12 votes

What's your greatest life accomplishment?

All though I am proud of mine I would not like to share it

20 comments

  1. [2]
    fatpat
    Link
    Getting sober and helping my brother after his stage 4 diagnosis. I wouldn't haven't stopped drinking otherwise. I was getting a good taste of late stage alcoholism at that point.

    Getting sober and helping my brother after his stage 4 diagnosis. I wouldn't haven't stopped drinking otherwise. I was getting a good taste of late stage alcoholism at that point.

    12 votes
    1. Tzupi
      Link Parent
      I am sorry for your brother, but kudos for you being with your brother when needed.

      I am sorry for your brother, but kudos for you being with your brother when needed.

      1 vote
  2. [2]
    booleancat
    Link
    I put myself through college largely by working 30+ hours a week while going to school. My parents were able to help me here and there, but I'd say they contributed less than $3000 total through...

    I put myself through college largely by working 30+ hours a week while going to school.

    My parents were able to help me here and there, but I'd say they contributed less than $3000 total through my total time in college. I didn't qualify for student aid outside of subsidized student loans....

    I was fortunate in that I was able to take jobs that allowed me to do homework on the clock and get some free credits each semester (call-center work and a 4am janitorial shift at the university I went to. Not at the same time).

    While I'm really proud of that, I sometimes feel like I'm very much at a disadvantage to many of my peers because I felt like I couldn't do internships since I was too busy trying to make rent/tuition.

    10 votes
    1. captain_cardinal
      Link Parent
      Maybe you can explain that in your cover letter. It shows intense dedication for your field and explains a possible weakness in your resume.

      Maybe you can explain that in your cover letter. It shows intense dedication for your field and explains a possible weakness in your resume.

      5 votes
  3. Algernon_Asimov
    Link
    I've got two. One is that I wrote, directed, and co-produced my own play (and sold a few hundred tickets across a handful of performances). Another is that I helped a young man who didn't finish...

    I've got two.

    One is that I wrote, directed, and co-produced my own play (and sold a few hundred tickets across a handful of performances).

    Another is that I helped a young man who didn't finish high school and was on the edge of being homeless, and moulded him into a functioning adult with a career and control over his own life.

    8 votes
  4. Emerald_Knight
    Link
    Graduated from college and got out of crippling poverty. Coming from a family where food was scarce and utility shutoff notices were common, and having spent my first 18 years dealing with...

    Graduated from college and got out of crippling poverty.

    Coming from a family where food was scarce and utility shutoff notices were common, and having spent my first 18 years dealing with crippling depression, it's a pretty big turnaround :)

    7 votes
  5. [5]
    Algernon_Asimov
    Link
    Then why do you expect others to share theirs?

    I would not like to share it

    Then why do you expect others to share theirs?

    5 votes
    1. [4]
      captain_cardinal
      Link Parent
      Not sure if sharing has to be quid pro quo. Everyone has different thresholds for vulnerability. I think it's perfectly reasonable for OP to hope others will share while not sharing their own.

      Not sure if sharing has to be quid pro quo. Everyone has different thresholds for vulnerability. I think it's perfectly reasonable for OP to hope others will share while not sharing their own.

      7 votes
      1. [3]
        Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        I see an element of unfairness in it: "You show me yours but I won't show you mine." Or hypocrisy: "I expect you to do something I wouldn't do myself."

        I see an element of unfairness in it: "You show me yours but I won't show you mine." Or hypocrisy: "I expect you to do something I wouldn't do myself."

        1 vote
        1. heart_container
          Link Parent
          Maybe they would like some encouragement in the form of seeing others achievements?

          Maybe they would like some encouragement in the form of seeing others achievements?

          2 votes
        2. captain_cardinal
          Link Parent
          Again, I think you're ascribing some sort of intrinsic equality to conversation that doesn't have to exist. Also "expect" is a stronger word than what the OP is doing. OP asked people a...

          Again, I think you're ascribing some sort of intrinsic equality to conversation that doesn't have to exist. Also "expect" is a stronger word than what the OP is doing. OP asked people a question--there's no ultimatum for not answering.

          2 votes
  6. TheForceIsWithUs
    Link
    Getting out of the trailer park. My entire family lives within 10 minutes of one another, are completely co-dependent, and live lives filled with drama. None of them can manage finances worth a...

    Getting out of the trailer park. My entire family lives within 10 minutes of one another, are completely co-dependent, and live lives filled with drama. None of them can manage finances worth a damn, nor have they accomplished anything with their lives aside from working for slightly more than minimum wage in the tiny-ass town they grew up in.

    I've served in the military, finished graduate school, have an excellent career, and just bought my first home a little over a year ago. I'm also married with two kids that have a much better lifestyle than I did growing up.

    I've made it.

    5 votes
  7. [2]
    Ten
    Link
    My children. Having kids helped me grow up as a person. I haven't seen them in over two years and I don't know what to do.

    My children.

    Having kids helped me grow up as a person.

    I haven't seen them in over two years and I don't know what to do.

    4 votes
    1. Brian
      Link Parent
      why haven't you seen them?

      why haven't you seen them?

  8. hachiko
    Link
    When I started university I was a lonely loser with no job and no outlook. Atleast that is how I saw myself. Three years down the line I have had three jobs, all relevant to my field, and me and...

    When I started university I was a lonely loser with no job and no outlook. Atleast that is how I saw myself. Three years down the line I have had three jobs, all relevant to my field, and me and my significant other, whom I now live with, are planning to marry. I used to see myself as pretty worthless, and feared that I would never amount to anything. Beating my own expectations and changing how I view and value myself in the process is therefore a pretty big accomplishment to me.

    2 votes
  9. NubWizard
    Link
    I haven't had a drink since November 2016. I wasn't a full blown alcoholic but I was getting the signs more and more each binge weekend. In very happy since I stopped. I am very proud for...

    I haven't had a drink since November 2016. I wasn't a full blown alcoholic but I was getting the signs more and more each binge weekend. In very happy since I stopped.

    I am very proud for finishing my Bachelor's degree in 2.5 years and going immediately into my my Masters program.

    2 votes
  10. Dagur
    Link
    I got good at math and physics. I used to do so poorly in both, often among the worst in class. I hated math as a kid because no matter how hard I tried I never did well but I pulled myself...

    I got good at math and physics. I used to do so poorly in both, often among the worst in class. I hated math as a kid because no matter how hard I tried I never did well but I pulled myself together and when I graduated highschool 2 weeks ago I graduated with the highest grade in physics and one of the higher grades in math.

    After that I now know that I can turn things around. Just because you're bad at something doesn't mean you'll be bad at it forever.

    And losing a bunch of weight. I guess I'm pretty happy about that too.

    1 vote
  11. [2]
    Xadins
    Link
    My second-greatest accomplishment is going from being a college drop-out who barely graduated high school to graduating Summa Cum Laude last month. My greatest accomplishment is meeting my wife,...

    My second-greatest accomplishment is going from being a college drop-out who barely graduated high school to graduating Summa Cum Laude last month.

    My greatest accomplishment is meeting my wife, who saw the potential that I was squandering and pushed me to give higher education another shot (among many other improvements she's responsible for).

    1. aleph
      Link Parent
      No, your greatest accomplishment is meeting a dashing young rogue I'd say. Everything else comes up rather short in comparison.

      No, your greatest accomplishment is meeting a dashing young rogue I'd say. Everything else comes up rather short in comparison.

  12. Karlomancer
    Link
    I graduated university with a respectable GPA. I kinda dragged myself through the first 2 years, and it was hugely difficult for me, but I ended up getting through it and met some amazing people.

    I graduated university with a respectable GPA. I kinda dragged myself through the first 2 years, and it was hugely difficult for me, but I ended up getting through it and met some amazing people.