Well, this could be a ridiculously long post, but I'll keep it as short as I can. I am 41 year old working on a electrical engineering degree.
As a kid I was interested in electronics, I took stuff apart. I read a few books. I built a few circuits that were featured in those books. However, I never really understood what I was doing. I was a poor student and ended up quitting school at 15, joined the US Navy at 17 (got my GED in the Navy), was a welder (poor ASVAB math scores prevented getting into anything interesting like electronics), got out and got into computers and spent the next ~20 years being a bench tech/it consultant... but wasn't happy. I always regretted not going to college, and I always regretted not pursuing my interest in electronics. So, when I lost my job do to the economy in 2009, I decided to go to the local community college. Initially, I intended to go for a CompSci degree, but quickly decided that I really didn't want to do that. What I REALLY wanted to do was finally get into electronics! So, I switched gears and started on the long path toward an EE degree. It took me 4 years to get my AA (had to work and pay bills, plus a LOT of remedial math) and right now I am at University as a Junior in the EE program.
A while back I discovered Dave on one of his videos and was highly entertained and learned something, so I decided to watch more of his videos. Been watching ever since. I finally decided to come over to the forum and register. I'll be asking some dumb questions, I'm sure. To be honest, I have been wanting to post something for a while, but I've been intimidated. I know so very little, I feel dumb for even being here. As if I have nothing to contribute.
I think Dave and I are about the same age, and had I had the presence of mind, dedication, and drive that he has, I could probably have been doing something so much more productive and interesting with my life than the aimless wandering it has been so far. Hopefully I can make this course correction work and spend the next 20+ years doing something I enjoy.
Hmm. Now that I read back over that it was a rambling mess. Let me try again:
Was interested in electronics as kid, quit school, joined Navy, wasted life for 20 years, lost job, started college, working on EE degree at University now.
That was better.