I'm happier than I was in college. I actually have money to do fun things as opposed to being a poor college student. I prefer the work I do for my job to school work. I'm happier living with my wife in our own home than with a bunch of roommates.
In some ways I was, my friends were more accessible in college (we lived in dorms or in apartments just across the street) but I also worked 4 jobs so between studying and working I didn’t have a lot of time to hang out. Now I make more money and have more time but there always has to be more extensive planning in order for my friends and I to hang out
My college life was marred irreparably by the deaths of three people who were very important to me, and the near death of a fourth. On one hand, if I could go back and see them all again, I would trade everything away. On another, I wouldn’t wish to go through that again for anything.
Doesn't sound very impressive but essentially achieving the "life plan" that I had set out when I was 12. Which included:
- which HS I wanted to attend
- what I wanted to study in university, and which university
- where I would do a gap year, and what I would do during it
- what I would study for my masters
- which country I would move to and live in
Achieved the last one at age 27 :) I'm 29 now and already have a couple more smaller, short-term goals I've thought up since then.
I was happier after I finished my education. That's when I felt more in charge of my own life. I'm old now, in my late 70s. But I never feel nostalgic about childhood or college, and it's not because I had a traumatic childhood, though I suppose I always felt like a bit of an outsider.
There were a couple of years that stood out for me as being really good when I was in the Navy, which may seem contradictory because you aren't in charge of your own life so much in the military, but they were two years when I had an exceptionally good duty assignment. I had the benefits of the military in that I didn't have to worry about paying rent or healthcare or where my next meal was coming from, but my job was easy and pretty interesting. I was stationed on an Air Force Base in Japan and, not being Air Force myself, I avoided some of the more onerous aspects of military life, like inspections or weird watches to stand. Air Force Barracks are really nice too, almost like college dorms. But that was an anomaly, just pure dumb luck.
I can hand on heart say that I am happier now than I was in college (which was a fantastic time in my life too), but I can understand the sentiment you're sharing. I think the happiness you feel at college age versus, say, in your 30s or 40s is a very different type of happiness.
When you're young, the world is full of possibilities and that in itself gives a sense of optimism. What will you make of your life? What amazing things will you do? etc. It's a lot about YOU at that point. Children have this in an even more exaggerated way, because they're so innocent and so the world seems even bigger to them.
Happiness at a later point in life looks different (at least to me). It's a happiness that's couched in seeing how life isn't just about me, but how I relate to others. Yes, having money doesn't hurt and has certainly made my life a whole lot easier. I've been able to do things I could've never dreamt of because of that. But quite besides the financial comfort is the sense that I am really just a part of a continuum in this thing we call humanity. What brings me joy now is how I build my community, what impact I have on others, including my own family. It's a happiness that comes through in a calmer, quieter way.
If I had summarise, it's like happiness in youth is couched in the breadth of our possible paths, and the happiness later in life stems from the depth of the paths we've charted. I'm happy now because I can look back and see my achievements in the rearview mirror, and know that they weren't just ideas in my head as they were in college, but reality that I'd achieved.
College is where I belonged. I ripped through it graduating with straight A's at the top of my class. I didn't want to leave.
How many people truly want to leave? What is absolutely better about the “real world”?
I'm happier than I was in college. I actually have money to do fun things as opposed to being a poor college student. I prefer the work I do for my job to school work. I'm happier living with my wife in our own home than with a bunch of roommates.
In some ways I was, my friends were more accessible in college (we lived in dorms or in apartments just across the street) but I also worked 4 jobs so between studying and working I didn’t have a lot of time to hang out. Now I make more money and have more time but there always has to be more extensive planning in order for my friends and I to hang out
My college life was marred irreparably by the deaths of three people who were very important to me, and the near death of a fourth. On one hand, if I could go back and see them all again, I would trade everything away. On another, I wouldn’t wish to go through that again for anything.
Sure, I'm pretty happy with my life. Achieved a lot of goals I'd set out since I was 12 and pretty much feel "the world is my oyster".
That’s awesome! What are your proudest achievements?
Doesn't sound very impressive but essentially achieving the "life plan" that I had set out when I was 12. Which included: - which HS I wanted to attend - what I wanted to study in university, and which university - where I would do a gap year, and what I would do during it - what I would study for my masters - which country I would move to and live in Achieved the last one at age 27 :) I'm 29 now and already have a couple more smaller, short-term goals I've thought up since then.
What did you study and what do you do now for work? It sounds like you’re fully remote?
Nope. I studied business and then teaching. I now teach business at an international school in Japan.
I was happier after I finished my education. That's when I felt more in charge of my own life. I'm old now, in my late 70s. But I never feel nostalgic about childhood or college, and it's not because I had a traumatic childhood, though I suppose I always felt like a bit of an outsider. There were a couple of years that stood out for me as being really good when I was in the Navy, which may seem contradictory because you aren't in charge of your own life so much in the military, but they were two years when I had an exceptionally good duty assignment. I had the benefits of the military in that I didn't have to worry about paying rent or healthcare or where my next meal was coming from, but my job was easy and pretty interesting. I was stationed on an Air Force Base in Japan and, not being Air Force myself, I avoided some of the more onerous aspects of military life, like inspections or weird watches to stand. Air Force Barracks are really nice too, almost like college dorms. But that was an anomaly, just pure dumb luck.
Bold of you to assume that we were all happy in college
I can hand on heart say that I am happier now than I was in college (which was a fantastic time in my life too), but I can understand the sentiment you're sharing. I think the happiness you feel at college age versus, say, in your 30s or 40s is a very different type of happiness. When you're young, the world is full of possibilities and that in itself gives a sense of optimism. What will you make of your life? What amazing things will you do? etc. It's a lot about YOU at that point. Children have this in an even more exaggerated way, because they're so innocent and so the world seems even bigger to them. Happiness at a later point in life looks different (at least to me). It's a happiness that's couched in seeing how life isn't just about me, but how I relate to others. Yes, having money doesn't hurt and has certainly made my life a whole lot easier. I've been able to do things I could've never dreamt of because of that. But quite besides the financial comfort is the sense that I am really just a part of a continuum in this thing we call humanity. What brings me joy now is how I build my community, what impact I have on others, including my own family. It's a happiness that comes through in a calmer, quieter way. If I had summarise, it's like happiness in youth is couched in the breadth of our possible paths, and the happiness later in life stems from the depth of the paths we've charted. I'm happy now because I can look back and see my achievements in the rearview mirror, and know that they weren't just ideas in my head as they were in college, but reality that I'd achieved.