You missed the point.

You were in band and did not find it personally rewarding, but your authority figures said you must do it and it was correct. I was in math and found it personally rewarding, but my authority figures said it was worthless and so was I for pursuing it.

These are different experiences, and you aren't understanding perspective.

No, I am not better without schooling. You don't know me, and you don't speak for me.

I'm an adult and I understand the difference between school and education. I grew up before the internet age and I can find education in many, many different areas. I wanted and desired and pursued schooling, and felt good about myself while I did so. Other people took it away from me, and like you, said it was shitty and took up to much fucking time and wasn't worthwhile.

Step back and listen.

Neither of our authority figures knew what was correct for us as people, they were acting on their own feelings rather than recognition of who we actually were. They didn't have the skills to communicate what their opinions actually meant and how they were trying to educate us to be different than what they went through.

At the end of the day, I wish I had just done what I felt positive about instead of listening to them. There were parts of schooling I actively participated in and enjoyed, then was denied. THAT hampered my education, because it hampered my will. Their opinions didn't actually matter, but still shaped my life.