Most of you folks seem to be from the US. I'm on the other side of the pond. So some of the terminology might be different.

I stopped attending school classes aged 12 and officially left school at 14, unsurprisingly with no certificates at all. I worked in catering for 8 years, then casinos for 14 years. I got bored with the drink and drug filled easy life and even easier money but I lacked the skills to do anything else. I was working on a casino ship in Miami when I was 36 and decided I had to go to college. I just walked away from the ship and flew back to UK. I signed up for what is known as an Access course, designed for people with no certificates who want to go to higher education. I did one year full time in English and Maths, got my pass and went on to university. Three years later, just a few weeks before my 40th birthday, I graduated with a good degree (we call it a 2:1, I don't know what that means in US levels). And I have to say I've never been more chuffed with myself.

The most important thing I learned through the whole experience was to use the time at university to do whatever it is that floats your boat and do not get bogged down in trying to fulfil your projects in a way that will please the tutors in order to get a good mark. The attitude of tutors to your approach is meaningless, don't let them put you down. If you love what you are doing, the results will come naturally.