Work in progress
I was an awful student.

Not in the sense that I was violent, disobedient, or even a massive prankster, but because I had a severe lack of motivation.
There were times when I'd have my mum (who could've cared less) called into school because I'd written the date. Nothing else, lesson after lesson.

One day, a Geography teacher was must've been in the middle of a personal crisis and by myself going through my own and putting in even less effort than usual (not an easy feat!), I had managed to trigger a mental breakdown. After a brief lecturing about Richard Branson and Steve Jobs changing the World she saw I was still in my own little bubble of indifference and flipped. Big style.

"YOU WILL NEVER MAKE A DIFFERENCE! YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE THIS WORLD AND NOONE WILL EVER CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU DID!"

She stormed out crying and I was in shock! Jaw gaping wide; I was stunned.

In the end I scraped through college with four C's in all the right subjects and a couple of B's in science that just kept me going in school so I could gain qualifications in IT and Business. And, while I haven't managed to prove her wrong yet, her words have always stuck with me. In fact I put those qualifications to good use (ironc joke in 3..2..) and applied for the Army as a medic. I'm still waiting to get a selection date, (my TA history is causing major delays) let alone my first choice and I know this is hardly Virgin/microsoft-esque, but I'm proud of my choice and the thought I could still be following my Mum's example and spending most of my life on the dole scares me more than anything else.

It's a pity you only find a direction in your life after you do a subject for 4+ years and realise (purchase ledgers... *shivers*) you hate it. But it's something I'll try and help my kids with one day (when I actually have kids, I'm only 22-going-on-40), to try and breed the enthusiasm for learning I lost and teach them the importance of getting those grades.

Sorry for the long and possibly boring/depressing post, I feel it had to be told. Also I came to realise how hard it must be for the teachers. To truly love a subject and have shits* like me not even bother to listen to you.

So 'changing the world' is my unfinished school/life project, no pressure then...

*judging by some of the other posts here I'm guessing there's quite a few teachers taking regular trips to a psychiatrist out there!
(suicidalducky has too much time on his hands, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 5:54, 2 replies)

Haha purchase ledgers.
Guess what job I've currently got: Accounts Assistant!
I know exactly where you're coming from. *offers hugs*
(Evilweevil is covered in bees, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 11:09, closed)

lol!
Thanks!
(suicidalducky has too much time on his hands, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 20:10, closed)