go and research hard cover books of your subjects in a liberal arts univerisity's library of your choice. for a fee many will let you read books, take 2 home for 10 days, do it for 6 months, see what happens. the fee is less than a whole semester and many of the teachers, librarians are very helpful. have a good quest.
Ask HN: 19, developer, burnt out, advice please
71–74 of 74 posts
Re: Ask HN: 19, developer, burnt out, advice please
#72Go to college. Take science to discover something you're good at. Take humanities to discover something you may love. Take at least one art or music class. Take at least one advanced math class. Join a fraternity. Learn how to play bridge (and play all night sometime). Learn how to play foosball. Get drunk. Learn how to play foosball while drunk. Get laid. Play an intramural team sport. Get a part time job. Eat somet…
I've done most of that in one form or another, with nothing but an unfinished high school education. Still am. Every time one of these threads comes along, I get the impression that Americans don't get to have a social/independent life until college. Is it really that way? I'm honestly curious. (I'm 21 and in Denmark, fwiw.)
I went to college at 13 (I've graduated now, obviously), and essentially had to answer this question over and over. I went to college, without the getting drunk, without the frat (I did get to do original research, though), and without the getting laid (for the most part). I did it because I loved learning. I still do, but colleges are essentially bureaucratic hucksterism. So a lot people think I missed out -- on high school, college, everything. And I explain, I lead a pretty active life, and I got some awesome chances to do cool things. Now I can spend these years really _focusing_ on doing irresponsible and stupid things.
Why is everyone such a punk about not being able to do cool things if you aren't enrolled in a degree-seeking program?
(Also, I'm American, so all I can do is confirm people have exactly the same social dysfunction you think they do.)
Re: Ask HN: 19, developer, burnt out, advice please
#73Go to college. Take science to discover something you're good at. Take humanities to discover something you may love. Take at least one art or music class. Take at least one advanced math class. Join a fraternity. Learn how to play bridge (and play all night sometime). Learn how to play foosball. Get drunk. Learn how to play foosball while drunk. Get laid. Play an intramural team sport. Get a part time job. Eat somet…
wish you were my college advisor...
Re: Ask HN: 19, developer, burnt out, advice please
#74This is so scarily complimenting my life I'm paranoid of this throwaway account.