School

[nfotxn]

Still playing phone tag. Still not enrolled in school yet. I basically have to beg to get into day school as legally the school isn't obliged to take me on as I'm now 20-years-old. My highschool isn't answering phones or returning messages and school starts next Tuesday.

Luckily an old neighbour and good family friend is a guidance couselor. I left a message for her and will likely get a call back soon. I have a lot of questions about the new cirriculum Ontario is sporting as they're phasing out OAC (grade 13) and how it'll effect me. I have some credits but I'm not done OSSD (grade 12) or OAC (grade 13) completely. Which puts me in a fine spot. It's actually likely if they can't accomodate me that I have to go back to grade 11 (AHHHHHHHH!!!) and finish the new cirriculum. Now given the time-frame of university applications and school semestering it doesn't mean I'll be spending more time going to highschool but it does mean I'll be doing more work. Albeit it exceptionally easy work.

My Mom's boss, who's an epidemiologist specializing in qualitative analysis and just generally brilliant had some very encouraging words to say to me. Something to the degree of "[Brodie's] too smart for the public school system. He just needs to get past this so he can really fly". Very flattering to say the least, and his opinion is pretty qualified. I've done lots of work for him professonally and personally in the past.

Like the LAN /w proxy server I installed two years ago and still works. Zero administration baby. Actually it's 'cause once you figure out ways around win9x's idiosyncracies and usability/interface weirdness with TCP/IP it's pretty easy to get stuff to work right. Also a little training goes a long way.

Anyhow, the time is now to get stuff done. Really bored of just putzing around Hamilton for the last two years. I really have bigger aspirations and the opportunity to make those achievments is now.

I'm itching to get my first assignment.

Comments

[mathan.livejournal.com]

Why call the school when you can go in directly and talk to whoever you need to? :)

And your mum's boss is right. You do need to get through this and then you'll be fine.

Finally, what about finishing school through adult day school, or is that what you're thinking?

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the school isn't open right now 'cause the main office isn't picking up. I have experience with this sorta stuff, they're likely only open first thing in the morning until like 10PM so I will go tomorrow after I've talked to Barb (family friend) about my options.

That's my alternative. There is no adult day school in Hamilton but there is night school. I'm trying to avoid it because I'm kinda a fan of the ol' daily routine. What's worst is that night school is, at best, two courses per semester.

Re:

[mathan.livejournal.com]

I know the Halton Roman Catholic School Board has an adult school in Burlington, and I think it may be a day school. It might be worth checking out.

And don't worry about having been/or not been baptised if you go that route. :)

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

That's an good thing to know although I don't think it'd be possible for me to commute that far every day. With traffic and transfering it'd be a good 1+1/2hr bus ride each way.

[jargon.livejournal.com]

"[Brodie's] too smart for the public school system. He just needs to get past this so he can really fly".

Dude, you totally are. A lot of people are; it's frightening. The problem is employers. Bastards look at letters behind your name and diplomas and certifications, not the skills the really count. Go for that shit, man. Get the OSSD, OAC if you can, a nice shiny B.S. degree (Bachelor of Science or Bull Shit? Take your pick) and get certified. CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, MCSE, MCDBA, A+, CompTIA, you name it, get it.

Or, if I ever get one of my businesses going that involves computers and is successful to the point where I can pay employees as a full-time position, come and work for me. I know what you're capable of, you don't need a bunch of letters to prove it to me.

[darke.livejournal.com]

Bastards look at letters behind your name and diplomas and certifications, not the skills the really count

Not in the computer industry they don't. Hi, I'm a high school drop out that got his GED and then never finished College. I had no certifications until like 8 months ago (and even then, it's only the RedHat cert, cakewalk at best), and I still get the job before, and made more money, than certified folks at the company when I walked through the door. Why? Experience and skills.

Now, don't get me wrong, certs aren't bad. But they aren't the goldmine many people think they are. It's like martial arts....sure, you could be a black belt, but you've only ever trained in class. When a real world situation comes up, 80% of the people freeze up and forget their training. Someone who's been a street fighter all their lives knows when, where, and how to hit to win the fight. And thus comes out on top every time.

Experience > all.

:)

Re:

[jargon.livejournal.com]

that's not true in every situation in the computer industry. a lot of numpty personnel managers will just look at certs and nothing else. companies where they know what the fuck they're doing, of course they'll looks at skills. like me, for one. shit, i'm tempted to create my own in-house cert, one that tests the certifications the person already has.

[darke.livejournal.com]

Never a bad idea. Certs, like any education, a great majority cram for, pass the test, and retain nothing. They ride along on the wings of their certification, however, as if it were a holy symbol and untouchable.

They are pretty easy to spot, however, as I am sure you are already aware. ;)

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

Also I don't know if you're interested in this but in a lot of places you're eligible as a "mature student" and can do a Transitional Year Program which is essentially a grade 12 diploma but for adults (compressed, faster, less class time, less bullshit, more relaistic in terms of what you'll actually need in University). For instance if you were interested in U of T, there is a huge T.Y.P. there, and a lot of the community colleges in Toronto will do equivalency testing and/or selective upgrading.