D15 headed off to her university this week, and, their pride stung, my older sons restarted school.
S08 made an initial attempt to go to college, but wasn't mature enough, and dropped out after only two semesters, with mostly Fs on his transcript. He then joined the military, had some amazing adventures in the Navy, then came home and worked for a while in the marine industry (fishing, then shipbuilding) before deciding to make another attempt for the engineering degree he always wanted. He literally wants to be a rocket scientist. However, it has been so long since he has been in school he forgot most of his math, and the entry exam placed him all the way back in intermediate algebra. He has a long haul to get back to university-level academics.
S10 also dropped out after one semester of college after extreme burnout. He had been in all honors and AP, plus high-level academic competition (science bowls, etc) and by the time he headed off to college he was mentally checked out from academics. Like his brother, he had few passing grades. He came home and made a second try via online classes, but discovered quickly that he does not do well with online classes. He absolutely needs the classroom interaction. He has been working part-time for a marine science institute, and also in the fishing industry, and has finally decided he wants to study oceanography.
Now, both more mature and with clear goals in mind, and with the mindsets I am seeing in them, I think they will be successful.
After all, I had to make three failed attempts at college before actually going the distance in my 30s, and when I did it was spectacular.
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