It's the plot of Shawshank Redemption. Good movie. Go watch it now. As for my job experience....zilch

Lol! Well played..

Some jobs as waiter and nightshop kid when I was a teen.
At 18 i started my graphic design education
When I was 20 i started my freelancer life officially
At 23 i finished my education as graphic designer and web developer
Got some lucky breaks in my freelancer life with big projects
At 25 i was asked back to my art college to start teaching. I also met badgenome online
At 26 I got an offer I couldn't refuse from a design company

Nowadays I just sit back and scream to some people to do a better job, thinking about marketing stuff we can implement, draw horrible sketches of ideas with a Bic pen, lots of meetings, lots of network parties, directing some commercials and surfing the web stealing ideas.

1991: finished 9th grade of mandatory skool.
1994: finished high skool
1994: started my first random courses at University
1996: started Med skool
2002: finished Med skool
2002 'til today: work as a docter

I am almost 36 years old.

'05-'07: Cleaning the school yard for $8 AUD an hour

'08: Tutor, $40 AUD an hour (Honestly, I felt bad, like I was ripping someone off; I didn't deserve so much pay for such an easy job)

'09-Present: Guinea pig for various volunteer programs like psychological tests and such that offer pay.

Now: Starting a post-graduate degree in journalism in the hopee that i will actually be able to get a job. (My Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences is pretty much worthless sadly)

I do very little work during my spare time. I usually start revising less than 24 hours before an exam, and only ever spend a couple hours, tops, on coursework. I've been doing this shit for a long time, now... (as you can see from my career line, I was designing websites for high-paying customers at the age of 15) so it all just comes naturally to me.

As for taking a year out... I'm spending the year doing what my degree is on, most people who do what I'm doing usually end up performing, on average, better than those who don't. Because you're taking what you're learning in the lecture hall, and using it in the real-world day-in, day-out.

1995: Taking my first steps (that was a huge step for me)
1997-1999: Worked a few hours per week at my dad's store
1999-2009: Had to give my career a small hiatus due to the mandatory educational years
2009-present: Back on track

Yeah, I'm a foreigner.

Pre-1994-ish - worked on my families farm

1994-ish - Worked at a lumber and building supply store (forget the name)

1995-ish - Worked at the local gaming shop (and eventually let go because I'm not good at retail, it was a mutual letting go ))

Summer 1995 - Worked at Boy Scout Summer Camp

2000 - Graduated High School

Summers 2002, 2003 - Worked IT for a company

2005 - Graduated college

2005 - couldn't find a job, worked at Geek Squad (though for only about a month, went back to school)

2007 - Graduated from the Guildhall

2007-Present - Working as a Level Designer