Dropped Out of University in Azerbaijan — Trying to Start Over in IT/Cybersecurity
Hello everyone. I graduated from high school in 2023 and took the university entrance exam. Even though my score wasn’t very high, I got accepted into the Energy Engineering program at one of our local universities with a state-funded scholarship. Around that time, my family’s financial situation suddenly became unstable, so I had to start supporting myself. I began working as a courier, but things only got worse while I was trying to balance work and university. I failed several courses. My teachers lost hope in me and eventually I lost hope in myself as well. I decided to drop out after failing university twice.
Because I speak foreign languages, I got an opportunity to work in the hotel industry, and I’ve been working at a hotel for almost 2 years now. Compared to being a courier, it’s much better for me. Even though I’ve gained life experience from these jobs, I realized I need to dedicate myself to a field that can actually build my future.
For the past 2 months, I’ve become very interested in cybersecurity and the path leading to it, especially network engineering. My father thinks I failed because I didn’t study hard enough. However, I want to take courses and truly learn this field that I’m interested in. Right now I’m in my second year, and next year I’ll have to go to military service. Before that, I want to earn at least an entry-level certification so that I can continue building on that foundation after I return.
I feel a lot of pressure from people around me. Everyone says I’m unsuccessful, but I’m trying to stay strong. I think that after losing interest in my university field, the diploma became just a piece of paper for me. Also, after the military service, I’m considering taking the university entrance exam again and starting over in a different major.
Do you know anyone around you who got into university but struggled to finish it? What are your thoughts on this situation? (Especially people living in Baku, Azerbaijan.)