Not sure I want to tell but what the hell?
I have an IQ of 145 proven by repeated tests every few years since I was around 14. I dropped out of high school because the teachers were idiots and I was bored to death because they could not teach me anything that I wasn't already way ahead of the class on. Back then there was no such thing as classes for gifted or exceptional students.
I figured out after some years of beating my head against the wall that to get anything but a dead end job I needed an education. So I went and took the GED with a 9th grade education and no studying or prep classes and made about 5 points less than a perfect score back then.
Since then I have gone to universities and technical schools and got the following degrees.
1. Associates of Liberal Arts Majoring in PreMedical / PreProfessonal studies.
2. Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
3. Master of Science in Computer Engineering, Specializing in Telecommunication Systems and Computer Networks
4. Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Specializing in the design of Medical Devices and machinery.
While I was working on all these degrees I also as part of my work (Yes I paid my own way. I don't believe in government freebies and handouts.) I also worked on, studied for and earned the following certifications.
A+ Certified Computer Technician
Certified Computer Hardware Repair Technician
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
Microsoft Certified Systems Programmer
Solaris Certified Administrator Level 1 and 2
Cisco Certified Network Associate
Cisco Certified Network Professional
Cisco Certified Security Professional
Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert
I worked my ass off for all of this and usually when I tell people about it they either call me a liar or they think I'm some overeducated idiot. I am neither.
You asked. I answered.
These days I'm older and tired of academia but all of the above has been very beneficial to me both employment wise, monetarily and the in having the freedom to know that I can go most anywhere in the USA or the world and get a good paying job inside of a couple of weeks with no problem.
I am not at liberty to talk about what I do for a living or who I work for. It's part of my non-disclosure agreement with my employer. If I break the agreement I face not only loss of job but also loss of freedom in a big way.
Today, in my spare time I only want to read about, collect, learn about and shoot every firearm I can get my hands on before I die. I love firearms and am trying to become enough of a gunsmith to just take care of my own collection and maybe help a friend out in need. I also read and study history concerning the founding and development of our great USA and the Constitution, Bill of Rights and other Amendments along with the people that worked on these document and developed them. I have an unquentiable thirst for trying to understand what these people were thinking and dealing with and what their intent was when the developed our country and the above mentioned documents that we all now live by.
I think I've said enough. Why does anyone care how educated a person is on a gun forum? As long as your smart enough to learn how to handle a gun safely, legally and accurately, what does your level of education matter.
I never give out this information in public because some people get all weirded out when they find out you have a very good college education or that your level of education is higher than theirs.
Hopefully in an anonymous forum the same thing will not happen. I look and sound like a big dumb country boy, good old southern drawl and all. It works to my advantage because people get the impression that I am either a dumb hillbilly or just a run of the mill country boy. I'm a little of both but I am also not your average joe heh?
Joe