What would you do differently?

[Laurelin]

The where were you at 19 thread had me thinking... If you could redo things from growing up what would you do? I have tried to talk about some of this with my sisters too.

For me it would definitely be work more and save more in college. I was just not serious about it at that age.

Also I would have gone to a different school and majored in engineering. I went out of state for god knows why when I could have gone in state with my friends for cheaper. I shouldn't have gone where I knew no one. It wasn't the best choice for me and I often wonder how that would have changed my life now (would I be married?)

I think I would have taken a year or two in the 'real world' pre college to get a better idea about money and salary. I did not think much about salary when I picked my major. I picked what I thought people expected of me. And I stuck through a major I hated because of that.

I guess everyone has to make their own mistakes though.

 

[Ozfozz]

I would have just accepted the comprehensive health sciences offer I got from my school instead of taking that extra year in high school to beef up my grades and get into med lab.
(Guess what I'm in comprehensive health sci now because the med lab program was ridiculous!)

Had I done that, I would have graduated 2 years ago, and possibly had the motivation to do a masters degree.
At this rate, I just want to be done.

Oh and I wouldn't have dated a psycho.


HOWEVER all of those shaped who I am today and had I not done this I would have never met Josh, probably never have gotten Rigby, and life would be lame.

 

[xpaeanx]

Add me to the not dating a psycho list.

I would have taken out loans instead of trying to pay everything out of pocket my first school go.

 

[joce]

I think paying for college as I went was the best decision ever. Really smart. No debt.



But I should have been a lawyer and said screw it and taken out student loans

I still think about doing it.

 

[Fran27]

Not date my ex. My whole life changed after that.

 

[milos_mommy]

hmm....the only thing I can think of (which I thought of today) was I should have taken some college credits in high school. But I wasn't well, on home-schooling for medical reasons, and struggling as it was. So I'm not sure it would have worked...but I didn't think I had a future anyway, so I didn't care much about getting credits.

I think I've done a ton that others might consider "mistakes". But I don't have too many regrets as far as dating, (even if I stayed in an emotionally abusive relationship a while), school (even though I've been in and out for years), work, money...

 

[JacksonsMom]

I wish I would've done better in high school. I had the 'I'm not going to college' mentality for a while so kind of just got by. My life would be a lot easier NOW if I had just studied harder and worked harder in high school. I'm taking chemistry now in college because I failed it in HS, I had to take 3 noncredit math classes before college algebra because I sucked so hard at it back in HS.

But, my little brother died right before the start of my junior year and it kind of made me not care about much of anything. Obviously if I could change anything I would have him back.

I would've worked harder, I still lack the proper work ethics needed because I never had to work or do much of anything in high school.

 

[Lyzelle]

Is it weird that all the things I would take back and do differently would nix me of the good I got?

I can't think of anything I could take back that would be for the better....

Hm. Oh, shoes today. I definitely should have worn boots. My favorite heels now have a broken strap.

No, just kidding. I wouldn't have dated the psycho. And I mean Rhio, not Jin.

 

[SoCrafty]

I would have gotten out there! Instead of sitting holed up in my room, I would have done something I wanted, like tried out for sports. Not asked for permission to spend my money. I would have gone out to CO to the Vet Tech school instead of listening to my parents and not dated two jerks. All in all been more confident in myself.

But...if I changed all that, I wouldn't have my hubby now. So, I guess it all worked out for the best.

 

[LauraLeigh]

I honestly should have more regrets when you think about the fact that I'm 40, and recently divorced, but other than pursuing a better education I can't really regret anything, I have two wonderful children and an adorable grandson.... And my marriage was not all bad, we had many good years, I think the level of tragedy we dealt with between death and fire just did us in..... We've remained friends and both still care for each other, we've just... Fallen apart :-(

So yeah, education is a big one, looking back I wish I had found a way, young family or not, to pursue an education that would be still valid now (I did earn a secretarial diploma, however that was in '98 and, well, let's just say technology has made that diploma pretty much useless)

 

[eddieq]

I'm boring. I'd say eat better, exercise more and spend less frivolously/save more money. I'm happy with my life in general. Being fitter and having more money would certainly help, though

 

[Beanie]

God, so much.

I think paying for college as I went was the best decision ever. Really smart. No debt.

But I should have been a lawyer and said screw it and taken out student loans

I still think about doing it.

I'm actually right there with you. I paid for college as I went so graduated with no debt. I also went a non-traditional route. And yeah, it's great to have no debt. But I also sort of regret not just going to "real" college and getting student loans. Not sure what makes me think I'm so special that I should have no student loan debt, meh. I also regret my major. Sometimes I really think I should have just gone with my original plan.

Obviously I would be in a much different place in my life, I probably wouldn't have Auggie and all of my friends would be different - but besides the dogs and of course I love my friends, I really don't see much in my life as it is that I would miss.

I regret an awful lot. Oddly it's really NOT doing things that I regret.

 

[lancerandrara]

I'm probably not as far into life yet, but I'm glad to hear that paying for college as you go is the best decision... because that's what I'm doing now. All $200k of it (for 4 years). x_x My school unfortunately doesn't give out much scholarship to begin with, and I don't qualify for financial aid.

Well, I was a serious competitive swimmer for 7 years... but ever since my chain of injuries, I never got back to where I was before. I just wish I quit swimming after my 2nd year of high school instead of swim an extra year, which was just depressing and a waste of my time. It's tough to be once a star and then fall.. and never get back up lol.

Random thing, I wish I didn't try to pretend I knew EVERYTHING about dogs and dog training when I was 15. I used to be on dogster, saw all these experienced trainers/handlers, and tried to be and act like them when I definitely didn't know much. LOL. I know it's just children doing childish things, but it's embarrassing to think back! I hope nobody remembers me.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Hmm... Definitely wish I hadn't gone to college before I knew what I wanted to do/got a bit older. I wish I had lived in the west a little longer and I wish that I had lived in NC or TN for a bit. For school reasons, I wish I had waited to get married. It's difficult to juggle marriage on top of school and work. Because my marriage comes first, I'm often cramming everything else and it is stressful. I would not have sold my horse. Biggest regret ever.

 

[Julee]

I would be saving more and doing something else for work. I am currently regretting those things.

I also would have dropped out sooner and started getting my GED sooner.

I would have kept Deke and had more strict contract on Ranger, so I would have him now.

Wouldn't have moved to WA... though that did give me some perspective. I wouldn't have spent so much trying to make it work and spent what I had coming home.

 

[milos_mommy]

I regret an awful lot. Oddly it's really NOT doing things that I regret.

I don't think this is all that odd. I think it's way, way, way more common than regretting decision you DO make.

I do sort of wish I had studied abroad at some point. Not like I ever could have afforded it, but I REALLY can't now. I'd say I wish I just moved overseas, but I honestly think I might have ended up dead if I did that. Sometimes I think about missed opportunities, but the realistic viewpoint is that I wasn't in a good place a lot of the time, I've had multiple near death experiences related to my mental and physical health, and I'm alive and well by a very narrow margin.

I think if I didn't get so lucky to often be in the right place at the right time, I would have been in a very wrong place.

 

[*blackrose]

If I hadn't done what I did I wouldn't be where I'm at now, but barring that...

I wish I had understood and accepted myself sooner than I did. It really limited my social opportunities, which limited what doors opened for me. If I could go back and change that, I would.

I should have just lived at home the year I chose to move out, and saved all of that money on rent and bills. I could have had $7,000 in my savings by doing that alone, but no, I wanted my own place. Even though I spent 85% of the time at Michael's anyway and hated my apartment.

I should have been more aggressive at my job, and not have accepted the pay I did.

I wish I had chosen a different career path. Had I known I wanted to work as a vet tech, I would have gotten my BS in that field and currently be registered as a BSRVT. As it is, I have a degreee I don't really use for anything and I'm not a registered tech.

But like I said. Those decisions lead me to where I am now, so I really can't complain.

 

[sassafras]

I learned a lot from the stuff I messed up, I didn't eff up so badly that my life was ruined by anything, and I like where I've landed. So honestly, I'm good with it all.

 

[Greenmagick]

This is hard because a lot of the things I wouldve changed wouldve made me a different person today so....

I do wish that I had enjoyed being young more. I wish I wasnt convinced I was fat when I was not at all, being actually fat now I know the difference lol

 

[yoko]

Not really growing up. But I would have left my ex way earlier. We dated about 3/4 of a year and that was way too long. I wasted so much time and money with him it was stupid.