<p>A few minutes ago I had a conversation with my father where he basically said that he is not going to invest much money in me because I'm average. I'm trying to get a job, but it's so hard in this economy and on top of that I have a myriad of problems that affect my social skills to get one. I feel that I've failed at life. I'm going to be stuck in this crappy town forever because I'm too average to escape. My dad pretty much said that I'm lucky he is even letting me live in his house at my age. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful, but I hate being stuck in this stifling life. It's not that I'm average, but I'm below average because of all the issues I have. I can't afford to be average because I would never fit in anyway, so it does not matter. If I succeed, it would not matter what anyone thought because at least I have more freedom and respect.</p>
<p>Okay, your attitude is wrong. It sounds like you’re coming up with reasons you don’t really believe to justify the fact that you are below average (what does that even mean? below average in terms of what?). Forget that. But don’t bother being average either… skip that step and be better than everyone else. Also, quit worrying about this garbage. People who are awesome don’t worry about whether they do okay when compared with other people or not.</p>
<p>I’m not really sure what “average” is, considering the wide variety of careers and salaries and locations to live that are out there. I have a pretty good idea of where I’m headed and I enjoy looking for internships and jobs because every search pulls up something interesting or different that I didn’t consider before, and the things I find are exciting to me. I’m in a pretty low-key major that most find easy, but I get to learn about something I love and I’m ready to get out and do work in my field.</p>
<p>If things work out like I want, and I do have realistic goals and ideas of where I’ll be in five years, I think I’ll be pretty happy with life. I will move away from my home state (hoping at least a 12 hour drive away), I know my starting salary will probably be 25-30k, and I’ll get to work with kids, work outdoors, and do something I have a passion for. If that’s average, then so be it.</p>
<p>I think you’ve correctly ascertained that you don’t belong in the town where you are. If you’ve lived there all your life then it will be hard to get out, but it will just get harder when you get older. Do it now, while you’re still young.</p>
<p>You need to get away from the way your Father sees you because that has become the way you see yourself. The wrong environment can take all the energy out of you. If you’re a grownup it’s time to move out and be on your own. I know its hard to find work but you have to anyway. There is someplace out there where you will fit in, you just have to find it.</p>
<p>Hey average isn’t so bad - it’s like a glass half full. Half the world is better than you, but hey, half the world is worse…</p>
<p>Assuming you mean median and not mean, then that’s not neccesarily true.</p>
<p>As far as being stuck in a town, I’d rather be stuck in a physically particular location than be stuck mentally in a rut of thinking and never progress intellectually. What about college?</p>
<p>My computer is not doing very well because it is old, I asked for a netbook and he told me to get a job for it. I am looking for a job. I just had an interview a few days ago and another place will probably call tomorrow. This was probably wrong, but I asked him why he was able to pay for my sister’s school which was tens and thousands of dollars, yet not the netbook. He said it was because she is above average and will get a better job because of it. I basically don’t have potential to do very much, so he doesn’t want to waste money on me. </p>
<p>Also, there was a time I asked for help to pay for a program that would help with my social skills. I REALLY needed it, but my parents convinced me that I could learn everything on my own and that it was just a waste of money. I got really cocky and was doing good socially for awhile, then after the semester ended, everything slowed down incredibly and I ended up with barely anyone to talk to. I have a therapist, but my dad says not to go to her every week and space out the appointments because he does not want to spend the money. It is only $30 co-pay. BTW, I did everything else myself, all he did was drive me there as the first three appointments are free. He has also tried to get me off the medication because he does not want to pay for it and keeps telling me about how America is overmedicated anyway. I am trying to be healthy and normal, but my dad sees everything as an investment or that everyone is after his money. I understand that we’re in the red because of my sister’s school, but he didn’t have to say he does not want to spend money on me because I’m too average to be worth very much.</p>
<p>^ Huh? Aren’t you a triple major engineer? That is certainly not an average feat. From what I’ve read you have quite a lot of interesting experiences in life, you are severely underestimating yourself.
I am getting a crap degree at a crap school. My town has a bad reputation that’s getting worse. You don’t even want to know what my SAT score is. Trust me, you are not below average.</p>
<p>This summer for the first time in my life I’m seen as the smartest one in my class because this is the first semester I’ve been outspoken and not lazy at the same time.</p>
<p>Of course there’s the whole taking-classes-in-summer-at-a-community-college thing, but that’s that.</p>
<p>If you really think your life is so bad just look at someone else.</p>
<p>At least you have the bare necessities to enjoy life. There are people without running water, plumbing, food, etc. </p>
<p>I suggest you take your desire to make something of yourself and put it in action. Work hard. Develop a talent or passion for something. You have the right mentality to work with if you don’t want to wind up with mediocrity, leading a mediocre life with mediocre results.</p>
<p>This is stuff that people are supposed to have. I understand what you mean and I know you have good intentions, but I might as well be happy that I have both eyes with good vision because there are people in the world who are blind or have one eye. One is supposed to have two perfectly good eyes, it’s nothing to simile about when one wakes up in the morning.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Hopefully I can do this, but there are millions of people in the world after the same thing, what makes me special?</p>
<p>This finally sunk into my head: Life is a game. The only difference is that there is no instruction manual or cheat sheet. There are certain buttons to press, certain designated stages to go through, and people to meet. If you don’t know the rules of the game, you lose.</p>