lessons in life biggest mistake ever made

I agree, your past attitude about school and education has come to haunt you. As the old saying goes, "knowledge is power," and folks with an open mind and a good education more often than not have a better chance at getting better opportunities and higher salaries than people who don't. What I'd like to know, though, is why you took school and learning for granted. Were you bored in classes? Did you not like to read for pleasure (that is, reading books just for the fun of it as opposed to reading them for class)? Were you and your friends among those who thought school was for losers and that finding a job was the top priority? The nice thing about an education is that there is no "statute of limitations" on going back to school and learning things. If you are really feeling guilty about not having listened to your parents, then go to your closest public high school and see if they have night classes for adults. Have yourself tested...maybe you had a tough time in your younger days because you might have had a learning disability. Thing is, though, is that you have to WANT to go, and not go because you feel forced to go.