TYT,
Joined the US Marines at 17. Traveled the world to some very exotic places, met some very interesting people, and then killed them.
Learned some basic things through the years...
Those that can... do; Those that can't... Teach. And those that can't teach, teach gym.
You have your whole life ahead of you, enjoy the ride.
Don't take life too seriously. You never get out alive anyway.
Fiercely defend your family and country.
Never date a girl with a better mustache than you got.
Red headed girls are trouble, with a capital "T".
Whatever you make your mind up to do, do it to the best of your ability.

I'm a late bloomer.
Went to college at 40. Got the best grades I've ever had in my life. Even made the Deans and Presidents List a few times.
College full time and work full time, all while supporting my family in the process.
About to retire in 8 days.
Looking forward to hunting, fishing, and trapping for the rest of my days.

What I'm saying is:
Try your best, at whatever you do.
Never give up.
Love and defend your family, God, and your country.
Give what your purse strings allow, and of your time to help others that are deserving.
Try not to allow other to get under your skin and just brush them off.

My 2 cents worth of unsolicited knowledge for ya.

I work with our youth group and what you’re experiencing sounds similar to the guys I talk to. Just like the rest of the world schools are full of drama. Those who are squared away in highschool get sick of dealing with the immature. No surprise it follows you into adulthood, out culture is full of “man” children. And yeah, it sucks, but get used to it. I remember Thinkin I couldn’t wait to be done with drama of kids that drove me nuts and hippy teachers. Then I got my first job and there was a bunch of Union crap that two guys were arguing about and it about came to blows before a salty marine stepped in threatened to beat em both. And the ladies in office? They just replaced the hippy teachers. So keep your head up, keep on grinding. The situation doesn’t really change, those goofballs don’t change they just get older. It’s life. All you can do is mind your own. Right now it’s just you to look after but someday it’ll be a wife and kids to add on top. I might catch (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) from the older guys on here but imo these younger generations are facing a cultural battle that hasn’t been seen in this country probably since segregation. The attack on the conservative man is unreal. I realize we got it good here in the US but I think there’s a lot riding on you and your generation. So stay grounded and keep on pushing.

Academia sucks!

I played the game but spent more time on my morning paper route, and evening pin setting jobs.

I graduated from high school two years ago. I was salutatorian of my class with a 3.998 GPA. I took multiple “college in the high school” classes, so my homework load was much more than an average student. I will say those 4 years of high school were something I enjoyed. I’m now a sophomore in college and the homework load doesn’t get any better. Most of my free time is spent doing homework and studying (weekends included). I think any of the STEM degrees you pursue are like this. Our winter break runs from December-January so that’s when I am able to get out and trap hard.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Those were the best years of my life too! I have never missed a single class reunion until this year. I had covid 7 days prior to that time, so rather than take a chance infecting anyone, I decided not to attend. I have memories from my school days that will remain with me forever.

In elementary school the bus driver would drop me off at the creek so I could check my traps on the way home..

My bus driver always had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.At least he didn't mind me bringing my .22 rifle on the bus.Try that today.

It's all about time management. Being on the phone texting checking websites etc... Should be after your studies and homework are done. Home work and time management will get you ready for the real world of giving of yourself to your family and still finding time for fun and hobbies.
Homework and school will seem like nothing once you have a full time job, kids and a wife.
You seem to have a good head on your shoulders, keep it up and the happiness and love in your life will grow tenfold.

6th grade was the worse 3 years of my life...

In the 6th grade we would take rifle and shotguns to the woodworking class.are teacher was also a gunsmith. And the 8th grade teacher was a big trapper.he would have one day that the dnr would be there for a trapping class.

Everybody is different. I hated school. Maybe it was my approach, but I’ve never felt I got a great deal of value out of school for the amount of time that I spent there, other than shop class. Let’s take art for example. I don’t know how many hours of art I took and guess what? I’m no more an artist after spending all that time in art class. I was a decent student but hated it. In high school I took a trade. One of my trade school teachers taught me more about life than all my teachers combined. He got me a job my junior year in high school and they let me take 3 classes and then go to work. Same my senior year. I became successful in that trade. One thing I’ve noticed about homework. The amount of homework they assign today seems vastly more than the volume they assigned in my day. When my daughter was in grade school, I was shocked and incensed somewhat at the mountain of homework they expected her to complete each day. I would think with the amount of time she spent at school, they could manage to teach her there. If you are going to choose extended education, then buck up and take it. You have to follow the “system.” There’s plenty of ways to get an education though, outside of the “system.”

I always feel sorry for people who had the best years of their life as a teen in high school. I wouldn't trade my adult life, wife, kids, and adventures for anything.

School was good. Did get in trouble a few times. Teachers would never get away with punishment that I received for it now days.

I am in total agreement Life does not get easier with age .I am 68 and the guy that said life begins at 50 lied . Very few of us are born knowing how to get through life . No matter what we end up doing in life we have to learn how before or as we go along .I certainly agree that on the job training is a great thing . But my experience is experience is what you get when you learn the hard way .Learning the hard way can be costly and painful .

Yes! My teen years were very good, but ONLY due to the amount of free time I had to trap and hunt and the endless energy I had to do it with. But the years since I've been married are even better, even if I don't have as much free time to do things I enjoy.

YouthTrapper. It’s ok to rant and get it off your chest. I was not much of a student in HS. Wish I would of been. But I felt it was a waste of time. But I did have industrial arts. Wood, carpentry, drafting, electronics, and mechanics. Those classes where my saving grace. Gave me a rich Career thru out my life. But like all have said so far. Your best years are now when you are young. Enjoy them. Take care.

Always hated school. Enjoyed ag classes a shop class was about it in high school.
If you don’t want to go to college you better learn a trade.
Good Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, masons, an hands on trades earn a lot more these days.

Wow I have never had any desire to go to a reunion never have not mine or my wife's and I spent as much time at her school as I did mine . She never shown any interest in going either.

I guess if I haven't talked to then in over 20 years why would I care to now.

Public school sucks, its run by the government - think about that. You will learn what they want you to learn not what you want to. You will do what they tell you. When and where. IMO its all about providing the government with more tax dollars and not you having a better life. Set your goals to work for yourself - never work for someone else as a career.