When I was 18 I wanted to backpack around Europe and work here and there. My Father said absolutely not. He said this was my only chance to go to college and would not pay for it again unless I went now! I was late applying because I hadn't planned on going. I wound up at a huge university. It was overwhelming. I could'nt understand anything. There were thousands of voices. The classrooms were auditoriums with the tiny little professors blaring out googly gop from their microphones.

I ended up dating a coke dealer and getting messed up on drugs and alcohol. I flunked out. I was Bipolar and didn't know it. I was trying to self-medicate. Later on I did go back to school but it was a small two year associate degree program. I did very well-made straight A's but I wanted to go.

Just my experience for what it's worth.