And that's where my main struggle lies. Because one year in school doesn't equate to one year of paying off debt. I was not very wise when choosing a school and tuition is about $40,000 a year. Granted I have Financial Aid, but it's still quite a bit of money. The only thing I can think of that I would use a BA for is to join the Peace Corps. But even then, their requirements are either a bachelor's degree or four years of professional work experience.
Just finish, trust me. I dropped out of school my junior year because I was certain that I'd end up either a successful touring musician or writing/recording scores for film/television. Well, my life took a different turn, and I'm glad it did, but while going down the new path I chose, I hit a point where I couldn't go any further without completing my degree. I had to go back and take classes at night while working a full time job. I should have just stuck it out for one more year, then tried my hand at music. You should stick it out one more year. The life of a nomad isn't going anywhere. Wait a year, a lot can change in a year.
You spent 40000 a year to get a jazz degree? Did you not -- didn't anyone tell you this wasn't the best idea? :( Things to add about thread; couldn't agree more that 3/4 of college is much worse than either no college or complete college. As the former isn't an option anymore, you should finish. Regarding the Peace Corps, what sort of loans do you have? Deferred interest to a certain income level? Because the Corps can help you out there. Give you some time to figure out what you're wanting to do, while not accruing stupid amounts of interest. And they pay you a lump sum when you leave. So if you're willing to toss a few years toward going somewhere interesting, think of it as an automatic reduction of debt. Life advice: don't quit because of a bout of temporary depression; either you'll regret it later or you won't but if there's even a chance that you'll regret it ... don't do it. Take a year off instead, perhaps? If your program allows that. You're already better off than almost everyone in the world in that you have a job and a further opportunity for future employment. Don't throw it away.
Unfortunately even if someone did tell me it was a bad idea, at 18 I was too hardheaded to listen. I only had what I wanted in mind and rejected anything else. Good points. I'll look into maybe taking a year off. Although, I would like to get out of here as quickly as possible so we'll see.
You're right about the regret. Again, I might be continuing the path of stubbornness that got me in the first place. However I do feel such conviction that living in a society that praises green paper isn't right for me nor ever will be. But I do understand that I can never know if my mentality will change until it does.
I don't think you should let your political opinions on having a money system or not having a money system influence your life so directly, but then again you probably shouldn't let my comments influence you at all. I'm right there with you, in a sense; I went to college in a place that made rational sense but isn't remotely interesting, so I'm just pushing through in order to "start my life" in a better place after I graduate. College is supposed to be fun, people say -- I answer that high school was fun as hell, I did all the stereotypical college things, and now I'm an adult and college feels like a period of stagnation. Without money, life isn't flexible. That's the bottom line.
But what about a life that doesn't require money? That's what I strive for.
Personally, I don't believe that exists. You have to be at the right place in the right time to get even close, and it won't last. And further, what's the ideology behind striving for that? Do you know why you want a life without money? Are you really after a life without debt, both monetary and otherwise? Without obligation or responsibility? If you didn't take part in the series of hubski submission involving the 15-hour work week utopia and the post-work ideal, you should go back and check them out -- very interesting, tangentially related.
It does exist though. And it's a shame that it's become so rare that people question it's existence. Maybe not so much in this country, but I'd be fine going with my Mayan ancestors in the jungle in Southern Mexico. It's not that I want a life free of debt, but rather a life where the only worries or obligations I have are ones that are necessary to living. I don't want to have to worry about some bullshit assignment or deadline or anything of that nature because those things DON'T MATTER. What matters is getting food, shelter, water, and the life lessons learned along the way. Personal spiritual growth is hindered when all of one's time is consumed by frivolous worries. "Who said what?" "Did you see that picture she posted?" "I don't know boss if I can have this ready in an hour." When did we fool ourselves that this was the way we were meant to live.
I want to have a meaningful connection with the land. I want to know where my food comes from. I want to wake up with the sun and sleep with the moon. I want to travel wherever I want because I'll be able to know how to gather and prepare food.
I want freedom from more than debt.
It takes interaction with the government to get to Mexico, and it takes money to interact with the government. You're talking about a pipe dream, and dropping out of school to chase it would only fulfill the mistake of going to school for jazz in the first place. Money and work don't need to get in the way of experiencing nature and understanding the important things in life. They aren't mutually exclusive, it just seems that way to you.
I'd recommend you read The Man Who Quit Money. I think that regardless of what I went to school for, I'd have come to this realization.
For the record, Daniel Suelo has a college degree ;-)
I just sent him an email to get his opinion on the matter.
He had sent out another email recently saying that he'd be on tour with the Lakota Tribe I think it was so he wouldn't have much time to respond. We'll see though. My thoughts have been very back and forth on the issue. I figure, I should probably take responsibility for my stupidity in coming here. I must have come here for a reason, and I haven't done anything significant enough to warrant how much money I'm spending. So I'm trying to figure out what it is I was meant to do here. Perhaps that'll require me to stay another year.
What's the date that you would graduate? Print it off on a piece of paper and hang it on your wall. Below the date write the words (hand written), "I will do this." Then, do it.
That he does. I recently was emailing him, I should ask him if he regretted getting it. I know that he was planning on bailing out paying off his debt, but the debtors nagging his parents bothered him too much.
Only in rare situations. More commonly they have student loan deferral.