Don't Quit - by Christopher Hughes

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 178440

Christopher Hughes at Pima Community College

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

Dear Christopher,

I hope this letter finds you well. I know you have been through a lot in your short sixteen years, but I want to tell you that things do get better. Life is full of surprises, fun-filled times, and things to look forward to.

I know you just graduated high school and started college. I wanted to give you some advice. Please stick it out. I know you may think you don’t want to go to more school because you have already been going to school for so long, but I’m here to let you know it is in your best interest. It will be hard. It will be challenging at times, but if you stick through those difficult times, you will be better for it.

I have found throughout my life that life is not as easy as I thought it was when I was your age. Things are not necessarily just black and white, but there are some grey areas. One area that is black and white, though, is college. You need to go to college. It will make your professional life much easier. I am 34 years old now and am finally starting college again. I am going for a business degree. I have owned and managed many businesses over the years, and each has failed, not for lack of trying, but because I didn’t have the foreknowledge to run the business correctly.

Stay positive and persistent no matter what situation you are presented with. College can be confusing, and you will change your major a few times, but you are trying to figure out who you are and what you want to do with the rest of your life. It is a huge decision to make, and It's okay to be indecisive. You will find your passion and what you will enjoy doing for the foreseeable future. Keep on dreaming. Never lose that twinkle in your eye, nor the willingness to step out and make things happen.

Don't quit. This is one of the most essential tips that I will tell you. You will set your mind on many things, and you will feel like maybe a college degree is not for you. You will change your major and be indecisive. You will often want to give up, and you will pretty much quit college three times. You are not a quitter, so I am here to tell you not to do that. There may be times that you feel like the classes are basic review for you or that college is a waste of time. Stick to your guns and follow through. It will help you in the end. You need to take all of the classes in your degree plan to graduate, so it doesn’t matter if it's review or not; you still have to take them. Too bad you cannot get a degree on experience alone, right?

I have spoken to many different people over the years, and many of them have a common, resounding regret. They wish they either had gone to college, not quit college, or when life got in the way, and they had no choice but to put it on the back burner, they would have gone back to college. They believe that economically speaking, they would be better off. Nowadays, if you want a decent-paying job that more than pays the bills, you need a degree. Many employers will not even look at your resumé unless it says you have a bachelor's degree. Many people who do not have a degree have to go through life barely scraping by, living life paycheck to paycheck, hoping that they have enough to buy food to put on the table for their families to eat. Neither your father nor your mother went to college. Your mother is now 61 years old and is still working her butt off instead of enjoying her latter years in retirement. If she had gone to college, maybe she would be in a better place in life to be able to live a retirement lifestyle. Your father is also working like a dog and barely getting anywhere. It is sad, and I never want you to go through this. You do not want to wake up one day and realize that you could have done better or that you could have gone further, if only. Please take heed and get that degree!

As for running your own business, as I have done for the last 14 years, it would be best done with a degree. It may inhibit some of the bad choices made in business and allow you to succeed in business rather than continue to fail. You will push through to the finish line, and you are not a quitter.

Failing is a part of life, but never give up. Success only comes by failure. Fail often but fail forward.

Once you graduate with your degree, join clubs and associations that pertain to what you studied. It is always best to do life with others. Never do life alone. With the help and guidance of others, their ideas, and input, you can glean from them and succeed in any endeavor you set out to do.

I guess that is all for now.

Until next time,

Yourself,

Christopher Hughes

P.S. In February 2011, someone will come up to you and tell you about bitcoin. You will think he is crazy and not understand what he is talking about. Do not be dismissive. Listen to what he has to say and buy some. I know you will have some money at that moment. Buy 2000 of them and do not sell them until November of 2021. Trust me on this.