Should I talk with my dad about possibly getting back into my old school?

[DarklordKyo]

I've talked about this particular bump in my life in two threads at this point, and now, on thread three, I'd like to pose a variation of the question for anyone willing\patient enough to listen to my pathetic, first world "problems."

There still remains a part of me who still wants to try going back to FIU, and that part sees the lack of a certain class on the Summer catalog for Miami-Dade as a sign (and yes, I checked both available and unavailable, it isn't there). On the other hand, I really have no reason to have failed my old CS major (studied every single day, on top of people saying that American schooling is basically idiot proof nowadays), I don't know if I can accept next year's financial aid at FIU (since it was already accepted at Miami-Dade), and I just don't want to seem like an entitled little bastard (I had my chance, I blew it, I should just nut up and move on, etc.).

Then again, my dad suggested seeing if I can take the final semester before my degree at FIU a little while back.

What do you doods think?, should I talk about getting back in?, or should I just shut up and move on?

 

[Saelune]

What do you want to do for a career? Would going back help further that? Those are the questions to ask yourself.

 

[DarklordKyo]

What do you want to do for a career? Would going back help further that? Those are the questions to ask yourself.

I'll probably get into network installation, as one of my current classes is for a certification for that (that, or cyber security). I originally wanted to get into game design as a programmer, but my failure as a Computer Science major destroyed those dreams (since I know I'm nowhere near good enough to self-publish indie stuff).

 

[Bob_McMillan]

If you don't mind my asking, what troubles did you face? I'm someone who is planning on taking ComSci.

 

[DarklordKyo]

If you don't mind my asking, what troubles did you face? I'm someone who is planning on taking ComSci.

I sucked at the math aspect. Hell, it was calculus that ended up doing me in.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

If you don't mind my asking, what troubles did you face? I'm someone who is planning on taking ComSci.

I sucked at the math aspect. Hell, it was calculus that ended up doing me in.

This probably sounds ridiculous, but how does math factor in with ComSci? I was never really sure about that. I have only covered the most basic stuff in calculus, so I can't imagine how it's useful when it comes to developing software.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Hrm ... it's kin of hard to suggest university if you failed because of personal inability to study. The fact that your questioning yourself now, or looking for validation from others, suggest you have real queries whether you're going to repeat past failures. I think maybe you should take another semester off ... relax a bit, de-stress, then perhaps entertain a bit of self-styled cognitive therapy to re-gear and focus.

Personal discipline is pretty hard to regain after you lose it. Like, I enlisted in the army because it was a way out of the gutter as a teen. I didn't like it (well, some parts I did) ... but I'm thankful because it did help improve goal orientation, confidence, and self-esteem. Suddenly I wasn't that 16 year old kicked out of home, I was making my way in the world. I was worthy of a pay cheque. And having other people thinking I was worthy to keep a mutual weather eye on them in the most strenuous conditions you could imagine.

Pretty empowering, actually ... and a feeling you won't get in very many other jobs like office work.

So I suggest discipline and focus. And that requires active engagement with goal orientation.

Say if you're overweight ... set yourself the goal of losing weight and exercising regularly. Or quitting smoking. Or cutting corn syrup out of your diet. Once you can get that goal orientated and disciplined mindset back ... then try going back to university.

 

[DarklordKyo]

This probably sounds ridiculous, but how does math factor in with ComSci? I was never really sure about that. I have only covered the most basic stuff in calculus, so I can't imagine how it's useful when it comes to developing software.

Well, some aspects of calculus is reminiscent of if then statements, and some stuff like that. On top of that, Calculus is used to calculate relatively-advanced Physics.

 

[DarklordKyo]

Say if you're overweight ... set yourself the goal of losing weight and exercising regularly. Or quitting smoking. Or cutting corn syrup out of your diet. Once you can get that goal orientated and disciplined mindset back ... then try going back to university.

Kinda ahead of you on those fronts. I've long cut the biggest contributor of corn syrup in my life, soda, out of the entire equation, I've never smoked, and never plan to, and I tried exercising every single day a few years ago to almost no results (with the minimum being 20 minutes on a treadmill, with Netflix or Hulu to keep my mind off the lactic buildup).

 

[Kae]

I have little wisdom to offer in this topic since I'm a high school dropout, but perhaps you should do whatever you think you won't regret however, make that decision fast, as time waits for nobody and next thing you know, well you're the narrator in Pink Floyd's Time.

 

[Drathnoxis]

I'll probably get into network installation, as one of my current classes is for a certification for that (that, or cyber security). I originally wanted to get into game design as a programmer, but my failure as a Computer Science major destroyed those dreams (since I know I'm nowhere near good enough to self-publish indie stuff).

Sounds like you dodged a bullet there. According to absolutely everyone, the game industry is a meat grinder that will chew you up and spit you out in less than 5 years.

 

[gorfias]

What do you doods think?, should I talk about getting back in?, or should I just shut up and move on?

EDIT: My Dad's Dad was no help. My Dad tried to stay out of my way and figure it out. I tried to ensure my boy made his own decisions but gave him what guidance I could. Your dad's advice should be listened to and weighed but the ultimate decision is yours... more below.

Think about what the direction that works best for you and KNOW that is no one certain path for anyone. A source of pride for me: so many around me insisted that their kids went to college whether it was for them or not. I helped my boy figure out a plausible next step for himself (HVAC) and for him, it worked. Parents that forced their kids into schools in which they dropped out are jealous that I did all I could to discuss and guide my boy to what worked for him is a source of pride for me. There is no one path anyone should have to follow. I hate that people think you HAVE to go through a college program. There is semi skilled labor (lumber jack/ construction) and skilled (plumber/electrician) certification (game development/network security). Finding your passion by itself may not work. I wanted to draw Batman comic books for a living but I suck at it and had to do something else.. But finding something that works for you: never let anyone tell you there is only one direction. That can work.

Best of luck.

 

[Kolby Jack]

I went back to my old school after 7 years in the military. Gotta say, I didn't think it all the way through. On the one hand, it's familiar territory and it gives me a feel of finishing unfinished business, but on the other hand I have to now retake all of the classes I failed so my GPA isn't garbage. That's annoying. But I don't have to pay for any of it this time, at least.

 

[DarklordKyo]

I would say try to get back in if you can because you posting this shows that you will likely regret not going back otherwise you wouldn't be agonizing over it. Do whatever you can to buff up your math skills (kahn academy and other online resources may help) before returning and try and take a different math instructor if you can. Sometimes its the teacher and not the subject and a good math teacher may be able to get you through it with a c or higher. Good math skills make comp sci easier but if you can get through the bottlenecks you should be fine. Your dad's suggestion seems sound.

Well, IT doesn't exactly have as much math as CS, I think it's mostly just the common core. Also, honestly, part of the reason why I dunno what I wanna do is because nearly every single decision I've ever made at this point has been the wrong one.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Kinda ahead of you on those fronts. I've long cut the biggest contributor of corn syrup in my life, soda, out of the entire equation, I've never smoked, and never plan to, and I tried exercising every single day a few years ago to almost no results (with the minimum being 20 minutes on a treadmill, with Netflix or Hulu to keep my mind off the lactic buildup).

Oh, good on you. I cut down on smoking, but processed sugars was almost as hard ... so good on you. I find discipline alone will get you through the hardest of courses. Unless you have some intellectual deficiency ... sometime spending three times longer than someonme else on an essay is enough. So I feel if you think you're ready, do it. Gut instinct. Get psyched. Throw yourself into it.

 

[DarklordKyo]

Meaning your decisions so far have not resulted in you being in the position you wish to be in? Is this because you do not fully know where you wish to be? I have had the same sensation of bad choices- I went into environmental chemistry right before Bush gutted the epa. I originally studied psychology and philosophy (because those are the subjects that I was passionate about). None of those decisions allowed me to predict having a decent management job nor did they help me save the job from outsourcing. Now I'm a returning comp sci student who is aspiring to game programming or game dev. Being an older student sure makes you question the previous decisions made but here's the rub: if you didn't truly know what you wanted then even efficiently moving to where you think you should be doesn't help you get to where you want. Yet. If you aren't where you want you feel like you faltered. However, the mistakes do allow you to know what you don't want and may help you figure out where you really want to be. Once you get to where you want to be then the previous decisions suddenly seem a lot less bad. Not everyone knows what they want when they start. Some of us take a bit to find it. Don't compare yourself to those who don't have those uncertainties; they have a different journey than you. If you get to where you want to be then the decisions that led to you getting there weren't that bad.
What is it that makes you happy to do?

I honestly don't know what I'm truly passionate about. My main hobby is gaming, but satisfaction derived is from escapism primarily. I've acted out stories that I've had in my head in private, but acting is a worthless ability that requires extreme luck to get the most out of (not to mention a number of those stories are basically impossible in a realistic sense). I derive enjoyment from making those close to me happy, but I already know that kindness is one of the biggest weaknesses in the world.

I honestly have no idea, to be frank.