Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what I found to be the best time of my life? The summer between high school and college. Just complete freedom. There was no pressure to do anything to pad your resume in order to get accepted to college. For the most part, you were an 18 year old kid without any responsibility. The last time to really have fun as a "kid"

This was maybe 40 years ago?
You can get by the first Summer in college, but you should get internship or meaningful Summer job otherwise you are behind.
This is a big stress for college kids.
"

Wow, second poster. You are super fun. Behind for not having an internship the summer between high school and college? Not sure the first poster said they didn't have a job.

Working two jobs and putting myself through school? Broke and exhausted? Um, no.

For rich kids being subsidized by their parents to party and bring guaranteed cushy summer internships, seems like it could be fun.

Best time of my life was after college— had enough money to live my life, had a ton of friends, worked hard sometimes but also had plenty of time to hang out without being stressed about work.

It was good, but no, not the best time of my life

My feelings on various stages:
High-school: Hated it, felt like a prisoner

College: Hate / Love - wonderful friends and experiences but I went to an extremely difficult school that intends to rip you to the ground. It was intense.

Grad School: Enjoyed the first part as a single person, began getting restless about not having a serious relationship, got in a very bad relationship

Market crash (and many years after) worst time in my life personally, professionally this phase ended with the death of a close friend that shook me into being more personally satisfied - I changed literally everything in my life. I no longer accepted misery as a fact of life.

College was great, except when it wasn't. I look back on my college experience fondly and mostly thankful for the friends who are still part of my life. We are in daily contact and have made many memories post-college.

Our DC is different than me in that they are in preprofessional major so it is more intense early. I think our DC is having fun as well but there is more pressure than I think I felt at the same stage.

Colleges are excellent at marketing the experience. The reality is that it can and should (but isn't always) wonderful years.

Hoping all of our kids have a wonderful college experience that lays a solid foundation for even better years ahead. But how sad it would be to say the best time of your life was when you were 21.

Anonymous wrote:My DD ( in college ) says no. She says she studies very hard and does not have time for the movie version of college. She did say that she thinks that might apply mostly to tech majors.

This.

Tons of stuff to do for serious majors at serious colleges.

You can drink and party, skip class, and fool around then say this is the best time of my life if you major in some useless stuff especially at some mediocre schools.

Anonymous wrote:You know what I found to be the best time of my life? The summer between high school and college. Just complete freedom. There was no pressure to do anything to pad your resume in order to get accepted to college. For the most part, you were an 18 year old kid without any responsibility. The last time to really have fun as a "kid"

This was maybe 40 years ago?
You can get by the first Summer in college, but you should get internship or meaningful Summer job otherwise you are behind.
This is a big stress for college kids.
"

Anonymous wrote:Is this still true?

No for me right now is the best time.

100% tele work. I wake up when I wake up.
The work is pretty easy with well over 6 figure salay with ton of benefits.

I can't believe this is happening.
In fact I thank Covid.

WIth the pandemic, definitely not. College has not been the same experience and my Class of 2024 student is waiting for a "normal year"

My DD ( in college ) says no. She says she studies very hard and does not have time for the movie version of college. She did say that she thinks that might apply mostly to tech majors.

I always feel that the best years of my life are the stage I am in at the moment.

It was never true for me. I didn’t like my college years at all. And I went to school that many on DCUM are hoping and praying their kids might attend.

You know what I found to be the best time of my life? The summer between high school and college. Just complete freedom. There was no pressure to do anything to pad your resume in order to get accepted to college. For the most part, you were an 18 year old kid without any responsibility. The last time to really have fun as a "kid"

Is this still true?