I left school at 16 but I wish I'd gone to university - I think
I left school at 16 but I wish I'd gone to university - I think I would have studied English literature. I had a knack for that. But I don't think you have the kind of wisdom at 16 to make that decision.
Brendan Coyle once reflected with honesty: “I left school at 16 but I wish I'd gone to university—I think I would have studied English literature. I had a knack for that. But I don't think you have the kind of wisdom at 16 to make that decision.” In this confession lies a lesson carved by time. At sixteen, the spirit is aflame with energy, yet unshaped by the chisels of experience. Decisions made in such youth often lack the wisdom that only the trials of years can bring.
The ancients knew this truth well. They spoke of the sapling that bends easily with the wind, but has not yet grown strong enough to bear fruit. So too are the young—rich with potential, but uncertain of direction. Coyle’s longing for literature, his sense that he had a gift left unexplored, is the echo of a path untaken. It is not regret alone, but recognition that life’s early choices are often made without the clarity that comes later.
Think of Mozart, who at a young age dazzled the courts of Europe with his genius. Yet not all youths are born prodigies, guided by divine spark from childhood. For most, the vision of their gift unfolds slowly, revealed only as the years deepen their understanding. Many great thinkers—such as Cervantes, who did not write Don Quixote until later in life—found their purpose after youth had already passed. In their journeys we see that delayed wisdom can still bring forth immortal fruit.
Coyle’s words remind us that society too bears responsibility: we often demand of the young that they choose their life’s course before they have even learned who they are. At sixteen, the heart yearns, but it does not yet see clearly. Only with time do we discern the difference between passing fancy and true calling. Thus, to be patient with ourselves, to allow the unfolding of purpose, is itself a form of wisdom.
Let the generations remember: paths untaken are not always lost, for the desire within them may still shape who we become. Even if one does not tread the halls of a university, the love of learning, the pursuit of literature, or any noble craft may yet be embraced later in life. Coyle’s reflection is not simply lament, but a gentle torch to the young: do not hurry, and to the elders: it is never too late to walk the road of knowledge.
QANguyen Quynh Anh
This statement makes me think about how difficult it is to make choices when you’re too young to understand their consequences. But then again, can anyone ever make the perfect decision about their future? I’m curious whether he believes going to university would have changed his life drastically, or if it’s more about what it represents—a missed opportunity to explore a passion at a deeper level.
AHAnh Ha
I feel a mix of empathy and frustration reading this. It’s sad to think how many creative people might miss their calling because of timing or circumstance. But at the same time, I wonder—does formal education really determine one’s intellectual or creative destiny? Maybe wisdom and passion develop through experience just as much as through academia. Perhaps Brendan’s later achievements came from the life lessons that school couldn’t teach.
DCDUC CHINH
What strikes me most here is the honesty about not having the wisdom to decide one’s future at 16. It raises an important question—how many people end up in careers that don’t fit them simply because they had to choose too soon? Maybe we need to rethink how we define success in education. Shouldn’t curiosity and self-discovery be prioritized over quick specialization?
TPThu Trang Phan
I can sense some regret in what he’s saying, but also self-awareness. It’s interesting that he recognizes his own limitations at that age. I wonder how many adults feel the same way—like they missed a path not because of lack of ability, but lack of maturity. Do you think our educational culture values immediate decisions too much, instead of encouraging exploration and personal growth first?
HHKhanh Hoa Ha
This quote makes me think about how education and maturity often don’t align. At 16, you might have interests, but not the clarity to see where they can take you. I wonder if that’s a flaw in the education system—expecting foresight from kids who haven’t lived enough yet. Would a more flexible approach to career and academic choices help people discover their real strengths later in life?