How were you in school?

[VinnyVideo]

Going along with what @Kritter was saying: Formal education is a game. It's a lot different from the "real world" - the skills that contribute to success in school don't always mean much once you start working full time.

A game is a system in which players engage in an artificial conflict, defined by rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome.

A game is an activity or sport usually involving skill, knowledge, or chance, in which you follow fixed rules and try to win against an opponent or to solve a puzzle.

Some people thrive in this ecosystem; others struggle. How much you like your school experience depends on a variety of factors - your learning style, your desire to learn, your ability to fit in with the school's culture, your teachers, your classmates, access to extracurricular activities, the school's budget, and family support, to name a few. Schools aren't always good at adapting the system to students who don't fit into a certain mold.

Don't get me wrong: Education is very important. People with knowledge, skills, and connections (and yes, these connections are a big part of the value of an education, especially by the time you get to grad school) are more successful than those who lack those things. However, the formal education system is not the only way people can acquire those things. So don't stress if you don't like school or have problems there.

One more thing: "Useless" subjects can sometimes prove to be valuable down the road - for example, not all students enjoy their foreign language classes, but in my current job, knowing Spanish is very important. So try your best in all your classes, even if they don't seem relevant when you take them.

Course clear! You got a card.