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Oct 2019
6:13pm, 31 Oct 2019
4,856 posts
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Eynsham Red
I enjoyed my time at school. I was very average in most things, but didn’t know how to apply myself to achieve higher grades. I guess that is something which came with maturity. My social time at school was good fun.
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Oct 2019
6:42pm, 31 Oct 2019
18,184 posts
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Dvorak
Primary school was great, in the main; high school, more mixed. I was often bored. Lacked application, so though I did quite well, it wasn't really well enough.
College then went less well: I was no good amongst complete strangers, and was ejected.
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Oct 2019
7:53pm, 31 Oct 2019
8,690 posts
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PaulaMc
I loved primary school. Secondary school was pretty good too, I was top of most things (apart from maths and sport!) but although my O levels were fine I didn't do myself justice for a variety of reasons and left too early, before A levels. It's bugged me all my adult life that I could have been the lawyer, or the doctor, or at the top of something or other, but instead I'm the one supporting them. By the time I realised it was too late. Got my degree with the OU in my 30s and for a while considered teaching but we couldn't afford for me to retrain and so I stayed where I was. I'll always be frustrated about fact that I let myself down, but on the upside I have the strong, stable family life that I always craved and I can't knock that.
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Oct 2019
10:18pm, 31 Oct 2019
5,535 posts
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Northern Exile
I had a terrible time at school, I was bright enough to go to Grammar School but without any real guidance or oversight from home I became a rebel and properly obnoxious tw*t. After a few years working in the engineering industry the Armed Forces came along and saved me, I retook my O levels and was fortunate enough to do a degree entirely at HM government's expense (I got a first). All the same, my younger years are something I bitterly regret and know I should have gone on to do better things. I guess I can't complain because I've had an exciting and topical life, all the same I do wonder about what might have been ....
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Nov 2019
6:36am, 1 Nov 2019
4,375 posts
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quimby
I think we just don't know what we want when we are young. I sailed through school, got good O levels, then A levels hit me like a sack of bricks. I didn't know how to work and study; I'd just understood it all like a breeze before. Managed to pass the A levels, got to university, realised I was still out of my depth and dropped out after a year. That will always be a regret, but, a couple of years later, I still managed to get a job which stated a degree in the requirements.
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Nov 2019
8:26am, 1 Nov 2019
15,732 posts
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Angus Clydesdale
I had similar. Apparently a potential Oxbridge candidate at 13 I proceeded to breeze through O-levels, flunk A-levels and end up working in a bank (horrible job) then as a trainee car mechanic (better job but not what I really wanted). Joined the Army part-time, loved it. Joined the RAF wholetime. Loved it even more.
I’ve tried to go back to A-level and degree level study a couple of times over the years but I just can’t find the right course and/or motivation.
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Nov 2019
8:38am, 1 Nov 2019
9,126 posts
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geordiesanta
It’s so hard studying and working full time. I did a legal qualification took me 3 years it ruined my social life! Pretty much lost me my best mate & godson as he grew from being a 7yr old to a 10yr old and suddenly other people become important to them. Sad and I’ve struggled for a while about it but I’m working on friendship is mutual if she’s moved in I need to too. Miss my godson though.
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Nov 2019
10:25am, 1 Nov 2019
32,992 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Crikey, deep and philosophical musings by the Over 50s today! I admire the high achievers, but I'm mostly happy with my lot! Errr, bit less analytical than your insights above, but equally reflective?  G
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Nov 2019
10:32am, 1 Nov 2019
9,128 posts
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geordiesanta
indeed HappyG! In other news I am very excited to be getting new garden furniture - surely a sign I'm over 50 :-D
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Nov 2019
10:47am, 1 Nov 2019
28,176 posts
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LazyDaisy
Lol GS I've been looking for new garden furniture but the stuff I want is all out of stock now until the Spring
I'm a very boring kind of person: worked diligently at school, found it pretty easy, ditto university, had no idea of what I wanted to do thereafter but found myself a decent, interesting career until twelve years on deciding that, after all, I *did* want children, gave up work to look after them, eventually went back to different work, did a couple of post grad qualifications, changed career *again*, got ground down by teaching, left, now happily retired-but-busy. It's kind of just 'happened' - the only conscious forward planning I've ever done was deciding to do a PGCE at 51 because I knew an empty nest was coming up and I wanted to have something to fill the void. If I could have been a perpetual student that would have suited me. I enjoy learning, studying, and even writing essays and dissertations
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