What to do when you're 18

[We'reFlyingHigh]

I'm at a bit of a loose end.

I finished school last year, did quite well, got into quite a competitive course.

I've started this semester, done quite well as far as marks go again.

I've got a fairly strong social life, head out most Thursday nights.

But I'm bored out of my mind. Uni hasn't turned my life upside down anywhere nearly as much as I was hoping for.

So I've decided to change things a bit and I'm looking for some advice outside the usual sources.

What were the best things you did in the period after you left school?

 

[ManWithNoName]

Bought a shitload of DVDs.

But I'm a nerd. Probably best to avoid my advice.

 

[omit]

vote - doesn't matter what on. just vote a lot

 

[i_hate_scams]

try getting a full time job and study part time.

it work wonders for me, along with having plenty of money to go on holidays and do stuff.

 

[We'reFlyingHigh]

try getting a full time job and study part time.

it work wonders for me, along with having plenty of money to go on holidays and do stuff.

Actually looking to get away from the books for a little while; they've been controlling me for too long.

I'm thinking along the lines of going away for a 6/12 months or moving out of home but don't really know where to go or anything.

 

[PowerKat]

Travel O/S. Backpack Europe or similar.

 

[fairdinkum]

But I'm bored out of my mind. Uni hasn't turned my life upside down anywhere nearly as much as I was hoping for.

Uni is nothing like the social paradise you were expecting, is it? Don't worry. I was fooled, too.

 

[We'reFlyingHigh]

Travel O/S. Backpack Europe or similar.

I'm thinking of doing something along those lines. Any specific suggestions for doing so?

Uni is nothing like the social paradise you were expecting, is it? Don't worry. I was fooled, too.

A lot more work than I thought would be involved.

The social life isn't a hell of a lot better than school either.

I don't mind it, but I wanted something new, and it just hasn't provided enough of that.

 

[PowerKop]

Have you thought about external study. I did my BA in Adelaide. Finished that and had a year of last year and lived interstate. This year i'm doing my Diploma of Education externally, through Charles Darwin Uni.

Enjoying external study so far and have plenty of time for a bit of work and whatever I wan't to do in between prac placements and assignments. Just gotta be a little more organised.

 

[We'reFlyingHigh]

Have you thought about external study. I did my BA in Adelaide. Finished that and had a year of last year and lived interstate. This year i'm doing my Diploma of Education externally, through Charles Darwin Uni.

Enjoying external study so far and have plenty of time for a bit of work and whatever I wan't to do in between prac placements and assignments. Just gotta be a little more organised.

I'm not sure I'm that disciplined with my work. I'm a bit of a last minute type unfortunately.

 

[rusdid24]

I'm not sure I'm that disciplined with my work. I'm a bit of a last minute type unfortunately.

Go overseas mate. For a good 6 or 12 months at least. If I'd gone straight on to uni after I finished school I reckon I'd have dropped out or at the least changed courses by now.
Isn't it funny how uni isn't what it seems from the outside? There's still shiteload of frigging work to do

 

[We'reFlyingHigh]

Go overseas mate. For a good 6 or 12 months at least. If I'd gone straight on to uni after I finished school I reckon I'd have dropped out or at the least changed courses by now.
Isn't it funny how uni isn't what it seems from the outside? There's still shiteload of frigging work to do

I think I went to uni straight after school so I didn't get out of the loop and end up not actually making it there.

Any suggestions for travel destinations?

 

[rusdid24]

I think I went to uni straight after school so I didn't get out of the loop and end up not actually making it there.

Any suggestions for travel destinations?

I worked in London, then travelled through Europe, North Africa and a few places in the Mid-East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain), before coming back. All in all gone for about 13 months.
Europe is brilliant and definitely the way to go if you can I would say. North America would've been great but I can't stand getting treated like a child as a guest in a country and not being able to drink!

It's a frigging expensive proposition but if you work hard and save some dosh then it can be done.

Also mate when you're actually here and studying, make sure you take a break and go somewhere at least once during the year. Once again can be expensive but worth doing the work for because it recharges the batteries no end.
Last year was India, the year before NZ, Sydney and Qld, this year was Adelaide and that's it courtesy of a medical mishap. Next year will be the Ashes in the UK.

Hope that helps. Good luck to you.

 

[We'reFlyingHigh]

I worked in London, then travelled through Europe, North Africa and a few places in the Mid-East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain), before coming back. All in all gone for about 13 months.
Europe is brilliant and definitely the way to go if you can I would say. North America would've been great but I can't stand getting treated like a child as a guest in a country and not being able to drink!

It's a frigging expensive proposition but if you work hard and save some dosh then it can be done.

Also mate when you're actually here and studying, make sure you take a break and go somewhere at least once during the year. Once again can be expensive but worth doing the work for because it recharges the batteries no end.
Last year was India, the year before NZ, Sydney and Qld, this year was Adelaide and that's it courtesy of a medical mishap. Next year will be the Ashes in the UK.

Hope that helps. Good luck to you.

Thanks a lot for the advice.

 

[Equus]

Take a gap and do something meaningful such as teaching English in countries like Japan, Malaysia or something like that.
It's worthwhile and since my mate has gone, he has matured a lot.

Edit: Also found his hot rich girlfriend overseas as well.

 

[Cats fan 16]

i went straight to uni from school and thought it was awesome for the first 2 years, as i was living on campus and drinking and stuff a fair bit. I wouldnt say uni is that much work, im in my 3rd year of a pretty full on physiotherapy degree and i just cram in swot vac and get through. Am now living in a house in melbs and am a bit over uni, so like you im thinking of deferring next year (even though ill only have a year on my course) to travel europe for 6 months. I would do it if i were you..

 

[bigkev bleeds purple]

It's funny that I found this thread just now because I'm in the same boat. I left the North West after living there my entire life to go to uni in Perth when I was 17, now after one and a half years I'm totally over it. So I've decided to defer first semester of 2009 and go on a working holiday to an American ski resort. Yes, I know I won't be able to drink over there but it's not a big deal for me. 6 months of deep Montana powder should help to refresh me.

 

[dchawk]

Go out, get drunk, root s l u t s, enjoy life.
Travel in either Aus or o/s - head to spots with chicks!

Or, start a new hobby after had your fun - i new hardly anything bout cars - purchased a project car n alot of research/time/hard work n i am still hooked on them.

Coming into winter - try ang get a job at one of the snowfields, good times!