College - Martin Konkel

I should not be here, period. I bombed high school; failed some classes, barely passed a few, and then after a while my guidance councilor let me take all the easy stuff so I could get out of there. My SAT scores were in the 800's or so, maybe not even that much. I hated high school, didn't see much point in it all, and coasted my way through in neutral. I did graduate, but I didn't even want to go to graduation; I was just happy enough that I was done with it all.


Then I went to Thomas Nelson and started taking my Automotive classes. I loved cars; I had the oldest car in the High School parking lot, I fixed up the engine, laid down some rubber while I was there too, I would read my car magazines and books instead of paying attention in class, etc. When I started to learn about something that I actually saw as useful it woke me up inside, and I went after education with a passion I have never had before. Also, at the time, the older students in my class (which many times I was the youngest student by far) really help me wake up. They would help me out, and tell me how they wish they did what I was doing at my age. Gone was the stupid kiddie BS of high school and now I was learning along adults who have been there and done that. I obtained my Associates degree along with a 3.4GPA, and since I never thought I would of made it this far I decided to apply to CNU and see how car I could really get. What also really hoped me was that for a year and half I worked among my classes constantly (I never took summers off). I was among people much older me, making a fair wage, and was expected to perform. Most of all, I wanted to do this work for the rest of my life and what I did now directly affected the references I would get later on. I had to be dead serious, and while I wasn't always the best at what I did, I made damn sure to work the hardest I could.


Now I feel like I'm back in High School again. Here I sit in these random classes that do not teach me in any skills I could use later in life. I'm also among many 13th graders and we are back to the constant gossip and talking about how drunk so and so got last night. Yet, for whatever reason some of these kids really seem to think they got it going on now; being away from there parents and all. Then, on top of it, I get to hear them bitch about how hard school is, or how unfair a teachers was. Sorry to say, but I can't wait for them to get that first real job so the life can really smack them upside the face.


I do not even know if I'm going to continue all of this. I'm doing fairly well though, which makes the decision quite hard, but at the same time I could be working in a shop gaining precious experience and knowledge instead of wasting away in a classroom while some professor tries to "open my mind". Worst part is, I can drop out now and make the same money turning wrenches as I would with a business degree, and the final catcher if turning wrenches is exactly what I want to do. The money is really good too as I progress along; and the final blow is that after I get that 4-year degree I have no desire to enter the business world at all. I want the degree to open doors up for me later in life, but for now I really do not have nothing much to loose if I drop out.