Although everyone has their own unique learning style, most students follow the same educational structure throughout their school years. But fed up with spending tens of thousands to learn 'next to nothing', Robert French decided to forge his own path hoping he'd pick up the needed life skills along the way.
He dropped out of college in search for an adventure - and managed to find work building hiking trails with AmeriCorps in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He told Insider: "For me, college was basically summer camp. I attended classes, joined a club, hung out with people in the same stage of life, and acted irresponsibly on the weekends. It felt like high school with bigger egos and more alcohol.
"I quickly realised I wasn't learning how to pay bills or manage my affairs. I still didn't know what I wanted to do, I was still experiencing life through screens, and I was still paying thousands of dollars a semester."
Working four days a week, Robert would camp out in Rocky Mountain National Park, Vail or on the side of Mouth Elbert alongside other crew mates.
He would spend his days helping to repair forest fire damage and build new routes and staircases out of stones and logs.
For the other three days of the week, he lived out of his Ford Escape Hybrid, which he named Lady Hercules.
"Over my entire two-month term, I didn't sleep in a building once," he added. "I received a living stipend of about $350 (£279) a week, along with an electronic-benefit-transfer card from the state.
"Since my meals were comped on days I was working, my only regular expenses were gasoline and propane for my camping stove."
He says it was just like being at college as he was surrounded by people of a similar age - but the difference being, it didn't cost him anywhere near as much.
Thankful for the opportunity, Robert has started planning his next adventure, hoping he'll learn even more along the way.
"I don't intend to live like this forever. When I do return to civilization and get an actual home, I know my vagabond experience will have taught me more about the world and the people in it than college ever could," he added.
Do you have a story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.
