BootsnAll Travel Community

Hey, I'm new here so let me introduce myself; I'm Caleb

I'm a freshman right now at Kansas State University and about three months ago I realized that I'm just wasting my time here. So I've saved up about $7000 and bought a really nice camera. I'm planning on vagabonding in europe and asia starting January 21st...although I havn't really decided where yet, any suggestions would be great.

Anyways...my friends and family will not take me seriously when I tell them that I'm going to be leaving. They just pass it off as a joke...maybe because I'm 18 or maybe because they realize it's something I might actually do. I've always been the most free-spirited person in my family. I don't think they realize that there is a whole world out there to explore instead of wasting your life in one place.

In the end...I think they will finally take me seriously, but only after I have already left. Oh and another thing...I'm looking or a travel partner if anyone at all is interested.

I am the mom of a freshman so bear with...

Ok, you decided in September that KS was not for you? What happened in the few first weeks of college? If I am not being too nosey could you tell me how you saved $7,000 dollars while away at college?

NOBODY who has come home from the first half of freshman year wants to go back. Our son is on his way home and he is talking that nonsense. At least 12 of his friends swear that they are not going back so all of the moms are going ape crap crazy.

What is going on in college these days? You are obviously not alone in this determination for the freshman of 2004. These friends go to colleges all over California and the USA.

Now, I am going to Asia in 2005. I am in the researching phase as Asia is big and requires loads of planning for the way that I travel.

What I can say is I would not do Asia AND Europe on the same manifest. It is like doing a double major freshman year...

I have been to Europe many times and from what I know about Europe and from what I am reading about Asia I say two different trips at a bare minimum.

If you are serious then you gotta start getting your trillion shots as required and recommended for Asia. You do have health insurance that covers this major expense right? Once you start getting shots then your folks may take you seriously.

Your plate seems full. Don't worry about your friends unless they can help you with the details of Asia and/or Europe.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ms. California:

NOBODY who has come home from the first half of freshman year wants to go back.

---

Perhaps I'm the only one on the boards who absolutely LOVED my college experience?? After freshman year, when I "had" to come home for christmas break, I was counting the days til I could go back!! (I also happened to hate my jr high and high school experience...and from what I recall, it's those who loved high school that hated college, or who dropped out so they could go back to their hometown to end up in community college...at least from my high school class)

Anyhow, Caleb, I guess my only suggestion would be to let everything sink in for another month or so, and if you're still completely set on dropping out and exploring the world, then don't let the friends/family stop you. Just realize that a college degree is often-times important in getting a decent job in the future. But I guess you could always go back to school in 10 years if you're ready to do it then. Or if not...then just mold your life to how you see fit.

Lynn

summer breaks are a great time to take long trips anywhere--I'd say stick with college and finish the game, then head out more long term after that if you want to. You've already committed to school, so maybe just stick with your decision for a few more years.

I'm all for traveling while your young and older, but I'd hedge your bets as much as possible that way you'll have more options later on in life. If you travel during summer than you can have the best of both worlds. Travel doesn't have to be all or nothing and a 2-3 month summer trip is nothing to sneeze at my friend.

Or...what about a semester abroad? Or getting your degree and teaching in Japan or China for a year?

Perhaps I'm projecting--I wish I'd done all that stuff while in college or right after cause there's kinda a window of opportunity for alot of these incredible adventures. I don't know of any 30-year olds who study abroad.

oh yea, and think what a motivater a summer trip would be--what a great reward for a year's hard work at school!

Hi Caleb,

Whether you travel or go back to school is a decision that only you can make. Your friends and family will eventually realize that you are serious if you follow through with your travel plans. I would recommend that you sit down with your parents and have a discussion about why you think your time is being wasted at college, why you want to travel, and what you plan to do when you get back. If your parents realize that you have thought this through and are making an adult decision, I suspect that will begin to take you seriously, although they might still disagree with your decision.

I also feel I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I agree with the other people who have responded to your post -- for most people college is really important and a decision to stop going should be taken very seriously. It is possible to become successful without a college degree, but it has not been an easy or secure path for anyone I know who has done it.(You might also consider taking a leave of absence from school so that you can return later if you choose to do so.)

Good luck!

-Jillian

Lynn,
You're not the only one who loved college. I certainly did. (Once I found the right one for me....freshman year I went to the wrong place. Then transferred.) And unlike what somebody said about NOBODY wanting to return, I couldn't wait to get back. (And re your theory: High School bored me. Didn't hate it, just bored me.)

To Caleb: Welcome to BnA. All I can say is....as long as you're leaving college for the "right" reasons, and not just because it's currently disagreeable or unpleasant or you haven't quite found your way with it, then it's your decision to make. Did you not want to go to college in the first place? Were you pushed into it? As to family and friends not taking you seriously, whatever. Guess you haven't convinced them yet that you really intend to do it. Good luck.

NTFTravis, Lynn...I liked college too...I loved it in fact. So you're not alone there...

Caleb,
Perhaps you're at the wrong college...or in the wrong major. Perhaps...
What is it you want to to do -not just now, but in the future. Or...what really interests you? Is that what you're studying?

In the long run, college is a good thing to have under your belt...and it's really hard (mentally) to go back after taking time off. A summer vacation trip really is a good suggestion...

I loved college and high school, but I had a lot of cool friends. If it weren't for all the studying and going to class, I might have gotten another degree. The parties were great, and the girls were more adventurous . I'd agree with some of the others and say give college another go. Finish it up, then as a reward, treat yourself to a trip when you graduate. Because it will be hard to go back once you've left. Another alternative, is to see if your school has any study abroad programs. That way you could comprimise. Get to see the world and be getting college credit for it. I did a business administration study abroad in Japan. It was awesome. I also did a Spanish language and political history abroad in Venezuela. Also good time. If K State doesn't offer it look to transfer to a school that does. I'll be 27 this week, and I'm very thankful that I finished college. I earn a lot more money than people older than me who don't have degrees. And becaue I make good money I have been saving for 4 years now, and will embark on my first RTW in March. I say it's worth the wait. Hang in there Caleb. It get's better.

Hey Calab, I'm new here too...welcome!

Only you ultimately know if university is the right thing for you at this point in your life. I, personally, knew many people who were not focused enough during their time at uni to get what they were paying for. To me they were wasting their time and often theirs and their parents money by staying.

That said, I also do not believe in wandering aimlessly through life. Uni, as everyone above has pointed out, is a valuable asset to have under your belt. If only to prove to the rest of the world that you can indeed learn.

My advice: Take a semester off if you need it, find what impassions you, take time to REALLY THINK about it! Figure out how to incorporate that into the rest of your life. Sit down with your folks and put your cards on the table, I'm sure they have their own opinions, even if they don't jive with yours they're worth listening to and if you respect them they deserve as much.

Lv2Ramble,

You know, that's really good advice, too. And welcome to you, too. I didn't mention that I took a year and a half off between my freshman year (that I completed) and got a job in a field I thought I might want to pursue (law). That taught me two things. I REALLY didn't want to be around lawyers, and I REALLY wanted to go back to school and study things I was interested in and loved.

So I went back to school and studied what I loved. It was great. I proudly graduated with a "worthless" degree in English Lit.

But it wasn't worthless. Because I know how to think. That's pretty valuable out in the "work force". And rare, which is what makes it valuable.

Good luck with your decision!

Good Grief NTFT! Who stole your christmas cookies?

When I wrote "NOBODY" I wrote it from a tongue-in-cheek perspective...(shaking head). Again, I am a mom of a college student as well. I get to be dramatic if I want.

Of course the thousands of freshman around the world are all not planning on becomming "sofa pillows" after the first semester.

As I clearly stated "12" of my son's friends so far have expressed huge and serious desires to not return in January. Not that this is about him or me but he has hundreds of friends and I know as many moms with college freshman etc. as well.

I too wanted to come home and travel the world after my first semester of college. They even threw me a going away party with the tears and all. I was soo embarassed to return in January of my freshman year. My plans to travel the world and waitress in between was simply not as simple as it sounded hence, I went back with to my college full of apologies and more thanks for the great going away party.

I hope this helps.

Peace

I thought I was replying to Caleb's and Lynn's post. I still have Christmas cookies in a tin on the kitchen counter.

I'd like to chime in, too.

A lot of what you do in Freshman Year is getting those requirements out of the way before going on to pursue the courses of your own interest. It may appear that you're wasting time, but believe me, you'll be seeing a lot more of your life go to waste if you drop out of college completely.

I'd recommend you travel during the summer vacations, or perhaps take a year off to vagabond around the world, but return to college afterwards. After your vagabonding, you will certainly learn more about yourself, and may be ready to pursue a major you hadn't even thought of pursuing. You can always postpone your college education; I would not recommend forgoing it.

It may sound corny, but you're 18 - you've got your whole life ahead of you, which is plenty of time for countless amazing travel experiences. I didn't start traveling on my own until I was 24, and I've traveled extensively in the 15 years after that despite having held down relatively successful jobs. And there's no slowing me down when it comes to travel.

My recommendation: Get that college degree - it may even help you in your future travels. If you're low on funds and need to work abroad to earn more money, a college degree may be required.

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. For starters...I have always seen myself coming back to college after I get done traveling.

I know that a college degree is important, and it's not that I hate college (although I did LOVE highschool, lol.) I just feel everyday of my life is just like the day before.

Part of the reason was because I got pressed into going to this college. My major is art...Painting to be specific. I love art, I'm in 3 art classes at the moment and love them. But I think that if I take a year or so off from colelge to pursue the world, this will inspire me even more. I mean...by age 19 I will here have in their lives.

In the end, I just want to get away for awhile and experience some of the world. Not all of it at once, lol.

quote:

---

Originally posted by stare_at_the_sun:
For starters...I have always seen myself coming back to college after I get done traveling.

...

Part of the reason was because I got pressed into going to this college.

...

But I think that if I take a year or so off from colelge to pursue the world, this will inspire me even more.

---

In this case, taking a year off to travel could have some great benefits. It could certainly inspire you in your art.

You'd be taking a "gap year" off, which is a time-honored tradition in places like Australia and Britain, and it would be great if it would also become a tradition in the US. My sister took a year off from college, and sometimes I wish I had done the same.

Travel certainly helps us grow and come to understand ourselves better.

Ms. California: Well, even being non-American, I can tell you, what is going on at your sons college (as it does, in most parts of the western world). He is realizing, that he is being drilled in a pre-destined life, that he actually might not like after all (or after a few years anyway). So, it makes him sick...so sick, that he doesn't want to go back. Many who stick to it, become late either suicidal, impotent, unhappy or end up with border-line syndrom.
Just to promote a solution: maybe it would be wise to go to college a bit later. When you actually know what you want to do and what you are doing it for.

Adrian

quote:

---

So, it makes him sick...so sick, that he doesn't want to go back. Many who stick to it, become late either suicidal, impotent, unhappy or end up with border-line syndrom.
Just to promote a solution: maybe it would be wise to go to college a bit later. When you actually know what you want to do and what you are doing it for.

---

That's what I'm doing. I knew when I was half-way through my senior year in high school that I needed to take a year off, because high school alone made me impotent, unhappy, and bipolar. It's not that I was a bad student either, I graduated in the top 5% of my class and had scholarships to go to college, I just needed a break from that horrible monotony. Now, after traveling for only 2 months now, I am un-impotent, happy, and still bipolar but I can't really do anything about that! Hooray for me!

I love sharing my personal life on this website.

Dearest Caleb, it seems that we're in the same thinking boat, and it is in my most humble opinion that you finish off this year and set off for the summer. Maybe traveling will put you back into the groove to attend school, maybe not, but just go with it. Life's too short to be unhappy with it.

I think maybe if I took a year of to travel (or half a year to make money and half a year to travel), I would've been a lot more motivated for college. I just went because my parents wanted me to, but I didn't have a clue then what I wanted to do with my life, so I basically wasted 5 years trying to study and not accomplishing anything. So if travel is what you want to do right now, I say go! If anything it will teach you a lot about yourself.

You don't need shots for every country in Asia. I went to Asia last summer (Siberia and Mongolia) and didn't get any. Not that needing shots would keep me from going somewhere, it's going crazy from malaria pills that worries me more when I think about going to SE Asia.

quote:

---

You'd be taking a "gap year" off, which is a time-honored tradition in places like Australia and Britain.

---

I've heard many careers advisors in england now will recommend a gap year before university to go travelling, as it broadens the mind & assists the maturing from schoolboy/girl to adult.

At university I found those of us who went travelling before starting took the course far more seriously & seemed much older than the one year difference to those that started straight from school.

come on america...catch up !

like I totally understand this kid's dilemma and shit and gap year is a fab idea (sidebar: a British guy told me that gap year is driving more young people into debt then ever before and going to cause some minor to major economic problems for the country in the near future) but what's so wrong about doing both and taking your entire summer to travel?

School for 9 months, travel for 3--jesus I'd love that scenario. what a great time in life it would be if you could combine book learnin with world learnin. that seems like a freakin opportunity of a lifetime!

I mean if this kids parents are paying for him to get through school, which it appears they are, AND he has money saved up to use for travelling so he doesn't have to work during the summers like every other shmucky student, then why in the world would he ever walk away from that only to come back years later and have to put himself through school?

to sum up: I wish I could go back to school and travel...why do the youngins get all the fun stuff? waaaaaaa