[worldspy99]

Aw. Sometimes it's unpredictable. One could look at my age and think that I got my bachelor's degree a good while back but I was actually late to that party. I'm only 2 years removed.

You really never know, but I can only imagine of course.

I went to school for 15 years, then straight to undergraduate degree for 4 years. Worked for a year and then 2.5 years for my graduate degree and then I have been slaving away. I'd love to have a break but that will probably happen when I retire.

[libra89]

Actually I have made a lot of progress on something that I want to pursue as a future career. I hope that 2017 is the year that things come to fruition, fingers crossed. April and May are crucial months.

Ooh very cool! I wish for it to happen for you in the way you would want it to.

[meattray]

Actually I have made a lot of progress on something that I want to pursue as a future career. I hope that 2017 is the year that things come to fruition, fingers crossed. April and May are crucial months.

Sounds very exciting. I'm happy for you. Hoping everything works out.

[libra89]

I went to school for 15 years, then straight to undergraduate degree for 4 years. Worked for a year and then 2.5 years for my graduate degree and then I have been slaving away. I'd love to have a break but that will probably happen when I retire.

Wow, you're just a go-getter! Seriously.

[worldspy99]

Wow, you're just a go-getter! Seriously.

Back home the pressure to get ahead in the rat race is just unbelievable. I'm glad my kid doesn't have to deal with that over here. Very grateful for that. All our friends look at us a bit funnily since the kid doesn't want any extracurricular classes to start getting ahead at school and I'm perfectly okay with that.

[MSFTisMIA]

Back home the pressure to get ahead in the rat race is just unbelievable. I'm glad my kid doesn't have to deal with that over here. Very grateful for that. All our friends look at us a bit funnily since the kid doesn't want any extracurricular classes to start getting ahead at school and I'm perfectly okay with that.

Some folks will never understand how hard the pressure is in some cultures. Lost a classmate to suicide because of this...Kid was pretty smart but he wasn't bringing home the grades that were expected and just saw no other way out.

Growing up my aunt played the comparison game and I had to learn to tune it out. Perhaps I could have been like my old coworker who is an pediatrician and pharmacist (we're the same age, roughly) and overachieved, but I'd like to think I'm walking the road I'm supposed to...

[MSFTisMIA]

Congrats! It felt like yesterday you were just starting...

Tell me about it. It's been an interesting process, to say the least.

[N_LaRUE]

The funny thing is that I am not actively looking.

It was the same for me at the time as well. It was just the industry that was so busy that they were constantly searching for people.

By far the creepier ways of contact was when they called me on my office phone. That happened a few times, including here in the UK. Always felt odd.

[N_LaRUE]

Some folks will never understand how hard the pressure is in some cultures. Lost a classmate to suicide because of this...Kid was pretty smart but he wasn't bringing home the grades that were expected and just saw no other way out.

Growing up my aunt played the comparison game and I had to learn to tune it out. Perhaps I could have been like my old coworker who is an pediatrician and pharmacist (we're the same age, roughly) and overachieved, but I'd like to think I'm walking the road I'm supposed to...

My upbringing was the complete opposite. I think my mother just wanted us to be good. There never was any pressure to achieve anything. Sometimes I wish there had been as I was a bit lazy at school and way too independent. Having some structure is important for young children, to some extent.

I guess that's life growing up as the youngest child of a single parent who works.

I'm not regretful or anything, I've done more in life than I could have ever imagined, just wish I'd had more encouragement. I won't go into my family dynamic of what my older brother was like...

[worldspy99]

It was the same for me at the time as well. It was just the industry that was so busy that they were constantly searching for people.

By far the creepier ways of contact was when they called me on my office phone. That happened a few times, including here in the UK. Always felt odd.

Oh they do that here as well and even email you via guesswork at the work email address.

[N_LaRUE]

Aw. Sometimes it's unpredictable. One could look at my age and think that I got my bachelor's degree a good while back but I was actually late to that party. I'm only 2 years removed.

You really never know, but I can only imagine of course.

Leaving school for me was over 20 years ago... creeping up on 30....

My wife finished her bachelor degree in her early 30's and masters in her late 30's. She's still contemplating a PhD.

[N_LaRUE]

Oh they do that here as well and even email you via guesswork at the work email address.

Can't say I've had the email thing. They typically contact me via LinkedIn these days though it's been sometime now.

[MSFTisMIA]

My upbringing was the complete opposite. I think my mother just wanted us to be good. There never was any pressure to achieve anything. Sometimes I wish there had been as I was a bit lazy at school and way too independent. Having some structure is important for young children, to some extent.

I guess that's life growing up as the youngest child of a single parent who works.

I'm not regretful or anything, I've done more in life than I could have ever imagined, just wish I'd had more encouragement. I won't go into my family dynamic of what my older brother was like...

Families have an interesting way of shaping us as people, for sure.

[Scienceguy Labs]

Families have an interesting way of shaping us as people, for sure.

Agreed. A couple of great books about that are The Road Less Traveled and People of the Lie. 👍

Sent from mTalk

[libra89]

Leaving school for me was over 20 years ago... creeping up on 30....

My wife finished her bachelor degree in her early 30's and masters in her late 30's. She's still contemplating a PhD.

Ooh okay, I better understand your original statement now.

I have to give much props to her for going through that. That's inspiring. I can't imagine wanting to do a PhD though, but I wish her luck with the decision.

[libra89]

Families have an interesting way of shaping us as people, for sure.

Seriously. It's interesting in good and bad ways. Having to unlearn some things is so not fun.

[MSFTisMIA]

Seriously. It's interesting in good and bad ways. Having to unlearn some things is so not fun.

Some things aren't unlearned either. That's life though...

[N_LaRUE]

Some things aren't unlearned either. That's life though...

The baggage one carries with them through life. Sometimes you can let go. Other times it just lingers like a bad smell.

[MSFTisMIA]

The baggage one carries with them through life. Sometimes you can let go. Other times it just lingers like a bad smell.

You'd be surprised sometimes as to how unaware people are off that and how that lack of awareness reinforces generational patterns...

[meattray]

You guys have some fascinating stories.

[N_LaRUE]

Ooh okay, I better understand your original statement now.

I have to give much props to her for going through that. That's inspiring. I can't imagine wanting to do a PhD though, but I wish her luck with the decision.

My wife is a bit of an academic in her field of study. She's done more courses than anyone I've ever met. To use the term 'specialist' when it comes to my wife would be almost insulting. More like expert. :P

Of course she doesn't see herself in that manner. I do though.

As for the PhD it's a dream and one she really wants to pursue it's really about finding the topic and getting someone to think it's worthwhile. Not easy.

[N_LaRUE]

You'd be surprised sometimes as to how unaware people are off that and how that lack of awareness reinforces generational patterns...

Oh I'm pretty aware of that. So is my wife.

Also I've seen lots of examples here in the UK, Canada and Australia of attitudes to certain things, like going to college or university are see as being 'up oneself' to use an Aussie idiom.

I'm the only college grad in my family at this point. None of my nieces or nephews have gone to college yet. Same goes for my wife.

[libra89]

Some things aren't unlearned either. That's life though...

The baggage one carries with them through life. Sometimes you can let go. Other times it just lingers like a bad smell.

I am realizing this, but still trying to unlearn the things I can.

I have mentioned this before but going against the grain from what is expected of you feels harder than I would expect sometimes.

[libra89]

My wife is a bit of an academic in her field of study. She's done more courses than anyone I've ever met. To use the term 'specialist' when it comes to my wife would be almost insulting. More like expert. :P

Of course she doesn't see herself in that manner. I do though.

As for the PhD it's a dream and one she really wants to pursue it's really about finding the topic and getting someone to think it's worthwhile. Not easy.

That's awesome actually! I see, that makes sense.

[MSFTisMIA]

I am realizing this, but still trying to unlearn the things I can.

I have mentioned this before but going against the grain from what is expected of you feels harder than I would expect sometimes.

Ultimately it's more about replacing unhealthy habits and patterns with healthier ones. Many people unlearn things but never properly replace them...So the old stuff creeps back in.