Can you listen to my story and tell me if I am messed up or selfish?

[coldiggs]

I am a college student at a big ten school and I just joined the national guard. Im doing alright at college I have a 3.2 and hope to go to law school. But I am nothing special.

My Dad is a realy well off Doctor and likes to take the family on trips alot. I use to realy like it but now it is kind of hard for me. I will probaly never be able to make as much money as my Dad. And I kind of dont like getting my nose rubed in a life style that I wont be able to afford.

Is that wrong?

[azmouse]

1. You have a lot of life ahead of you

and you don't know what will happen. Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride!!
And don't worry about what anyone else has... someone will always be richer, thinner,
smarter, etc....

[Maddy McCall]

2. You're in a "Big 10" college?

"use to realy" "probaly" "rubed"

*cough* *cough*

[hfojvt]

6. but Wisconsin won, didn't they?

:evilgrin:

My excuse is that I was a math major who never had to write.

[Maddy McCall]

8. I'm betting a rich kid who didn't have the ability to compete...

for achievement scholarships and was too wealthy to qualify for low-income grants.

In other words, Jr. is biting the hand that put Jr. through school. :rofl:

[hfojvt]

20. Hey, that's my story

I found achievement scholarships to be very rare. I had a 4.0 and decent test scores. I swear if I was as good at basketball or football as I was at math I would have goten a scholarship. I was tenth runner up for a scholarship which had ten awards. One mistake was that I did not apply for scholarships after my freshman year when I had a 3.8. It was all downhill from there, and I finished with a 3.29 (3.45 according to the school which did not count Fs or some education courses). Still good enough for grad school.

[Maddy McCall]

28. Yes, that sucks.

I see really smart kids in my classes, working two jobs outside of classes just to pay tuition, because they didn't qualify for scholarships or their parents made just a little too much to qualify them for Pells.

It irks me to hear kids who have it made, parents providing them an apartment and a new expensive car, to complain about their parents. It's usually these same kids who complain to me about the work load I give them. I always respond that they are free to drop out of college anytime, that WalMart is always hiring.

Good that you got in grad school. In the grand scheme, that is the most important fact, not how you got there.

[aclog]

60. wow um

if I tell you my life story do you promise to be as judgemental as you with this poster?

Because I totally need a big jolt of assholish negativity...

[Sugar Smack]

9. "rubed".

You just STOP it right there, missy! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:

[Maddy McCall]

10. I swear...

It was NOT a personal attack. :shrug:

:hi: SS

[Sugar Smack]

15. I know *choke*

it wasn't. Now help get me off this floor! :P

:hi: MM

[LostinVA]

23. Yup...

[coldiggs]

25. I have been an awful speller my whole life. I dont know why. I couldnt rea

d until I was like in third grade. I do much better in math and Im great at remebering stuff so I was still able to do alright in school.

[qnr]

33. When you post a message, you'll see three buttons in the lower left-hand

corner of the shaded area, one of them you know, which is "Post message" - the other two are useful too. 'Preview' let's you see what your post is going to look like if you have done any sort of formatting or included images. "Check Spelling" does just that, it checks your spelling for you, and recommends changes. You don't have to use it if you don't want to, however, if you don't you will be getting a lot of comments until people are used to you.

There is a running joke here (very justified, too) that a large percentage of the users on Free Republic can't spell (among other things). Poor spelling tends to run up the troll warning flag.

Edit: Note that unfortunately for me, there is no "Check Grammar" :)

[coldiggs]

26. I have been an awful speller my whole life. I dont know why. I couldnt rea

d until I was like in third grade. I do much better in math and Im great at remebering stuff so I was still able to do alright in school.

[skygazer]

3. Yes

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. well if you plan on going to law school you will be able to afford

the lifestyle of your father

you maynot have time to enjoy it for a decade or so....

[Maddy McCall]

7. The irony of it...

Most likely, "well-off" doctor Dad is paying tuition for the education that may eventually lead to a law degree (no comment on the OP's atrocious grammar and spelling :eyes: ). Yet the beneficiary of Dad's generosity (if Dad is paying tuition--a 3.2 does not many scholarships make) won't even go on a trip with Dad because his nose is being "rubed in" Dad's wealth.

:shrug:

[trof]

16. Too true about time to enjoy it.

From the father-in-law of an attorney.
Jesus, the hours he puts in.
:-(

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. How you feel is NEVER wrong.....you cannot help how you feel...

If you're not comfortable doing those trips with your dad, then don't go.

Find something else to do at those times. You could volunteer someplace, to help those worse off than yourself.....

You might consider taking some classes in spelling and grammar too.....

Otherwise, you will continue to get remarks like the ones in this thread...

From folks who have less tolerance than I do for such things....

:hi:

[Maddy McCall]

11. The smack on the back of my hand is well-taken, California Peggy.

:hi:

[TheProphetess]

18. Well, your point may be a good one

Considering that this person lists "Seatle" as the city in his profile. Seems to me that a person from Seattle would at least get the spelling of that correct; other mistakes aside.

[KitchenWitch]

55. Playing devil's advocate here - The OP may be dyslexic

as I am, and may have a difficult time with spelling.

I really have to work hard, not to misspell, and to use proper grammar.

Just sayin'

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. I thank you for your gracious response, my dear Maddy!

I wanted to word it in such a way as to not be snotty or too snarky.....

And the OP does need some remedial help, IMHO.....

I was worried about starting a flame war.....not necessarily with you, but just in general...

I truly do appreciate your response!

:hi:

[Maddy McCall]

29. Some people have no idea how fortunate they are.

I do realize that I am fortunate, and I don't have wealthy parents.

Hope all is well with you. :loveya:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

31. My life is very good right now......Blessings on you, dear Maddy!

:loveya:

[Shine]

12. Hey, you ARE something special!

Why are you forgetting that?? :shrug:

Don't compare yourself to your Dad, b/c that will only bum you out, esp. if you think Success=Money There's more to life than making money and taking trips.

Be happy, enjoy life! You're doing fine....
:hi:

[hfojvt]

13. enjoy the vacations while you can

try not to make invidious comparisons.

None of my siblings are doing as well as my dad, and he was only upper middle class. They are middle-middle class with two incomes and I am lower middle class with one.

I still am glad we took the vacations that we did.

[trof]

14. Possibly messed up.

I'm not usually so judgemental, but you did ask.
What kind of relationship do you have with your dad?
I didn't have one, but I don't think I would have resented it, or thought my nose was being rubbed in anything, if he'd have wanted to take me on family vacations.

I'm a former guardsman.
Why did you join the national guard?

[coldiggs]

21. I thought it was the right thing to do

[trof]

22. Right why?

That's not a reason.

[coldiggs]

24. I dont think that just poor people should be in the army. And regardless o

f how i feel about its current use I think serving in the military is a good thing to do.

[datasuspect]

34. you are right about the poor people thing

sometimes it's good to see the scions of wealth do their part, but i think you're gonna get a bum deal.

bear in mind, it's about a 4 hr flight from baghdad to the nearest state of the art medical facility. it's not like nam.

that means if you get half your head blown off and they can keep you alive, your chances of recovering are substantial (that is if you get injured).

you have a better chance of becoming a vegetable or severely handicapped than dying.

[Maddy McCall]

36. That's inspiring.

;-)

[datasuspect]

37. logistics can be a motherfucker, eh?

snicker

[trof]

39. What kind of guard unit did you join?

What's their MOS or mission?
Where will you go for basic training?

[coldiggs]

41. Infantry. I will go to benning.

[trof]

44. Best of luck.

The infantry course at Ft. Benning is stringent, to say the least.
I'd like to know how you feel about your family situation once you've completed it.
Could you answer my question about your relationship with your father?

[coldiggs]

45. Alright he is kind of hard to connect with. But all in all it is alright

[AKPacker]

65. I see you are from Seattle and

I trust you will be going to basic this summer??? I was stationed at Benning for almost 7 years (1985 to 1992) during my career. If you want any info on Benning or the Columbus area just send me a PM. I would be happy to answer any questions you have.

[JVS]

53. It might not be too late to get out

According to my buddy who was in the guard in the 90's, you can call it off during basic if you realize you don't want to do it. I don't know if the rules are still the same.

[arcane1]

17. if you really just joined the National Guard,

you may not have a future to worry about

[pointblank]

30. I was scrolling

down through this post and was WAITING for this post.

Took longer than I thought.

Good luck to the OP regardless. Follow your own path!

[coldiggs]

32. hey we are all going to die some day

[Maddy McCall]

35. Might as well it be Aspen as Afghanistan, eh?

[coldiggs]

38. In the army though I think there is a since of honor about it.

[arcane1]

42. A "since"

what college is this you attend????? :wtf:

[coldiggs]

43. LOL. read post 25

[datasuspect]

46. there is no honor in dying for bushlite

sorry.

[arcane1]

40. but we aren't all going to be blinded, maimed, crippled, etc...

someday

it's your life, throw it away in the sands of the middle east if you want. Get your nose "rubed" in your own blood instead

[Midlodemocrat]

62. Hey, you!

How've you been? I was just wondering about you the other day because I hadn't seen you too much!

Hope things are going well for you. When are you heading this way?

[bridgit]

19. well, i mean, who can say they actually like having their 'nose rubbed...

in it', but i have to mention as have others; you just got'ah tighten up the queen's english yo; as a lawyer yes :shrug: i can see your client getting "the chair", when you merely meant to illustrate that he/she "wasn't there" x( you know...at the scene and so forth

otherwise you do not want to go on your family excursions then don't :thumbsup: as for me, i might find the time, lounge around the floating maitai bar at the pool, buy a couple grass skirts on his 'dime', imo that works too

[imperialismispasse]

47. I agree with you about the Guard

There is honor in it and anyone on this thread who tries to make fun of you for your choice to join the service just doesnt get that. Good luck with everything.

[MissMillie]

48. Yeah, you're wrong

They are not rubbing your nose in anything. They're taking trips as a family, and they want to include you because you're part of the family.

There will come a day when you may get to see your family as often as you'd like. For now, you need to enjoy them as often as possible.

[Mutley]

49. Sheesh people, can we be a little nicer to this guy?

Not everyone can be a brilliant writer/speller/grammarian. It just may turn out he's what many here think he is, but you could also be wrong.

coldiggs -- You obviously know your circumstances better than any of us do, but it sounds like your Dad just wants to give the family a fun vacation. If you feel he's rubbing your nose in it, maybe you should talk to him. He probably doesn't mean you any ill-will at all.

As for joining the National Guard, you do what you feel is right. Obviously, it's not for a lot of people here, including me, but don't let anyone change your mind on something you want to do. You alone can make that decision. Just make it an informed one, please. We don't want to lose any more of our guys and gals.

[UncleSepp]

50. Thank you!

I was wondering about the merciless teasing. Some people who are very intelligent have a very difficult time with the written word. My dad is one of them. He is brilliant at math and physics, but has a horrible time writing and reading. If someone were to make fun of him the way that people are making fun of the OP... butts would have to get kicked. It's not civil, it's not welcoming, and it's not funny.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

51. I agree with you completely......

Enough with the teasing, if that is what it is, already.....

We need to sincerely welcome this new DU'er.......:hi:

[Mutley]

58. CP, you're one of the sweetest people here on DU.

I wish others would live by your example. :hug:

[Mutley]

57. I understand Einstein was the same way.

Sometimes I think the troll hunting here on DU goes way too far. The mods are here for a reason, and they know what they are doing. Coldiggs still has an account on DU, which suggests that the mods saw no reason to TS him, but I would not be surprised if he never came here again because of the way he was treated. I know I wouldn't.

[JVS]

54. But we all took the mean pills, not the nice pills

[Mutley]

56. Well, make sure you take your nice pill today.

;)

[fishwax]

61. well said n/t

[AlienGirl]

52. I feel like that a lot of the time, too

I am almost 33 and just finished my BA last year. I'm in debt to my eyeballs, I will never be able to buy a house or a new car, and I am currently employed for $9/hour doing telephone polls of people who usually report their income as at least $100,000/year. Yesterday I polled a 40-year-old who is married with kids and has a family income over $200,000/year and all I could think was, "What makes her so much more valuable than me?"

Tucker

[ScreamingMeemie]

63. She's not Tucker....she is not.

I used to do market research as well....and I think the income thing is very much like the weight thing...only people add to their income. :hug: You are valuable to me.

[Midlodemocrat]

64. A person's worth is not determined by how much money

they make, but by how much good they do. JMHO. YMMV.

[Cathyclysmic]

59. My two cents

I worked in a bank for two years and looked at many back accounts. Had a doctor pulling in crazy money, called me every week to reveres the NSF fees. My conclusion? 75% of you net worth is determined by how you spend/use it. And then there is the guy with the beautiful house in Shaker Heights with no savings and an online gambling addiction(or what I would call a problem...he was broke). By now, he probably does not have the house or wife. The main thing thing to remember about the so called 'rich' people is that usually, they just look and act the part. They may not have the financial know how, and it will catch up with them.

My mom told me a story of a famous baseball player that used to come in the bank when she was in her 20's and working as a teller. Flat Broke. The bank covered him so not to embarrass him.

And then the 'poor' people. I swear 80% of this country lives paycheck to paycheck. Most of them because they are buying shit they,IMHO, don't need. Who needs an $800.00 car note or buy every piece of shit thing off of every infomercial they see? The opposite of that is the bank account of your average single parent. They are amazing, they can squeeze pennies out of anything..neccesity is the mother of invention(had to say it, it's true).

In a nutshell, what you see may not what be a person's net worth. You can be envious of rich people if you want, but, there life is not any better 90% of the time. They are just better at acting indignant when they bounce a check.

So, be inventive and plan your spring break budget and go. And do I have to mention not to use credit cards?