When I finished high school I went to a different university with no interest. Partied and wasted away three years, redoing classes, barely passing the ones I did and was ultimately required to withdraw.

Spent the next few years just working dead end jobs and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I didn’t have the grades to transfer universities, so after 4 years I went back and slogged out a science degree and aced whatever I had left to do in a city which was far away from all my family.

Finally felt free but was still stuck with nothing I wanted so I applied to University of Calgary Engineering. Didn’t get in, but got into open studies. Decided it doesn’t hurt to try and worked my ass off for the year taking courses that would be considered electives, and whatever first year courses like math they use in Engineering since they wouldn’t let me take the first year Engineering courses.

Fast forward to the end of the year with a 3.7 GPA over 8 courses (had to work full-time doing them also) and got into Engineering. Here I am getting my Software Engineering degree with a steady 3.6 GPA and I couldn’t be happier…even though I am one of the older students in my class. It’s so fun.