[myle]

Aparrently, now being on hackernews I guess you study/studied something in STEM. How did it work eventually? Do you think taking some time off this predefined track helped you make wiser decisions about your life or was it wasted time?

[zappo2938]

I worked in the number 1 and 2 top rated restaurants on the Zagat survey in San Francisco in the late 90s. I was earning a base rate of $5.35 an hour being paid for 12 hours a day working 16. My dad's lab was lead by a noble prize winner. The post docs were making less than I was working more hours. No matter what we decide to do we all have to pay our dues.

That is the hardest thing for me right now, I'm not 21 anymore and I still have to pay the dues in a new career. After years of being at the top of a hierarchy mostly because of hard work a some natural talent, I now find myself at a bottom of a different hierarchy.

[dorfsmay]

How is that your parents' problem? How many careers (and pay your dues period) do you expect parents to subvention?

As somebody who never had a career subventionned by anybody, I am shocked by your attitude!

[zappo2938]

I owned my decision when I got out of high school and supported myself. I asked my parents if they wanted to pay because they were so angry about my decision not to go to college. Then they were angry with my decision to go to college because I was beginning to be accomplished. I own that choice too. I didn't expect them to pay for anything. I've seen many people get pressured into professions that they are not happy with. I didn't follow that path, but, yes, I'm on my own.

[meagain20000]

You didn't really answer the question.