I hated school until I got older. Back then, it was nothing more than peer pressure and trying to be cool (I failed). In H.S. I lacked a positive role model that encouraged school as cool or someone that could convince me that I could afford college. I also underestimated the significance of a formal education. I thought I knew a lot as a kid, but grew up and realized how little I knew. Since H.S., I've completed four degrees (2 AA/AS in computer sciences, 1 BS and 1 MA in management. I never had to pay a penny for schooling due to the Air Force tuition assistance, scholarships, grants, VA, and the Montgomery GI bill. I still don't like school??? Maybe getting a free education is what I liked. Whatever my motivation, I will probably be taking classes for personal or professional purposes for the next 20 years. Lastly, all four of our children made it to/through college and learned early in life what I learned later in life (school is cool). We're blessed that our children took our learned experiences and created a dream of their own. They will pass the lessons of a formal education on to their children and the cyle is formed....
4 grown children (2boys + 2girls), a beautiful Japanese wife, a wienner dog, and now empty-nesters living in Bellevue, Nebraska. Spent 20 years in the Air Force (retired), traveled alot, and lived overseas for 9+ years (Panama, Japan, Italy, and Saudi Arabia). Post-military, I worked for Lockheed Martin for 5 years(retired), and now with NCI Inc, Offutt AFB, Bellevue, Nebraska. Went to grad school on the GI Bill; management degree. Miss my family in Southern Cal, but that's about it. Life's been good.
I retired from the Air Force in 2001 after 20 years of service. I've been to 73 foreign countries and have lived overseas 9 1/2 out of the 20 years. After the A.F., I worked for Lockheed Martin and now I'm with NCI as a senior principle systems engineer. My (and my wife's) biggest single accomplishment was to raise four children through H.S. without police records, and getting all four into college. The children did the college on their own... their mother and I provided motivation and incentives.
