How are you doing compared to the peers you grew up with?

Depends on how you measure success. Different expectations from different eras.

I had a horrible time at primary school where I had a few teachers who were absolute tramps. Never spared a few slaps, pulling our ears, making little of us. My dad died suddenly when he was 47, I was only 11 years of age. My big brother brought me back to school with a warning to the principle if ever touched me again he would kick him up and down the corridor. I wasn't touched again but other kids got it worse. One lad told me he didnt mind getting slaps from teachers. The insults still haunt him. He dribbled a bit and the teacher used to insult him.

I enjoyed my secondary school the variety and meeting people from other towns. The teachers were very good. It was a technical school and from what I know a few went into trades and done very well for themselves. I didnt keep in touch with many from secondary school but I still meet lads from my primary school everyday and they have all done well. But I just wasn't happy in school and I got a job when I was 16 and am still in it, im 58. I drank a fair bit for about 10 years but am off it 30 years now, My only regret in life was not returning to school, maybe not a regret but something I would change. My GP a family friend wanted me to go back and he was prepared to fund it. I done my first exam when I was 54 year and nearly had a nervous breakdown. Practically I was good but didn't like written side of it. I can retire in 2 years with a full pension but am seriously thinking of doing a proper course around social care or something where I would be dealing with people. I love talking and listening to people and am a good communicator. I was a decent enough sports coach.

Being from a rural community farming was the main thing in my area and a lot of lads went into farming, a few very successfully. A few went working in retail and factories. A few emigrated to USA, UK and Canada. One became a priest and sadly has officiated at funerals of former school pals. Sadly a few were killed in car crashes. Not many went on to college. But I know a few returned to do various course through their work. There is far more emphasis on education now than when I was at school. It is like everyone must have a degree when they clearly dont. One or two lad set up their own companies based on trades they had done, Carpentry, Electrical, plumbing etc and they have been successful.

As it is Im happily married, 2 children, 1 dog, 2 cars (the green party are making it difficult though). Saved a few quid along the way. I own my own house. Our eldest graduated with first class honors from Trinity and has landed a very good job with a top company and the other is currently in Trinity and doing very well. We put a lot of effort into their education and encouraged them without any pressure. In my eyes thats success.

Are the people who went on to be very successful really happy with life.? I'M not sure they are. No doubt some are but a few I know gave up sports and other clubs to pursue their work careers and missed out on stuff in the community working long hours.

Great thread.

Maybe they are looking at you and saying the same?

Because someone appears to be successful doesn't mean they are actually successful. What have they really got out of how you see them? How are you measuring success?

I spoke to my boss about 10 years ago about going for a certain job. He told me it wouldn't suit me. I was well liked where I was and to take up this job would require a totally different approach, a change of personality. He was right in hindsight. I think I was just at a low ebb heading for 50 and possibly thinking life was passing me by. But when I thought about it I was happy enough. The guy who took up the role is not liked at all.

We are not all cut out for management roles yet management can't do without us. So take stock of where you. I dont have any qualifications like you and I would regard what you have as been successful. Measure where you are. Where you want to go.

If we had that "American thing" of a graduation book with 'Most likely to be President', 'Most likely to end up in Jail', etc I would have been the latter.

However, at the risk of sounding immodest, I would have been underestimated!

I'm at the top of the hierarchy in my professional field, with responsibility for the work of more than 500 staff in a large public service organisation. Since leaving school at age 16, without a Leaving Certificate... I've completed study at BSc(Hons) level, Post Grad Dip, and have two Masters degrees on top of professional education. Not bad, for a lad who didn't do a leaving cert!!!

From my gang in school, we all went to college/RTC in the mid 90's. 3 are teachers, 3 are stay at home mothers (didnt really have a career to give up), a couple work in admin roles, 2 in mangement roles and a few settled in the US. After university, I by chance ended up in the pharma industry, moved a few roles, completed a couple of masters thanks to employers, worked in clinical trials for years and started my own consultancy in this area 8 years ago. I work mainly for European based pharma companies, I travel a lot to Asia, US and europe. I live a very modest life, I dont flash my wealth to my friends, for example, my husband and I travel 1st or business class for longhaul holidays, but I dont tell my friends.

But I do believe some of my school friends who dont have a lot of money, but have their own house, kids, annual holiday to Spain are probably happier in their life.

they are married with kids and im getting drunk playing elden ring. we can tell who is clearly winning 😂

I was so full of potential at school. Always in the top sector of my class, popular and doing well in most exams. Then I went and got pregnant in the 2nd year of my 2 year college course. Married the loser, went back to do another course, worked for a music magazine (dream job!) left to keep him from moaning about how much I enjoyed my work. Moved back to my home county, had another child, kicked the abusive husband out and spent almost 20 years doing jobs I wasn't that mad about just to keep my kids in a warm, comfy home and give them a chance at life.

Went back to college when I was 40, ended up following my childhood dreams and becoming a writer. When my youngest went to college I went travelling in Asia and lived there for 4 years until COVID. Moved back home temporarily, but now am in Albania for a year, own a content agency and am loving life.

So while most of my friends went on to be nurses, teachers, an archeaologist, work in computers or finance, I raised 2 amazing young lads, struggled through some really shi**y times and now live the life I dreamed of on those depressing, lonely nights.

I feel successful despite the fact that I make crap money and currently don't have a partner, but I have so much fun getting to know people from all over the world as I travel and explore it. I should be sleeping, but an urgent client request came in so am up dealing with it because I am due to have no electricity tomorrow! The joys of running a business eh?