Lessons learned -what to do with child #2

Parents Forum
41

<p>Going to a highly ranked school isn’t indicative of success. If I hadn’t gotten $ I wouldn’t have gone. </p>

<p>The goal in life is to be happy. Anything we do is simply a means to that end. College is a means to a greater financial livelihood which functions as another means to happiness. I know people in my family who are lawyers, doctors and engineers. And then there is this one guy who didn’t go to college and he started a successful business and owns a house several cars and is in his early twenties. Funny how that happens. </p>

<p>Find a passion. Live your passion. Be happy. My passion is competitive debate. And I wouldn’t even apply to “higher ranked” schools if they didn’t have debate. </p>

<p>By the way, I know of one person who turned down Harvard for a local school; another who turned down USC; another who turned down Cornell; another who turned down UCB. All of these for lower ranked schools and not all for financial reasons.</p>

42

<p>Alumother–encouraging post. I’ve also had to learn to back off & let son follow his own (less than traditional) path as well. If he wants to play rock n roll in his free time rather than assemble a science project; well, that’s him & I’ve got to let him be. Like you, I’ve been ‘mostly’ (at least partially) successful in this!</p>