Chess perspective for an high school dropout

Hi,

As the title mention, I am an high school dropout, currently working on a restaurant and I started playing chess online a few months ago.

But some friends do find that strange, that a guy with no formal education is playing such an intellectual game. They do not understand why I have this interest and passion.

I tell them: ''Well Bobby Fisher the greatest player of all time was an high school dropout!''

What does that mean to play chess with no formal education? Is it a handicap or an odditty for you?

I would have your view on this!

Thanks lot.

Level of education is completely irrelevant in chess.  Don't be too proud of yourself because you play a board game.

Education or lack of education has nothing to do with intelligence; also, intelligence doesn't have anything to do with chess ability--this is a myth that gets repeated constantly.

If a player is talented and/or they work hard on chess (properly) they can become a strong player.

I don't think that the lack of a formal education is necessarily a handicap to learning to play chess.  I would guess that it is unusual for high school dropouts to be seriously interested in chess, but I would not let that dissuade you from playing chess competitively.  I would, however, encourage you to try to complete your high school degree or GED (or whatever the equivalent is in Canada).  While the lack of a HS diploma is not a barrier to playing chess, it often does limit the types of jobs that are available to you, and generally higher paying jobs require higher educational credentials.

Forgive my ignorance, but you can drop out of high school?

It helps to be smart... But chess is for anybody.

It's not that I am too proud rather the contrary it sometimes feel awkward. For some people it's like a paradox: A guy who didn't have the motivation and success at school and so quickly dropout to later playing chess on a regular basis. To many, chess is viewed as a very intellectual game. so, they wonder why does he not play monopoly or battleship instead??

Anyway, I am lucky in a sens for I've a good job with a decent salary for someone with my background in a restaurant in Canada.

Sorry if this thread doesn't seems to be relevant.. It's just that it's been bothering me a bit lately and wanted to share it with you fellow players.

You must be the smartest waiter at the restaurant.

huriko896:

Make the best decision FOR YOU. I would never tell a person to drop out of high school, but it could be the right decision for you personally, who knows. If you're sure it's the right thing for you to do, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Educate yourself!

lol... After reading the first sentence I thought u were gonna say something encouraging afterwards...

First, get your GED. Then get yourself into a trade school or a community college. Do it NOW, while you're young.

When I was younger I had a number of friends that played chess and didn't have a higher education. We'd sit around and party, listen to music and play Chess or eucher. Level of education has nothing to do with it.

The number one romanian player, Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (the best example I can think of), who used to be an elite grandmaster (2700+ and no.15 in the world) who is still a great player (somewhere around no.70 in the world I believe) dropped out of school at an age of 15 or 16 years because he knew he had a great talent for chess. That said the level of education is irrelevant in chess. But unless you are exceptionally talented, I suggest you go back to school. If you play chess just for fun, it's ok and your perspective should be as good as anyone else's.

Right.  Its the assistant principal's fault kids are bored and dropping out of school. 

Don't let education discourages you. Education is the easiest way out for learning. You can learn the hard way somewhere else, but it will be a lot tougher than getting it in schools. Because outside the schools, you are on your own without anybody to help out. But it doesn't mean you cannot learn something outside.

So yeah Schools are important to learn something the easiest and fastest way.

"yea well the world needs ditch diggers too." 

Judge Smails

Kids have to show persistency in learning and doing something. Don't be cry babies. My teachers were very tough guys, but when I showed them I had the will to learn, they became very kind. They yelled to those who didn't show it.

Amen brother.  Kids need to be held accountable.  Too many parents nowawadays point the finger at everybody else except themselves or their own screw up children.

You know those free newsletters you get in your inbox that sell the real insider secrets if you pay money for them?  High school is like those newsletters, tells you just enough but for real job opportunities you need to spend big bucks on college. 

Bill Gates dropped out of college.  But don't confuse correlation with causation.

For your own sake.