Your  interests may have more influence upon your working life than years of study and exams.

You might get top marks, go on to a Phd,  atend a top university with letters before and after your name.  Then you listen deeply within and go and do something else with your life far more fulfilling.

Your parents put pressure and demands on you to succeed.  You say to yourself. “I don’t want to end up like them." And you mean it. So you don't end up like them. 

You may quit school before taking exams or soon after. You never went to college or university.  You experience a happy, adventurous  and meaningful life.

You know high achievers. You also feel grateful you did not end up like them. The rest of their personal life is in a mess while they work themselves to an earlier grave.

Know yourself. Develop inner trust  and skills.  Understand others close to you and far afield.

Live with integrity.

They (family, counsellors, educators, politicians and more) think they know what is best for you. They don't. They don't even know what is best for themselves.

Reflect on what matters more than getting good grades, social status and a fat income. 

For a start, love, peace of mind, health, deep friendships, service to others and freedom to be matters far more. ​