Guys! how do I escape this country?

[Ayham]

so I am from Iraq, I am turning 17, next school year will be my last one, I have my life purpose figured out, I do my personal development work daily, very seriously and rigorously, but one of my biggest fears is getting stuck here. 

I either escape and study college wherever I go, or study college here, while setting up an online business related to my life purpose, then leaving while having some sort of passive income 

and by the way, college here is free so yeah. 

I would love being able to study college in some civilized country, with people who aren't so stage blue and red, somewhere where I can find all types of books I want that aren't unavailable here, where I can find meditation cushions (I wanted those for so long lol), where I can get all types of cool healthy food, where I can pickup girls, where there is nature and amazing landscapes to see, somewhere where I can talk about my beliefs without being treated like an outcast, etc. 

But it's not really realistic, I don't have many skills (aside from meditation, contemplation, philosophy, and psychology) except some digital marketing certification I got by a Google course, I don't think I can get a job with this. 

My parents are very against this, so they won't be helping. 

I plan to study psychiatry in college (it would really go well with my LP, and it will also be a safe bet in case I fail at my LP and fail to leave this place, since here, you either know someone in the government to get hired, or you are a doctor or some other career that has a different hiring system) 

so i have no idea, some people here probably have experience with something similar, so I am gathering opinions, my questions are: 

1. what are the best countries to live in, most developed ones? 

2. I think I will be setting myself up for failure if I leave after school, what do you think? what do you think is the best option and why? and if I wanted to leave after school, how the fuck do I even do that? 

 

Edited June 7, 2023 by Ayham

[Optimized Life]

"Most developed" doesn't automatically imply better country to live. 

Not all parts of all less developed countries are bad places to live. 

Some are simply cheaper yet have most of what you need, without danger or war. 

Some developed countries are horrible places to live and actually are quite hard to survive with inflation and have extreme rates of depression. 

Developed is a spectrum and isn't always black and white, although considering the ultra undeveloped countries like Iraq or certain african countries this black and white concept is relevant and of course no one should live there

[Jacob Morres]

1. I vote America but any western country works. I just like America because America is very inclusive and accepting of all cultures compared to other countries bc its a melting pot. Particularly cities though. Rural areas are diff 

2. Hm 

I know one of the ways is you can do computer science and have a company sponsor you. There are also consulting companies that can get you work visas and they will take like 15% pay for a year or so 

Or come on a student visa for grad school then pick a stem field that lands good jobs so you can pay off the debt 

A lot of people do this you just need to do research on what others do 

 

Edited June 8, 2023 by Jacob Morres

[Roy]

I can't give you the logistical help, you'll have to work at that yourself. But I will say your mindset needs to be one of selfishness, isolation, diligence and secrecy. You can't be letting your peers or family know that you want to leave, and they can't suspect it. They will try to warp your mind and therefore decision making, or at worst literally sabotage you. If it's something you really want to do and you want to live in a place where you are free, you need to sacrifice your freedom for a while. You need discipline to save and plan your resources, work extra hours, and give up fun things in order to make the leap and leave your country.

School abroad is a good idea as it puts your foot out the door, but it needs to be something very practical so you have the ability to stay or come back, instead of just being forced back home for whatever reason.

If I were in your position I personally wouldn't pursue school more than you have to. Careers/jobs are no guarantees for foreigners without some luck involved. I would wait until you are slightly older so you can establish your own finances independently of your parents and then work some straightforward simple jobs 60-70 hours a week so you can start banking some money. (Don't spend it on stupid shit like your peers). Doing mindless jobs may be boring, but they give you risk free money and give you a LOT of time to think about what interests you to learn and explore in the future.

If you just jump into school and spend possibly multiple years studying different things, chances are you won't know what to stick with or pursue because you don't have any work experience and don't know yourself deeply enough yet.

Use your youthful energy right now to grind. That's the most effective path imo. I know it sounds boring and difficult as you are at the age where it's tempting to chase girls and do fun social stuff, but the sooner you start the better.

Think, you are 16 now. If you busted your ass until you were 20 you would have the resources to access almost ANYWHERE you want to go in the world. Then you can start the prime decade of your life exactly where you want to be. It won't be easy, but it can be a reality for you.

I'll tell you my biggest regret in life so far is not having worked harder when I was younger. I didn't feel I could make the move until I was about 27. I should have done it at 23.

Good luck my friend !

Edited June 8, 2023 by Roy

[Ayham]

I like the replies! 
keep them coming 

@Roy yours especially was useful 

[universe]

Find people who have done the same.

Get to know them. Ask how they did it.

Write to all universities and ask for a possibility of studying or doing an internship abroad.

Apply to these.

Once you decided on a country, learn the language.

Then talk to many people, be nice, make friends.

Let them help you.

[Sandhu]

I'm from one of those at the edge of hell countries. My advice would be that You are really very young to get it done yet. You've very little experience of  how things work out there. I see that typical mental program of the same line most young boys have here of getting in just Leo's ideas rut. There are millions of different things outside of your small cult like circle of things. Your place isn't the problem, your linear thinking is. 

The grass is always more greener on the other side of the fence. your people, your community matters however they are.