Hacker News Reader

Comment by markessien | Hacker News Reader

Finish school, if you're hard up go to continental europe where there are free schools. Work on the side.

What's your plan? How far do you think you will come without a school education and no concrete skills like programming?

View on HN

You sound like a pessimist? And a bit of a grump. I'm in the UK, where the schools are free.

With no disrespect, and I may well be misinterpreting the tone of your response, but at 17 I was given a position in one of Europe's hottest start-ups, I looked after a team of 6, jetted around Europe in fancy-class flights, stayed in swanky hotels and had an expense account.

Between two of us we developed Blyk's innovative ad production and delivery process that is currently being rolled out globally, and I might add, are currently in the process of patenting. I was responsible for the UK's main consumer site and b2b site and in September 06 (when I were a wee lad) project managed the launch of our 50 launch campaigns which included clients such as Visa, Coke, Sky, Xbox,Ford, Apple and many other fairly big companies.

...all without an education. I may have summed up my skill-set in 50 words, but that doesn't mean I'm average at it.

One for you: 'concrete skills like programming'? ; )

At 19 I made enough money to last for the next 15 years. Let's not measure success by the past.

You have your entire life ahead of you to make money. Even the most average 35 year olds are living fine enough with standard jobs. But you don't have your entire life to get an education and acquire skills you would not have otherwise. You have about 10 more years, after that period, you'll not want to go back to school.

So, why not get it done with now that you can still have fun at school, and then make your fortune afterwards? Is there something in particular that has to happen right now?

If you said you were heading west to start your business, I'd say fine, your fortune depends on your skill. But you're heading there to get a JOB. And the first thing they look for is your education. Which you don't have. You really want to go through the rest of your life explaining why you could not finish college? In a year you can get it done with and then start out the adventure without bad cards.

Yes, I'm being a bit of a buzzkill here, but for me it just does not seem sensible to head off to a new country without an education, without any money, and without any place to stay. But, every man has to find his path.

Misinterpretation of my initial post, I didn't say I was broke, I said I was on a budget : )

I'm not specifically after a job, but if in the short-term it put a roof over my head - I'd be happy for it.

I think we'll definitely have to put the Education thing down to cultural differences. You're using phrases like 'go through the rest of your life' and 'bad cards'. It simply isn't like that.

Alright, let's agree that we disagree on that point. I will say that going to a university can be a very enlightening experience, particularly when you study a difficult subject, and don't just study because it's what should be done. And it has nothing to do with 'cultural differences', the cultural differences between us are likely minimal.

Don't worry too much about it. Plans are overrated. I've never made a plan in my life and everything has worked out so far. Pretty anecdotal and vague, I know, but I'm just saying it is possible.

If I were in your position I might consider starting up a freelancing business, getting a few steady clients, then coming to the US for "pleasure". Line up a place to stay where nobody is going to ask for a green card; if any group will put you up, it'll be hackers.

After that... who knows! A really vague, partially illegal, mostly crazy plan. I like it.

Edit: And if you make it to Boston, let me know. We've got a spare room you could crash in for a bit I'm sure (see profile for info).

Thats all I've been doing pretty much, I used to do freelance bits from when I was about 14 (which seems crazy now), so I've been sending some mails and have stuff trickling through - it seems like the best bet for someone in my position.

I'll definitely bear the room offer in mind. Thanks : )

Don't go to SF, traffic is horrible. </sarcasm>

Go for it, I have never regretted a large drastic change to my life yet. But I do usually regret passing up good opportunities.

Jumping continents is a pain in the ass though. I did it when I was 21 (seemingly permanently, as 7 years later I'm still in Europe) ... it took months to pull it off, get everything lined up and so on. Especially if you're in the startup game you don't want to risk falling foul of the US immigration authorities and being denied entry in the future.

My take on things: If one wants to do some crazy traveling improvising along the way kicking back and hacking as you feel inspired, by all means! But why the heck would you want to do that in the US?

If you want to get into American startup culture, well, then you should focus on what you need to get in legally and stay there. College degree, convenience marriage, student visa...

dude, downmodded on your own post.

you have my sincere apologies, that's silly.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com