Quick Question from an Ex-Enthusiast...

At 15... well.. what am I doing now. Hmm.. I'm fully enjoying my guitar and thinking of going to a movie. I don't know whats happening much after that. ;)

No, actually I have an idea of what I *want* to do, and for now thats getting into a good college and go into engineering. I'm just enjoying going to other towns and hanging out with a bunch of friends. Enjoy life today because yesterday is gone and tomorow may never come. :)

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Nitro Dave said:

Not that I'm saying this as a defense mechanism because of perceived personal inadequacy, but what exactly is your problem with the Ivy League?... Not everyone who goes to a top school is an arrogant prince(ss) from an independently wealthy family with pristine lineage.

At the same time, while I hesitate to use the phrase "out of touch," I think a lot of the people who are preaching to Stitch are. You need to take some serious time to evaluate where you're at and how you got there. From the way you make it sound, you never had any delusions of invincibility or grandeur, you never made any mistakes, had no high school or college regrets, were a model student and were never a wiseass, and did not change their perspective one bit between high school and your present lives. How many are still standing up now?

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Well, Mr. Defensive, I don't have a problem with your precious Ivy League. It was Stitch in fact who maintains that all he has to do is get into Harvard, Yale or Princeton and his "life is set." If he had said "Dogpatch Community College," I'd have the same opinion.

I don't think anyone in here claimed to never make a mistake or change their perspective one bit between high school and their present lives. On the contrary, I think it's precisely for that reason that people are cautioning Stitch not to be so certain that success in life is based entirely on what colleges accept your application.

Have no fear, I don't think you're an arrogant princess at all... well not too arrogant.

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Corkscrewy said:
Enjoy life today because yesterday is gone and tomorow may never come. :)

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That's actually incredibly wise for a 15-year-old, and incredibly true. Living in the moment is very hard to do. There are times, however, particularly when you're exposed to death (relatives, friends, young celebrities, etc.) that you kind of remember that you just don't know what's next.

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RatherGoodBear said:
Well, Mr. Defensive, I don't have a problem with your precious Ivy League...If he had said "Dogpatch Community College," I'd have the same opinion.

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So if you were to find someone in the unemployment line next to you who went to Dogpatch Community College, you'd say you were glad they were there? I guess that means you take issue with anyone who's ever been to college? Because you never said you were referring to arrogant Ivy Leaguers who had some inflated sense of entitlement, just ALL Ivy Leaguers. Either that or, after that sweeping generalization, you're just trying to cover your tracks.

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I don't think anyone in here claimed to never make a mistake or change their perspective one bit between high school and their present lives. On the contrary, I think it's precisely for that reason that people are cautioning Stitch not to be so certain that success in life is based entirely on what colleges accept your application.

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Did you read my post at all? I never said that transcripts or college was or was not a guarantee of success, only that it COULD be. There seemed to be a general sentiment in the thread in favor of life lessons vs. college lessons. I was merely arguing that they need not be mutually exclusive, offering myself as an example of someone who found himself getting value from an Ivy League education. In fact, if you'll take a second look, you'll see that I offered my own caution to Stitch as well.

The entire reason I jumped into this conversation is because I resent being thrown into the category of "snot-nosed Ivy League snobs" just because of the school whose name is on my chest. I'm allowed to be proud of my school without the threat of being labeled as "arrogant" or "precious" or pretentious or pedantic. Those very sweeping generalizations, in fact, are what have started this entire sub-argument. Crazy, huh?

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Have no fear, I don't think you're an arrogant princess at all... well not too arrogant.

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Oh, how clever of you. Didn't have much to present in terms of counterargument, so you throw around a personal insult. I'm simply torn up inside. If you want to continue this discussion, I'll be up in my tower, with my tiara in my lap, tears of sorrow staining my ball gown.

You're such a Queen, Dave.

;)

And I never, ever, EVER want to see you in a dress and tiara.

Nitro, I think you're the one with the reading problem here. My original comment was directed toward Stitch's statement that the reason he has absolutely no free time because he's involved in all these activities to increase his SAT scores and to make his resume more attractive to 3 schools, all of which happen to be Ivy League schools.

He feels that this will pay off because once he enrolls in any of those schools, his "life is set," apparently in terms of financial gain and prestige. Apparently, all one has to do is mention the old Alma Mater and everyone kow-tows to your every wish.

My comment was that anyone who thinks that their life is set, whether they graduate from Princeton or Dogpatch is misguided. And it's equally wrong to assume that the Ivy League are "top schools" across the board, completely better in every way than other schools. If that works for you, Nitro, good for you. Next time You cry about sweeping generalizations, refrain from making your own.

Everyone's talking about doing what makes you happy-- although that phrase generally makes me cringe. But it sounds like Stitch and millions of more like him in this country aren't doing what makes them happy. Every minute of their day is choroegraphed with one single purpose in mind-- to impress the admissions panel of some elite school.

I love it how any time people disagree, it's always because of the other's inability to read. :)

I have friends who have gone to Ivy League schools, and they're no more assured of success (whatever that is anyway) than anyone else. Is it important to go to college? In my opinion, yes. Does it matter where? In my experience, no. Does your understanding of the real world differ greatly if you have a four-year degree, graduate degree, lived on campus or commuted, etc.? You better believe it.

The experience of college is more important to me than the degree. It still has nothing to do with how you define success and whether or not you achieve it.

...And a mind is a terrible thing to waste!
:)

I wasted a heap of my parents money when I went to college. And I'm sure I'll feel the payback when my kids go to college.
I agree with Jeff.

Hey now... some of my best friends are queens. You say it like it's a bad thing.

Well thank you, Tekno! Finally! What's with this "princess" garbage? I'm a queen, damn it! ;)