best years of our life

[rocknightmare]

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this is an off topic discussion, but i thought it would fit here better cause of the nature of the discussion :0

I graduated last year and the "best years" of my life ended without me getting to do some of the things I wanted to do. Like study less and hang out with friends more, chill more, drink more, etc.... I know that I should regret not doing those things b/c hey its too late now, and I actually don't regret the time i spent studying, b/c that time is what lead to me to be here now (going to dental school in the fall). what i wonder tho, is there nothing forward to look for? are we entering hte professional world and its over for us, exciting times are gone? or do we work like zombies, and continue our lifes looking for money. now this question probably is pointed toward the people that dont' have a family currently, b/c i knwo fi you have a family you have different things to look forward to - aka your first kid, your kids first word, walk, etc... but i am still single and want to enjoy it a little more.

so what you guys think? it can't be over, and i refuse think its over, i think its just the beginning.

 

[DDS2BE]

Our internal life preseption directly affects our surroundings. So, if we look at this as the end of our happy times, then it will be the end. 🙂

 

[drat]

what i wonder tho, is there nothing forward to look for? are we entering hte professional world and its over for us, exciting times are gone?

Luckily, you're mistaken...I had the same mentality as you when I left undergrad. . .I thought, "Wow, those were supposed to be the best years of my life?" They were fun, no doubt, but also a lot of work. I have many regrets regarding undergrad -- mainly studying too much in the first two years and not socializing as much as I should have.

I've been in the "real world" now for 3 years and it is far, far better than undergrad ever was. I really enjoy living independently and supporting myself. It's a good feeling. Making money. Decorating my home as I please. Eating porterhouse steaks 2x a week. Working out guilt-free (no more thinking "Ohh, I should be studying biochem right now'). Taking weekend trips to NYC, Boston, Minneapolis, Cape Cod, etc.

I really do think more "best years" will come after dental school. We'll still be young professionals. 🙂

 

[shingshing]

Luckily, you're mistaken...I had the same mentality as you when I left undergrad. . .I thought, "Wow, those were supposed to be the best years of my life?" They were fun, no doubt, but also a lot of work. I have many regrets regarding undergrad -- mainly studying too much in the first two years and not socializing as much as I should have.

I've been in the "real world" now for 3 years and it is far, far better than undergrad ever was. I really enjoy living independently and supporting myself. It's a good feeling. Making money. Decorating my home as I please. Eating porterhouse steaks 2x a week. Working out guilt-free (no more thinking "Ohh, I should be studying biochem right now'). Taking weekend trips to NYC, Boston, Minneapolis, Cape Cod, etc.

I really do think more "best years" will come after dental school. We'll still be young professionals. 🙂

Thank you for your post! I have more motivation to go to dental school after seeing your post. If we keep thinking going to school is so boring, it is hard for us to get it pass...

 

[rocknightmare]

drat thanks for that post

gives me hope it ain't bad after all

cause its funny everybody i ask they say oh the best years are college b/c you only have to study and no responsiblities.. well in dental school its going to be the same for me, i only have to study. bills are going to be taken care by either loans, parents, or siblings so its should be okay right??
i just have to tell myself it will be okay!

 

[billiken10]

I've had the same thoughts as nightmare, and I worried that I spent the "best time of my life" stressing out and making myself gray over getting into dental school.

But from what I've heard, and some of you may not believe this, but dental school is supposed to be a blast. My parents both said it was better than college. You're doing hard work that you actually care about; you're surrounded by intelligent and motivated people; and you are assured to have a good life ahead of you. Honestly, I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing. 👍

 

[mvs04]

ya know, after having honestly slacked my ass off in college (and subsequently getting in more trouble and havign more fun than one should) I'm actually looking forward to buckling down and hitting the books when D School starts. I'm goign to turn over a new leaf and I think the time is nigh to actually put some goddamn diligence behind my school work. I'm hoping the adjustment won't be too bad.

 

[msf41]

Looking back I definately feel like I have become a little library Troll that only pokes his head out during the summer months occasionally. When I'm not there, I'm working. Which leaves just barely enough time to go home and keep my relationship with my wife afloat (sp?).

Looking ahead at dental school for the next 4 years I'm not seeing much of a better scenario. But the other day I was talking to my wife and saying, "Honey, can you imagine the day when I'll work just 40 hours a week, and we will have a house, and we can take vacations to Europe or the Carribean?"

Seriously, she started to cry (but she's a little on the emotional side from having a baby just 2 weeks ago). When I consider all the benifits of being a dentist, the lifestyle, the flexibility, the disposable income, I can go on and on...Life in 4 years is going to be amazing, and all of this sacrafice will be worth it.

I've expressed some of my own frustration to my father about spending another 4 years of my "good years" in school, and he said that when I'm 40 and living very comfortably (instead of worrying about corporate downsizing or something) I won't think twice about the few years I could have been "playing". That's what I have to keep telling myself anyway...In the end all of the sacrafice will be worth it.

 

[ISU_Steve]

I did the drinking and partying thing while I was in the military, and I've come to this conclusion: that 95% of the people in college are not of any sort that I would want to associate with, and my fellow predents are only slightly better- about a 50-50 split between gunner a--holes who only care about advancing themselves (read as: "they are probably in it for the $$$$$$), and people who really deserve to be in a health care field- the caring, friendly, well rounded and outgoing people that anyone would be happy to characterize as a friend. Personally I think I am somewhere in the middle, I'm driven but I'm not so driven that I would go out of my way to eliminate or trip up "the competition" like so many seem fixated upon doing.

I've experienced the "real world" working full time in hospitals, clinics and doctor's offices. The only change will be when I become a dentist is that I will finally have the ability that if I don't want to go to work in the morning, I can say "I'm not coming in today" without fear of being fired (although there have been times where I have been so unproductive that even I would fire myself if I could 😉 ), the money to go where I want and do what I want and the ability to fire those whom I work with that annoy me (something I have not been able to do since 2000).

As for a "young professional" I don't know about that- I'll be 31 when I graduate dental school if I get in the first cycle I apply.

 

[Tzips]

(but she's a little on the emotional side from having a baby just 2 weeks ago

Congradulations! Always nice to hear happy news 🙂 . And thanks for your post - it's true, all that's driving me froward is the knowledge that in the end it will all have been worth it.

Just hang in there, everyone! 👍

 

[TucsonDDS]

I honestly believe I am in the best years of my life right now, at the age of 31. Sure, college was a lot of fun, high school was fun, but having two small kids and watching them play is the best thing that I have ever done. You youngins have so much to look forward to I am jelous that I am so "old". The next 4 years are going to be different but the sure as hell are going to be worth every second.

 

[Jaws]

I am reminded of a quote from a British comedy series called Blackadder. "I want to be young and wild, then I want to be middle aged and rich and then I want to be old and annoy people by pretending that I am deaf."

That being said, ever since I have been accpeted into dental school, I have never felt so free. I feel happier than I have been in a while, and I haven't been so excited about the future. I have enjoyed the last few months more than I have the rest of college. I think that having a clear path in front of me has shown me that there are options for the future. Dentistry is a great profession in that once you get started, you have the ability to pursue many other interests. I think that freedom will make up for missing a few nights of partying while in college.

 

[lovewestny]

I am in the same type of boat that ISU Steve seems to be in - after going to school for Journalism and taking some time off to figure out what I was supposed to do with my life, I'm back in school.

At first, I couln't believe how hard I though these classes were. It wasn't until last week during one of my last finals, as I have been slogging through the semester getting B's (not bad, but not the A's I got sleeping through my Journalism classes), that I realized that this stuff takes time and effort. Perhaps not an off-the-chart IQ, but daily study. So for the last test, I finally got a 95%, and now get the drift.

But rocknightmare, you have learned this first, and early, which puts you several years ahead of me. I thought it would be fun to sell electronics the rest of my life until I started to lose my mind, mostly from sheer boredom and lack of any real challenge. For people who put the time in, the best is yet to come. The man who has encouraged me for several years, my mentor, is a wonderful dentist who loves his career and his comfortable, not filthy rich, lifestyle.

He tells me "C.J., you can be 30 and be a dentist, or you can be 30 and not be a dentist. Either way, that time will pass."

 

[rocknightmare]

He tells me "C.J., you can be 30 and be a dentist, or you can be 30 and not be a dentist. Either way, that time will pass." << i guess we all should look at this way. i just sometimes feel that oh everything has gone to waste but no i think everybody right, you gotta think the better times will come but not always since you have to enjoy what you got and enjoy pretty well otherwise you might lose that too.

what i have learned in the last few months after getting accepted, all the stuff you have done in the past affects the way you are today, for good or bad you have to live with it and say you did the right thing (always no regrets). now for today and the future, do everything you want to do, and remember what you are doing is for the right thing b/c you are doing it! (not sure if this makes sense, i will read it later to see if it does🙂

 

[angeeeeee]

Ok, so yesterday I turned 21 and I am supposed to be having the time of my life and enjoying my youth and all that fun stuff. However, I also had to put my best friend of my youth (my dog) down. I am totally crushed becuase with him goes so many happy memories of growing up. It's so difficult to find happiness after such a life-changing event, but I had teryaki for dinner and my fortune cookie read something to the effect of look forward to your future and your goals. It just reminded how everything I have done has built me up to who I am now and I would never be where I am at today without all the support my loved ones have given me. Their love is what has kept me going through those difficult times and all the hard work, whether it was encouraging words from my parents or the simple happiness of the greetings my dog had when I came home. I just think it is important to remember that every stage of our lives is going to be special and good in its own way, that maybe isn't appreciated until we are looking forward to a new stage of life.

 

[hockeydentist]

Ok, so yesterday I turned 21 and I am supposed to be having the time of my life and enjoying my youth and all that fun stuff. However, I also had to put my best friend of my youth (my dog) down. I am totally crushed becuase with him goes so many happy memories of growing up. It's so difficult to find happiness after such a life-changing event, but I had teryaki for dinner and my fortune cookie read something to the effect of look forward to your future and your goals. It just reminded how everything I have done has built me up to who I am now and I would never be where I am at today without all the support my loved ones have given me. Their love is what has kept me going through those difficult times and all the hard work, whether it was encouraging words from my parents or the simple happiness of the greetings my dog had when I came home. I just think it is important to remember that every stage of our lives is going to be special and good in its own way, that maybe isn't appreciated until we are looking forward to a new stage of life.

So get a new dog, nothing like starting over with a new friend! With new friend comes more memories. Instead of calling number 1 you can call him number

 

[Cornball714]

So I've been reading over the comments on this thread and I must say I'm really glad to hear alot of these stories. Its nice to know, there are other people that share similar thoughts feelings. As for myself, Ive had the best years of my life during undergrad, I pretty much did everything I wanted to and had a blast doing it. One thing I always tried to do was that I never wanted to feel like I missed out on anything I really wanted to do yet at the same time making sure my priorities were straight in school. If I wanted to take a weekend trip to vegas, I would study really hard the week before...and luckily I was able to get by. As for the future, part of me is optimisitc and part of me is a little scared. I've been in undegrad for 5 years now and this is my last quarter of school, then i graduate in june and dental school in august for another 4 years. Thinking back, 5 years feels like a long time...sometimes too long and I'm feeling it now cause I have major chronic senioritis. It scares me to think ill be doing this all over again for another 4 years. Dont get me wrong, I am very grateful for where I'm at and the position im in, but I think I need that defining moment where I'll realize I'm ready for this. I'm hoping to find that moment sometime soon (hopefully summer) cause as of right now I feel like I'm not ready. Anybody else feel the same way? Anyone else have that defining moment