I have no idea why I'm even still trying here.
Skizz, you can put together the same credentials you are so earnestly pursuing at this extremely expensive private school at a state school for far less money. No, it won't have the name "diving" in the title, but you can learn physiology and business almost anywhere, and pursue good diving training on your own for far less money. Mattleycrue, the fellow you are so mad at, has spent a lot less than you are spending on some very high quality dive training, probably much better than what you will get through your major.
I read your piece about your "summer program", which consists of four dives a day in Bonaire. Don't you think that most of the people you are haranguing would like to have someone else pay for them to do four dives a day in Bonaire? I'd love it if someone would bankroll that for me. I'd even study in the evenings . . . but then again, my guess is that I already know more about diving physiology, decompression, diving history, and diving skills than you would at the end of your program. I don't know squat about business, but there are business degrees anywhere.
I totally understand your desire to make a career in something you love. I also applaud your decision to get more background and useful knowledge than the average guy who goes through his OWSI and wonders why he can't find a place to make a living using it. I just think you are very shortsighted and obsessive about the idea that THIS particular, very expensive college (that you can't afford) is the only way to accomplish what you envision.
Many of us have had to manage our educations with limited funds. In general, we probably didn't head for the most expensive private institution we could find. I went to state schools, and admittedly, they were cheap in those days . . . but they were state schools. I don't have a degree from Stanford or Harvard. I could have gotten into either, but I couldn't afford them, so I didn't go there. THESE are the kinds of decisions you have to make. Don't lose your vision of what you want to build for yourself; just regroup and figure out how to do it in a way you can afford.
Begging for money is unlikely to get you through college. (Although I've been amazed at what people can do begging, these days.) I personally feel no motivation at all to send you any money, and I suspect many of the people on your threads share my position. I don't find a pleasant, respectful, hard-working young man, presenting a track record of real accomplishment and requesting assistance. I find a very defensive and sometimes unpleasant young man who seems to think that somebody ought to give him an expensive, optional education because he wants it.
I respect your service to our country. I wish it had taught you more about discipline and focus and realism.
