Hang on a sec, gotta shove some more coal into this laptop.

This was an Al Kresta re-run, the author is Christian Smith and the book they were discussing is "Souls in Transition".

I always respond to whiny students who complain 'why do I have to learn this? I am never going to use it!' that the reason is because 'this is a university, the purpose of a university is to provide you with a liberal education, if you only want to learn the bare minimum necessary to be able to do a particular job then you should have gone to a vocational or trade school'

They don't like that answer, but that is basically it.

Another thread prompted me to bump this one. We have some newbies that might want to chime in.

Oh dear, I didn't notice this was an old thread. I was around at the time but have no recollection of it. But I have just voted and since I am in the 60-69 band it may be that I had already voted back in 2010 but just don't remember. Sigh. Anyway, in case anyone is still interested, my BA was in philosphy (or as Cambridge called it then, Moral Sciences) That was back in 1971 and jusst over 2 decades later I did a professional training in psychoanalytiic psychotherapy Masters equivalent.

Turned 29 last month, 7 classes left after my current ones for my bachelors

I have a BA degree in Psychology and Sociology (joint honours), and a BA Education degree (English and Dramatic Art).

I'm still very young, in my 50s.

I did vote then, but don't remember discussing about it in the thread.

So.....I will now. I may have mentioned elsewhere that I am a high school graduate of all public schools, and have a D.D.D. degree, which is in Diapers, Dishes, and Dilemmas. (four boys, four girls).

Wondered why my answer's were pre-filled for me...then checked the date of the thread.

Hey.quit stuffing the ballot box! Only dead Democrats get to vote twice!

The conversation on guidance is very interesting. I have almost the complete opposite of what VS had, and it worked out very badly.

My parents played a big part in deciding where, and what, I was studying. I wanted to join the military but was informed that it was below me and that wasn't allowed. In hindsight I wouldn't have got in because they would have picked up my psych problems but I wasn't even allowed to try. Which universities I could attend and what areas of study were appropriate were decided for me and I got to pick from them. At the time I didn't have the backbone to stand up for myself and I ended up wasting about 6 years and now have around $40 000 (I think) worth of debt as a result.

I have a Bachelors degree in Economics. I don't use it and wasted too much time to get it. My parents were very influencial in what I did, but it isn't them that lives with the negative consequences. It's me. Similiar stories with my brothers.

It wasn't until we told our parents were they could go with their views that any of us started seeing anything resembling success.

I think that VegasCane's attitude is great, and it is an attitude all my brothers now have towards their kids, and it's an attitude I will have if I ever have children.

@Jayne, i agree with you in terms of parents influencing their children to follow the "right path" vs. follow your dreams. i wasted so much time in college trying to make my mom proud, only to realize its a waste of money. my mom's side of the family is all in the medical field, my 19 yr old brother is also going into it, my sister is a vet tech. i want nothing to do with that field...defintely the odd duck in the family in terms of choosing a different career path!

26 now, but only have my AS degree. 3 semesters away from geting my BA in geography though

I have a trade certificate(I am assuming that is what "technical/vocational school" is) in electronics.
But I will finish my bachelors degree in computer science this year and will probably get masters next year, I have family that are doing PhDs, so that might be an option later down the line too.

edit: and I am 27.

Sometimes it does take part of a lifetime to become aware that something was awry in the way we were brought up. I believe that all of us, to some extent, have experienced that in different ways.

Nothing is wasted, and we are still on this planet. "All things work together for good for those who love God." God is patient. Nothing is wasted in the economy of salvation.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who, being God is outside of time, can walk back to the areas of our life that were detrimental to us, and heal us if we are receptive.

hehe, had this thread been resurrected in 4 months from now, i would have been able to "correct" my age answer

My parents just wanted me to go to college, no particulars on field of study. At the time I began college (1963) Vietnam was going on and the Draft so I took Army ROTC. I really didn't know what I wanted to do, except I knew I didn't want a career in the military. It took me a couple of years to figure out I didn't want to major in Psychology or then Geology and I happened to take a basic art course the first semester of my Junior year. Ended up majoring in Fine Arts and upon graduation went on active duty for two years. Came off active duty and was in the Army Reserves while being director of an adult Arts and Crafts center. Had the opportunity to return to active duty a few years later and did so finally retiring. In high school never really thought about art as a college major or being in the military as a career.

I'm in my fifties and I don't have any qualifications.

I'm late 40's with no qualifications. I was an ok mummy though if that's a qualification?

I'm nineteen and in college.

I hope you all feel old now.

This thread is older than Moses. Who bumped it?