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Absolute awesomness!

  • Jared HoustonJared Houston
    December 2007
    Just thought id share my stoke with you guys!
    I am finished school!
    How freaking rad is that!
    Yeah yeah now its the real world,il deal with that later!
    But for now im surfing,working and hanging out!
    Wonderful:)

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13 Replies

  • JmoJmo
    December 2007
    Stoked!
    Have a gap year. Go to Aus. Surf the Box. Drink beer.
    Hooray for the University of Life...
  • Mangaz17
    January 2008
    stoked bro! just left 2 actually, still had a year 2 go but money seems like a better idea at the moment lol start saving up for an indo trip! :D
  • Marthinus
    January 2008
    Jared Houston wrote:
    Just thought id share my stoke with you guys!
    I am finished school!
    How freaking rad is that!
    Yeah yeah now its the real world,il deal with that later!
    But for now im surfing,working and hanging out!
    Wonderful:)

    So stoked hey :D
  • Jared HoustonJared Houston
    January 2008
    too stoked bro.
    Oz is one in june.
    Marthinus.See you there?
  • Marthinus
    January 2008
    Im gonna be there from feb if everything runs smoothly :wink:
  • JmoJmo
    January 2008
    I'm in the Canaries for 2 weeks.... :D
  • MichelleDaniels
    January 2008
    Stoked for you all :P
    If all goes well, I'll be in Puerto Rico in February 8) .
  • KellyKelly
    January 2008
    For anyone who missed it - Tjoekie wrote an article for us last year based on his experience ... Life after bodyboarding. If you've just left school, might be worth a read.

    I agree with Tjoekie on that one but I guess everyone has their own views and ambitions --- what is right for some is not right for others and my advice is no matter who is doing the talking - take on board what is right for you and lose the rest.

    After school I ended up working in a bank for 2 years which got me some valuable experience but with a lot of old folk clients I would forever here the "wish I had" stories. After enough times that was plenty motivation to make sure I never ended up as one of those cats and I packed my bags and headed off travelling which is what I wanted to do. Not everyone is lucky enough to be hounded by some old foggies with their "wish I had" stories so I thought I'd share. Maybe they do it for a reason ...

    If you don't know what to do career wise ... then consider a gap year or two as Jmo reckons. You'll never be 18 without much of a care in the world ever again. The world won't move much in 1 or 2 years and if and when you come back chances are you will probably find yourself in the same position at age 30 as if you'd stayed. But in my opinion - maybe better off if you know how to hunt for your dinner.

    Anyway ... enjoy making your mistakes while I make mine. Not really one for quotes but thought this was so true ...
    John Lennon wrote:
    Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.

    And to those guys who are going off sponging the world ... enjoy!!!
  • rylin
    January 2008
    I couldn't agree with you more Kelly, wise words to the youth of today, i took about a 2 year gap year (maybe alittle more....... :D ) and it was the best thing for me, your only young once. I have always said, I dont want to be the old guy saying to everyone I meet : I wish I travelled.

    Live with no regret

    I heard this the other day :

    2 guys, John and Peter were sitting at John's house one day and John said to Peter : Peter what have you got to show for your life? Peter then replied : John, I may not have much but as you can see, we are sitting at YOUR house listening to MY stories.

    John being the person who got a job straight away out of school and never looked back and didn't get to travel and experience the world(I'm not saying he didnt enjoy his life). Peter being the man who decided to travel the world and experience different cultures and traditions . you can choose to be iether person, John or Peter.

    maybe you'll understand what I've said here but if not just live with no regret.

    life is all about the experience.
  • MichelleDaniels
    January 2008
    Yes! Great words of wisdom to pass on.
    Although, there are some older folk who don't want to here or admit to this, I heard some advice today on the radio that is also very important to consider--
    I might add that, maybe it is different in South Africa, however, here in America, It's not the necessity of having a degree to get you a fine, good paying job--there are loads of Americans making over $100,000 a year without any degree at all! HOWEVER, HAVING MARKETABLE SKILLS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Presently there are lots of kids with degree's, working at low paying jobs and struggling to make ends meet, due to having high, school loans. Getting a master's is not always a good idea either as it does not increase your pay in most careers for as much as it costs for you to get one.
    My husband and I both graduated with 4 year, B.S. Degree's and neither one of us have worked in the field we graduated in, since 7 years out of college! No regrets!
    I admire those of you who step out and travel the world. I visited 7 European countries the summer of my Senior year. What great cultural exposure and experience. It is an unforgetable experience! Life is too short and you are only young once--perfect time to do it! The Nomadic traveler's are very intrigueing! I think some don't do it because of the fear of the unknown and the intolerance of certain conditions. However, this adventure would certainly be most admirable for your self confidence, independance and survival. I believe this exposure/experience would be beneficial on a resume' as well! It tells a possible, future employer, of some exceptional traits that you learn and possess--adaptive, tolerant, frugal, thrifty, determined, tenacious, positive etc. etc. etc. :lol:
    As you consider your choices, all the best to you! :D
    Go out, have fun and I wish you happiness and contentment in whatever you decide.

    Whee! LIFE AFTER BODYBOARDING is a fantastic read--thanks for passing that link on, Kelly! I love the end quote:
    if you believe in something, if you have a passion for something and if you have a goal, then follow your dreams and never look back!
  • mr_magoo
    January 2008
    all I did at school was surf and didnt put too much effort into actual school work per say, so when I left school I didnt have the faintest idea what I wanted to do with my life, so while everyone else got a student loan I went to the army for a bit to see what I could learn and surprise surprise I quite enjoyed it. When I left the army, i still didnt have a clue what I wanted to do but didnt have the student load to pay off , happy times and some how ended up working in IT, dont particularly like what I do BUT it pays the bills and more importantly it pays my surf trips.

    I have spent 18 months travelling the world surfing, been to just about every place I have ever wanted to go to. Now that life has caught up with me and I have a kid of my own I am glad to be able to look back at the way things have turned out, I had no real plan and even now I dont have a plan. I work , have a decent house, surf on the weekends, travel to Indo, Morocco and France to surf once a year and just have a relaxed , stress free life. Life isnt all about planning, in most cases its the unplanned and totally unexpected experiances that bring the most joy and satisfaction.

    Enjoy your GAP year, hell take two years ( i did my GAP year when I was in my late 20's in fact spent my 30th birtday surfing in Fiji and drinking far too much Bounty rum) and dont worry too much about the future.
  • Chinnychinchin
    January 2008
    All great stuff!

    But don't just arb around the world with no plan and no clue. Make it your mission to find out who and what you want to be. Lank ou's just arb around doing bum jobs and surfing, which is very cool if you're 20 something, but to hit your 30's with no education and no direction is not so cool. Who cares if you can bust out the DK air revo 360's, when you're a ballie still living off mom and dad, eish, not kiff!!.....I'm studying via correspondence for my degree now while I'm working full time and it's a lank MISSION!!!

    Talk to ballies who you respect, get their input and then start making your own decisions.
  • adam1
    January 2008
    I too did the leaving school and taking a year off to get drunk and surf all day. Did not too much travelling at the time due to lack of funds etc.

    But there is a way to be both John and Peter (see Rylin's piece)

    This is one of them...

    Now I live in London... yes I know what you're thinking... and its not sunny SA but there are some percs.

    I get to travel a shite load (I have surfed ALL of Europe, just got back from the Canaries and South Africa over the xmas period and am going to Central/south America and indo this year).
    the weather here isn't so hot in winter, but there is nothing stopping me from hopping a plane to Europe and working on my tan while surfing sick Hossegor or ericeira.

    I don't have a degree either (who goes to uni anymore) and I'm earning £45 000+ a year in my job. You just have to search and be willing to graft hard for your boss, they appreciate hard graft over here and are willing to pay good money for it. (and no you don't have to dig ditches).

    You can also make great friends from all over the world who then offer to let you stay at their houses when you visit them. Good when you realise just how close some houses are to world class waves.

    True I don't have a house yet (but I'm only 25) and some of my buddies who have worked harder do, but there is a balance between working and bodyboarding to be found. It just depends on where you decide your balance is.

    I intend to eventually come home (you can't live here forever) and still be putting my Knee up as much as I can until I'm too old to do so and, if I'm lucky, I'll have some crazy stories for for all to hear and some cash in the bank when I'm done.
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