During my time at University I have...
1) Cocked up, brushed myself off and come back stronger.
2) Met the woman I am now engaged to.
3) Moved out and established myself in a lovely house with said fiancee.
4) Partied like hell.
5) Gained some serious self respect (Achieving high marks in coursework etc).
6) Obtained a far greater appreciation for life beyond ones career.
7) Learned how to survive on a £10 shop for a week.
8) Found myself in a far superior position applying for ground based roles than without my degree.
9) Had lots of highs and lots of lows. (My mother's death between 2nd and 3rd year didn't help but certainly made me stronger)
10) Become a far happier person who appreciates everything in life.
I want to fly for a living. I did before I went to University. The difference is I want to do it for different reasons now and feel I have far more discipline and motivation to go out and achieve it.
University is a fantastic experience which no 'glossy brochured' FTO can provide you with.
(About to graduate with an Aviation Technology degree)