish her degree) and we’re upper middle class. I wouldn’t even know what to go to school for. So many of my friends are doing something wildly unrelated to their degrees, that I’m kind of glad I didn’t waste money on it.

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RedHair_WhiteWine@reddit

Degree in computer science (parent pressure).

6 years into a coding career that I wasn't suited for, I made the jump to sales, where I've been happy ever since. (25+ years)

concerts85701@reddit

I did. Landscape architect

Knew what I wanted to do as a junior in HS. Luckily my parents knew what a landscape architect was or I probably would have started a lawn mowing business. Besides a few part time jobs in HS/college it’s the only thing I’ve done - 30+yrs now.

RedditSkippy@reddit

Graduated HS in 1993, went to college and switched my major. Graduated in 1997, and got a job in my field.

Ticked along in my field for 25 years and then hit a wall because I didn’t have a graduate degree.

I never wanted to get a masters in the same subject as my undergraduate degree, which is some of the reason why I never went back to school—I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to study. But, getting told I needed the degree kicked me into high gear to figure it out.

I found a one-year slightly accelerated program where I could get the degree in two semesters. Negotiated a sabbatical for 10 months and then I did it.

sdsva@reddit

I took Mechanical Drawing in 10th grade. I knew then I wanted to design things. Two year degree in Computer Aided Drafting. Been doing some kind of design job since July of 1998.

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Independent_Button61@reddit

I’m a claims adjuster for a commercial carrier.

I absolutely did NOT go to school for this.

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Total_Information_65@reddit

I actually did. I followed my interests, and right now I have a business that is actually growing well and I'm mostly doing what I wanted to with it. Still have much more to go to get things where I want them to be. But yeah, I made sure that what I studied is what I'm doing.

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Iforgotmypwrd@reddit

BS mechanical engineering in 1991. engineer mba in ‘95 Then management consulting. That tracked.

I had a full ride music scholarship to my university of choice & was aiming for a dual degree of music education & music performance.

I was going to be the World’s Greatest High School Band Director.

I dropped out after my freshman year because I was misdiagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & the surgery was brand new with a 50/50 shot of fixing my right hand or making it totally useless.

I was 19 with no health insurance and scared that my dominant hand would become a waste of flesh.

Here I am, 30+ years later working in the banking industry doing things that I never ever thought would cross into my world.

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TheWriteStuff1966@reddit

I pursued a journalism degree (enemy of the people!), and I've been in the field for 35+ years. I have the gray hair to prove it.

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Fokewe@reddit

Heh, yes. Everything I did in HS lead all of my careers. Took electronics, appropriated software, auto shop and FEAST (food service training) thus;

Line chef and restaurant manager

Automotive electronics installer

Sys Admin (now working the other side of cybersecurity) The funny thing is that one of my first tech jobs was packaging software

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Not me. Went to school for graphic arts (how GenX of me), but somehow got into operations management and that's where I've stayed for the most part.

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pokeysyd@reddit

Went to school for Economics. Spent 10 years as a ski bum. Moved into a “career” working for a drilling contractor in the western US. Spent 25 years there - 10 working in the field; 15 years in management.

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tommyalanson@reddit

Went to college for comp sci. Eventually became a CIO. Now I’m advising CIOs.

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Exact_Reputation_500@reddit

I graduated high school in 1988 then went to community college to get an associates in art. I then got my hair license and tossed nasty locks for about ten years. Now I work for a fortune 500 company doing internal websites; all self taught. So no, not doing what I went to school for.

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ob1dylan@reddit

Got a degree in Psychology, because I've always found it fascinating, and it's a career where you are pretty much guaranteed interesting days, instead of the same old same old, day in and day out. Worked in psych facilities for about 4 years before I realized it was more like being a bouncer than a therapist at that level, and the pay wasn't much better than minimum wage. Went to grad school for a few semesters, but I was burning out by then and couldn't pay my bills on what I was making. I quit and took what was supposed to be a temporary job at a casino, but I ended up working there for way too long, because the money was good... at first. Then, the Bush recession hit, and the money wasn't as good anymore, but there were also no jobs to switch to. Eventually took a customer service job for a major telecom company that has a lot of their tech facilities around where I was living. I worked my way up to an engineering position with them, despite not having a degree in engineering.

Sorta. I had an independent major involving a bunch of international things like history, geography, economics, and languages.

Mainly yes.

High school Vo-Tech: Business Data Processing

Work: Printing plant

Associates: Graphic Design

Work: Typesetter, Graphic Designer, Art Director

Bachelors: English

Masters: Communications

Work: Digital Communications Manager

Now: Marketing Manager

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peccatum_miserabile@reddit

Had a kid at 18, college was a means to an end. CNA-Paramedic (AS)-RN (BS)-APRN (Doctorate).

typhoidtimmy@reddit

Graduated 92…went 2 years at community getting electives out of way and 1 year for Comp Science at UCI.

Began freelancing about halfway through and realized I already knew everything I needed to work and get paid really well.

Asked a client how important was a diploma on my wall was and he basically said ‘certifications are fine…a diploma from college just means you paid a lot dough for additional assurances to yourself in tech.’

Didn’t finish college and went full force.

Looking back now after some 30+ years, I am still fine on my decision. Yes college is good for certain pedigrees or careers but in my line of work, it won’t matter to me in the long run. Put your code in front of me and if it’s tight and works, I honestly don’t care if you are from MIT or self taught.

I need competency and problem solvers, not smiling jackasses who frame their sheepskins and think it means anything.

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Nemesis-Resists@reddit

HS class of 88, started out learning database programming while taking the slow route in college. Life got harder so I joined the Army as a Medic. When I got out I worked as a low-paid medical assistant so I was a ‘career switcher’ into IT with New Horizons night classes for 2 years. Got some certifications and couldn’t find a job in IT for a couple of years. Ended up taking a risk by taking a lower-paying job to help run a medical clinic, which is what I did in the Army, to get into a big Health system. A year after that I got my first real job in IT as a transfer. Worked my way up quickly. I’ve had the job I always wanted for the past 16 years. At 54 I’m a Systems Admin that works exclusively with virtual infrastructure and cloud computing and I do it all from my home office.

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WhatTheHellPod@reddit

High School: I studied D&D and then booze and weed so, I joined the military. In the military they may me a cop, because of the booze and weed? I was never quite sure about that. After ten years in the military, I got out because I hated being in the military and soon learned I also hated being a cop. (Because All Cops Are Bastards) So I went to college for an degree in creative writing. After that I came to NYC, because, you know, that is where writers go. The only job I could get was in veterinary medicine, because of the military. (I still owe for student loans mind you) I did THAT for ten years before my body began giving out and finally I got a job at an investment bank where I am now making a good living. (Not a banker, I am secretary basically.) Nothing I did in my life prepared me for ANYTHING in my life. The only thing that school prepared me for is podcasting, where I used my writing education, but I don't make any money, but it that is OK because my banking job does.

Fast forward a year or so I had to get a different job, this time in mental health working with people with severe mental illness. I absolutely loved it and decided that I wanted to go back and get my masters degree. I chose social work because it is the most versatile degree in this field.

Long story short, I ended up becoming a therapist. Turns out, I was not antisocial, I was actually very shy, I have now come out of my shell and love people, and especially love to hear their stories and help them through tough times and watch them grow. I've been in this field for over 20 years and I still love it.

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216_412_70@reddit

Wanted to be a software engineer…. Been doing it for nearly 40 years now.

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Yoongi_SB_Shop@reddit

Went to law school. Now a lawyer.

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sixtyfoursqrs@reddit

Technical Institute,

AAS Instrumentation Technology

30+ years experience as an Instrumentation Technician

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Malapple@reddit

Didn’t go to school because there was none that would meaningfully help what I do back then. Started working on tech stuff out of high school and had my own small company by the time I was 20. Now a C level executive, life is weird.

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RandyJohnsonsBird@reddit

Went to an Art Institute...now I'm a forester.

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BabyGorilla1911@reddit

Kind of. But I did change majors.

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StrangeAssonance@reddit

I’ve been in education since a year after graduating from university. I have gotten a few more degrees including my masters since that time.

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Particular_Act_5396@reddit

250k a year without college

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Freepi@reddit

Well done. Contractor/developer?

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Particular_Act_5396@reddit

Cybersecurity for the past five years, contact center/telecom before that but telecom is dead

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ganshon@reddit

Graduated with a degree in marketing. I have had jobs that were related, but not quite directly in marketing.

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MorningBrewNumberTwo@reddit

My university degree was an educational requirement in the qualifications for my position, but I didn’t use any of the actual knowledge I obtained from that degree. What I did use was the ability to do research, to write, to give a presentation, etc.

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squirtloaf@reddit

I...guess? I had a vocational commercial art class for 3 hours a day in my last two years of high school, and I am a graphics guys.

My passion is music, but careers in music are hard to come by or would require me to work in such a way that it would have killed my enjoyment, so I kind of prefer day job+side hustle.

It lets me do whatever the fuck I feel like instead of being trapped hustling to follow crumbs to survive like a lot of the musicians I know.

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Efficient-Tart456@reddit

No school/degree but straight into the workforce as a laborer. 40 years later I’m in Global IT of a very large company as an SME on a software used for project mgmt. No complaints but I’m about done 🥴

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polocanyolo@reddit

Sort of. Got a BA in English/Business and a tech writing certificate. Graduated and was a TW for a decade (software dev.) Then I moved to a remote area and did some other stuff because there wasn’t. A tech sector and remote jobs weren’t a thing. Moved to a big city four years ago and got back into TWing (engineering) and was promoted to Project Manager. Recently I was promoted to Quality Manager, which is writing intensive.

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40Breath@reddit

Graduated with a degree in MIS (mgt of info systems). Been working in IT ever since.

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bwackerbarth@reddit

Joined the Marines instead of going to college and got out just in front of the early 90s rise of the internet.

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whistlepig4life@reddit

I went to school for Studio Art. Ended up with a design degree. Worked as a designer, developer, and eventually ended up as a Marketer.

So. Basically. Yes.

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Then_Kaleidoscope_10@reddit

Nope. AA in English, after bartender and chef, became a firefighter for 12 years. Then moved into nursing.

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vomputer@reddit

I washed to be a writer or professor. Got my BA in liberal arts and MFA in writing, became a prof and published a book.

Sadly, writer and professor are not really careers anymore for most people.

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tsoldrin@reddit

i studied english and ended up working in computers and IT.

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Money_Jelly5424@reddit

Quit college twice . Went into construction and never left . Run a company in Vegas now so fuck school

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JeffTS@reddit

I went to school for Computer Information Systems which was more like a degree for being a secretary with a bit of hardware and programming thrown in. I ended up running my own business as a web developer.

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dingonugget@reddit

Graduated HS in 90. Enlisted half way through my senior year and was in basic right after graduation. Drove boats in the CG.

Finished undergrad in 2011 with a BS in Org Leadership, and an MBA in 2018 and work in an Applied Research Center in research security.

As soon as I graduated, I applied for and got a federal government job. It took 13 months for the entire process to go through, thus fulfilling the oblication to my former company.

I always said that the only way I'd go to college was if I got paid to go. I've been using my degree since day one, sort of. I'm technically a sysadmin (SA), but haven't always done SA work.

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AdSpiritual2594@reddit

I went to school until my temporary job that I got to help with school started paying me enough money that I dropped out of school to make more money.

Now I have a career in IT that wasn’t going to school for, but it took much longer to make real adult money than it would have if I stayed in school.

Semi retired.

There were high highs and very low lows.

Mostly never compromised. Probably should’ve. But I stand by my career.

Seems like I started it a few lifetimes ago. So much has changed in the industry and life.

A slave to your job/ phone at all times.

Full stress at all times. 24/7.

People threatening you, lying to you, swindling you. Incompetency around every corner. Getting sharked by other agents.

Deals crashing right before closing, wondering what you'll do for money if it doesn't close.

And terrible tax troubles if you're not monumentally diligent about setting aside money for taxes.

Did I mention people threatening to sue you regularly?

Total instability of income.

I was good at it but it's not worth the mental toll

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Fredness101@reddit

I went to one semester of community college for business management. I am now a manager at a business lol.

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Mia_Tostada@reddit

I graduated with a dual degree in Aerospace Physics and Jazz Studies because, of course, mastering the theory of relativity wasn’t enough—I needed to swing while doing it. Started my career orchestrating satellite trajectories for NASA by day and redefining bebop at underground jazz clubs by night. Got bored, so I pivoted to consulting for Fortune 500 companies, teaching CEOs how to harmonize their quarterly earnings with Coltrane solos.

john-th3448@reddit

Same here; I started in a technical fun role, and gradually rolled into roles with more responsibilities and less fun.

I currently manage our software portfolio for the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) market.

I’d rather move back into a technical role for the last few years of my career, but having a management position pays better, so for now I hang on.

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Hell no. I went to college to play a sport, got a degree I’ve never used, fell into a job that I knew nothing about, faked it til I made it. I just got lucky…like Forest Fucking Gump lucky.

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Biscuts-Barr@reddit

Graduated in 1988 worked a lot of warehouse jobs that paid well but ended up messing up my back and hands. Went to Junior College for 2 semesters doing basics and some other courses. Ended back in construction and warehouse and then went to work in a call center in 1998 doing Windows 95 and 98 Tech Support.

Quickly moved up and was a trainer within 2 yrs and traveled the world as outsourcing picked up. Stayed in L&D for many years followed by Project Management and Client Support. Received my last promotion about a yr ago as an Assoc Director and still with same company. Not sure if it would be this easy any more but I was able to raise my 2 kids with food on table and roof over their head and have no regrets.

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Affectionate_Yam4368@reddit

Graduated with my profession's terminal degree, got a job right after licensure, and have worked in that field ever since. 24 years, during which I've worked for 4 organizations in 5 different sunsets of practice.

I literally don't know how to do anything else. One trick pony.

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Athedeus@reddit

Well... I'm 0 for 3 on education used in job. Started with trade school for office, did my time in marketing and then went back to school for an engineering degree ... had a breakdown, now I put clothes on hangers.

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iceberg_redhead@reddit

Graduated in 1991, earned a BS in Chemistry (ACS Cert.) 1995 worked as a chemist for 3 years. 2001 earned an MS in IT (MBA focused in IT), IT field in crashed 2002. Been doing chemistry stuff since - brewing, biofuels, water treatment, regulatory, and now binder chemistry for insulation.

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john-th3448@reddit

More or less.

printans@reddit

I graduated HS and was lucky to have a neighbor offer to get me employed in a company computer room shoveling paper into a big printer. Big brother paid for my degrees along the way and I've had a nearly 40 year career in IT. I was VERY fortunate in the beginning to get that job and took full advantage of it.

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cathy80s@reddit

HS class of 84 here too. I went to school for radio broadcasting, and I did spend a few years in that industry. I work in the insurance/financial industry now.

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Big77Ben2@reddit

I did. Went to college for mechanical engineering and I am one. I spent 5 yrs as a field service engineer along the way, but knew it wasn’t going to be a forever thing. Wouldn’t consider myself a mover or shaker by any stretch, and it took me 5 yrs to graduate (college is hard), AND I’ve been laid off a few times. Hasn’t been easy, but it’s what I know.

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Optimal-Ad-7074@reddit

nah, i'm one of those middle-class kids who were expected to go to college whether we liked it or not , because ... stuff. so i went because i didn't know how to say no, and because i was pretty invested in that academic kind of identity myself, and because i didn't have any better ideas and no idea how to do anything but go to school.

i had no vocation and no real interests, i just had a talent for languages and already spoke one of the ones that they taught. so i took a degree in that and then never used it.

real life didn't start for me until proper vocational/aptitude/interest testing in my late 20's. THEN i went to school to learn something i was serious about and i've never worked outside that zone since.

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OkThanks8237@reddit

I have two friends that dropped out of high school who are very successful entrepreneurs. I didn't go to college and took many years to get into the business I'm in now, and 15 years of that finally getting to a successful salary.