Maybe our social ability is more important than what we achieve at school?

[mikebird]

My parents were married at about age 17. They had plenty of siblings to grow up with. They were normal. Dad in Army briefly. They had office jobs in Treasury, accountancy, during and after World War II. Mum was the PA / secretary to an estate agency, doing shortwriting for her blind boss, dealing with clients personally - an extremely social job she was good at. They changed into non-office jobs looking after and living in the most popular pub in town, and an associated cafe and petrol station, with my two elder brothers living there in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. That area has disappeared and become the site of an American restaurant franchise - Thank God it's Always Friday?

They formed a foursome to buy and run a hotel in Cornwall before I was born in 1976. The foursome seemed to break down and they had to sell up and return to home grounds. We lived in a new pub in the countryside for 9 years. Magic epoch for me, related to a wide family living between the north and south coast of the UK, including Manchester - I think that city has a special social attribute - with no facts or evidence I have - just what I've heard, and what I hear on the phone when businesses phone me.

I saw our family as dysfunctional due to me and my birthdate.

After the pub, which was not particularly successful, in a deceased mining community area, we moved to a different area in the county, buying a commercial property to convert on a grand scale to a Guest House (Bed & Breakfast). The best place I ever lived in... scared of guests, sharing a main room with a TV. I never saw my weakness then. It was my TV room, and I didn't like it when any strangers were in there. I ran to my top floor bedroom to hide away. Parents should have forced me to practice my social formality, making breakfast, etc. They were too kind and protective of me, letting me do what I wanted. 'Being nice to people' seems to work in general - a trend which I bucked

I thought all my school would matter, choosing the science, electronics & maths I wanted, including early atheism, spreading it to my friends. It seems my social ineptitude was key, and has ruined my life, ending up the way I am today, unemployed. I never listen to anyone or heed advice.

Facing homelessness, with no deadline available yet

 

[laure15]

Same here. I used to be naive and thought school was everything. Didn't bother to develop my social abilities early on.

 

[PGT]

I think there equally important. What's the point in getting good grades if you don't have the social ability to use that knowledge. On the other hand if you become more confident and comfortable with your problems later in life you may be thankful you put the effort in at school.

 

[GarryU]

I've always thought that school was for learnign how to socialize, I think havign social skills is far more important than having knowledge in other areas.

 

[Kiwong]

School destroyed my self esteem, and belief in my academic ability. It was were my anxiety and depression started, which had mainfested itself more seriously in recent years.

I achieved nothing at my school, and had my trust in people destroyed. I achieved later on as a mature student in univesity.

 

[pnr]

I am in the same situation as you MikeBird.

All this schooling and not much skill in networking.

I got a bachelor's degree in sport psychology (LOL I know) and really this isn't much I can with it.

 

[Hellhound]

I don't know about others, but in my case, based on my own experience, school teaches you very little to nothing. On the contrary, it messes everything up.

I achieved nothing at school, only learned that people suck, I'm good for nothing and God is out to get me.

 

[spearhunter]

School is great stuff if you don't have any anxiety issues . , I quit college twice because of my SAD.Now i am going back but i take something for that and I really find it easier to be around people.

 

[IntheLabyrinth]

I also have a psychology degree but I would give it up for great social skills. You can do so much more if you're charming, charasmatic and at least slightly intelligent. The combination of the two is really where it's at. If I had social skills and no social fears, I feel like there would be no stop signs on my career path. Unfortunately, i am stuck at some **** job due to the fear and lack of social skills.

 

[mikebird]

Thx for all your comments!

Realcore symmetry. Sport psychology - must be a vertical market there for the professional, the huge, international market of viewers and participators... and any lucky doctor, and a vet - I regret not considering that - as a scientist. A schoolmate cricket expert tried a sport psychology and dropped out.

I was led by posters in school labs about my Cybernetics - from a strong love of electronics GCSE & A-level and 1980s & 1990s - Short Circuit and Terminator movies - very attractive. Clearly led into a degree where no the world currently needs hordes of little wheeled robots. No internet when I started Uni.

All studentmates did humanities and psychology. And my niece. I should have focussed on my English... which I abandoned as a career. Mate is a paparazzi reporter in Columbia - a writer with a fat camera.

Parents' footsteps? If they are wealthy? Exceed their achievements, or end up lower