Thread: Anyone else wish they were a nerd in Highschool?

I wish I would've done HS when I was in HS. Too much partying for this guy. Feelsbadnow. I did eventually get my **** together and went to college.

Interesting insight, OP. Would be nice to get just one rewind button, no?

I was sort of a nerd, back in hs though. lol

I'm glad I did all my partying in HS. YOLO
I remember my 10 year reunion. All the partiers from my class had a great time, the other people seemed miserable. Sure, they have more successful and productive lives, but at what cost.

Originally Posted by nebraskaheat

Exactly. I know everyone wishes for the re-wind button, but it's really been bothering me. Most of my friends wish they would have worked even harder in sports so they could have gone on to have some kind of sports career. The Al Bundy types lol.

I wish I just didn't do the sports at all and done things I would have been able to do or use the rest of my life.

But, you did.
And in those sports experiences, you gained some positive things than if you would have made different choices, back then. Everything in life pretty much is a tradeoff, and about balance. Hindsight's 20/20... bla bla bla...anyone have anymore cliches to share?

Thing is, we all learn from whatever paths we've taken...even bad choices, can have some good returns, if you learn from them.

Nerd in HS and still am... When everyone was out partying and Messing around I was either at coffee shop or playing on my Commodore 64 typing in the code that was in there and then trying to modify it... A computer programmer now... Only Hobby I am looking at now is making dream catchers and Maybe learning how to tattoo

Originally Posted by nebraskaheat

Learned to play an instrument. Learned Spanish, or French. Learned to paint. Got into those fantasy board games (D&D) that I'd love to play now, but don't know how to even begin to learn or know anyone who does play.

We didn't really call those people nerds. We weren't some jerks that made fun of anybody. But we were way too "cool" to do any of that stuff back then. And now I'm sitting here, looking for some type of activity to get into, realizing I know nothing other than sports. And I have no interest in playing anymore sports. I watch baseball still but that's it. Everything else sports wise I'm just burnt/done with.

I had a strong feeling this would happen one day even back then. I remember many days thinking I wish I was doing some of that other stuff, but never did. Then I got married, kids, work, too busy etc.etc..

So my question is, did anyone pick up a hobby later in life? (other than bodybuilding obviously). Something they wanted to do in high school but didn't? How'd you go about it?

End rant.

I'm always finding something new to learn- the only limits are my time, energy and money. There's no difference between bodybuilding and learning something new- if you're willing to put in the time and energy it takes, then the only thing that can hold you back is yourself.

I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. I spent my weekends in high school traveling around the country for math competitions, playing D&D games with my friends, and programming computers. I don't regret those things (except maybe the excessive board and video games), but I regret not even talking to girls at the time. If I could do it over again, I would have made an effort to be more social and talk to girls.

I also regret not learning the truth about certain plants earlier. I believed the bullsh*t they taught us in school at the time, so I didn't learn the truth for myself until college.

I recognize now that the time I spent playing football was wasted. I wasn't good enough to make it to a college team, and it wasn't even much fun after a while (we won one game my senior year). I don't regret any of the time I spent lifting weights, obviously. That's a hobby that stuck with me for life.

I guess I was a nerdthlete in high school. A jack of all trades, master of none. Smart enough to compete in a debate, but not win it. Not really gifted enough of an athlete to earn a scholarship, but good enough to get mentioned in the state newspapers back when kids didn't earn medals just for showing up. Grades were decent, but if I was in the principles office it wasn't for an award. But I was athletic enough to catch and marry the best looking cheerleader I ever met.
No regrets. Yeah, I wish I had taken time to learn the guitar and speak Spanish, but I guess I still could if it meant that much to me.

Looking back I have no doubt that with all the time I had I could have been an astronaut if I applied myself. In the end I would not have changed any of it for the world. All I can do now is make sure my kids can strike the appropriate balance between a healthy social life and a successful academic experience.

Had some old high school friends over for New Years Eve. Needless to say one week later and I still think I am hungover, but it was soooo worth it!

Originally Posted by nebraskaheat

I think that's part of what triggered this lately. My daughter is in 8th grade and no matter how much I've tried of late to get her to try other school activities, she's all sports all the time. She goes from softball, to basketball, to volleyball to track.. She really doesn't have much else school related she's into.

She's getting good grades and it's hard as a parent to refuse to allow her to do the sports she wants to do while she's pulling good grades. I just don't want her or my younger boys making the same "mistake" I feel I made.

You think you made a mistake, but maybe you didn't. That is your opinion. Offer your expereince and insights to your kids but it will be their choice as to what path they choose and even if they repeat your life growing up they may not look back on it negatively.

I myself worked my whole childhood literally, my dad has been self employed with so many projects happening at once, after school we were always working in some fashion, mostly physical work. I wish I had talked to girls more, I wish I had tried to play sports, but always felt guilty that my parents worked so much.
Now my parents are well off, but my dad does not know how to enjoy himself.

No, I'm damn glad that I wasn't a nerd in HS.

Oh sure, it's easy to look at those types later in life and perhaps think of the money and/or careers that some of them have, but that's just bull$hit. My younger sister had some nerdy, "serious" friends back then, and I recall hearing how, "Bill's a pilot now" and "Lou has a 2 million dollar home", etc...

You know what they don't have? Memories of sweet debauchery, losing count of the women they had by the time they were half way through college, the ability to articulate what a trip is like, doing such ridiculous things that only few would dare. And list goes on.

So, in the end, I actually feel bad for them (srs).

Originally Posted by dbx

You know what they don't have? Memories of sweet debauchery, losing count of the women they had by the time they were half way through college, the ability to articulate what a trip is like, doing such ridiculous things that only few would dare. And list goes on.

Some of us did those things in our 20s and 30s instead. I wish I had started earlier, but it's not too late for the guys who missed out in high school and college.

Originally Posted by dbx

No, I'm damn glad that I wasn't a nerd in HS.

Oh sure, it's easy to look at those types later in life and perhaps think of the money and/or careers that some of them have, but that's just bull$hit. My younger sister had some nerdy, "serious" friends back then, and I recall hearing how, "Bill's a pilot now" and "Lou has a 2 million dollar home", etc...

You know what they don't have? Memories of sweet debauchery, losing count of the women they had by the time they were half way through college, the ability to articulate what a trip is like, doing such ridiculous things that only few would dare. And list goes on.

So, in the end, I actually feel bad for them (srs).

I did alot of catching up on some wild times in a fast and few years from when I was 21 to 28. I went through some money but still have some great memories. I would work my ass off all day and party all night, never called in hung over though, not to my dad.

Originally Posted by Brackneyc

OP doesn't regret his choices...he is bragging about how cool he was in HS/college.

I understood that...was just adding my own feelings about it .

Originally Posted by m314

Some of us did those things in our 20s and 30s instead. I wish I had started earlier, but it's not too late for the guys who missed out in high school and college.

Some things are more precious when done at a precious ages..........