The biggest mistake I ever made was to be in college.

When I was 18 years old, my parents wanted me to go to college. In their view, this is my only choice, so that I can make a difference in the future. I was the second generation of Italian Americans, when my mother followed my grandparents came to the United States, from scratch, after a bit of a look. So needless to say, I'm going to be the first college student in our family, and it's always a great thing to see.

We belong to the middle class family, but not very well-off, so I have to go to the loan to pay my 44000 dollars a year in RIT tuition. Presumably a lot of people have had the same experience, right? 44000 is not a small number, which is almost astronomical in my eyes because there are only 300 dollars in my bank account. So I began to obsess about not lending enough for the four-year tuition. Well, borrow it, let's start my college life.

However, no one told me it was a waste of my creative talents, hobbies and good years on things I didn't want to do. The university curriculum is not attractive at all. I even think I am better at teaching myself one afternoon than on a 10-week course. These courses are simply pot dishes, or like impostors.

So, I started not to go to class, I am not at ease. I really do not want to waste my good time in this waste can not be abolished in the curriculum. As a result, I had only 0.33 GPA in the second school year.

Would you put 0.33 GPA on your resume?

Finally, I dropped out of school, well, to be exact, I was told to quit. They told me never to come back. I rented a suite outside with someone, and managed to eke out a living by 10 bucks per hour. I lied to people I knew, including myself.

"I've been practicing all summer!" ”

But to be honest, I was afraid to tell them about my failure and tell them I let them down. Because no degree certificate is a success, is it not? It seems that I will never succeed again.

I've been stuck for a while. And I think that's where a lot of people end their lives. 400 bucks a week want to have a comfortable life is wishful thinking, but I did it, although I can not afford to buy a bed in 3 months to sleep on the floor, but at least I also count to live without worry. How could I possibly have done better without finishing my studies? I'm even glad I had a job as a dropout.

I'm still busy, I taught myself about rails and Linux. In addition, I have some Sihuo that specialize in computer and camera lenses on Craigslist and ebay, no matter how much money I make.

I used to sell myself like a second-hand car salesman.

When I am looking for a new job, I will do my best to fight for it. I didn't put my college experience on my resume, but I let my experience speak for myself and sell my passion. When the topic of university is mentioned, I always have a story to say.

I'm still struggling to get a degree in software engineering. My related work experience is self-study. Rather than stay in the classroom, I prefer to spend my time on self-study.

After a few interviews, I got a work contract worth 40,005. God is fair, and when you've had enough for a year, your luck will come. The next day, another 60,000 work contract. I had always thought that if I didn't go to college, even the lowest salary would be a problem, and now it seems that I was a little out of my mind. Such a concept is simply a form of self restraint, a subjective imaginative imagination. Success has never gone far before my eyes.

Do it, don't be silly!

Of course, the company is willing to pay 60,000 bucks for me, and they are sure to offer a higher price.

"Do it," you may all say. "Don't be silly, it's not the time to talk about wages." But I was never a man who let fear twist his nose.

A 20-year-old guy who earns 10 bucks an hour actually dares to reject their 60,000 contract and give a reasonable explanation?

"I am very sorry, I will only consider more than 100,000 of the contract, if you also have this sincerity, I would like to continue to sit down to talk." ”

Finally, we sat in the middle of a position and talked about important things.

Years later, I started my work in Twitpic. The subject of the university seems to have never been talked about. Since then, I have had a very well-paid job and developed some of my own products. With me, my passion, my knowledge and my experience are the most important.

Success is right in front of you, and I don't need a degree card to get it. Think too much is superfluous, want to make a difference only to be enthusiastic and sales of self ability, and no degree requirements.

"College only taught me how to pay my debt, and I'm still learning."-debacle on Hacker News

Unless you want to be a doctor, a teacher or a language therapist.