I will admit that I am a little like Johnny. I spent 5 years in college fumbling between majors and never finishing any of them. My parents, whom I love, never really gave me or my sister a chance to experience things a teen should experience in high school that could have given us a a direction to follow after graduation. Very rarely were we able to go over a friend's house after school, we were not allowed to join any clubs, and when I was in nursing school and tried to talk to them about my uncertainty all they told me was to stick it out because the paycheck after graduation will be worth it. My mom passed away in November and that really made me rethink about my life so I decided to take a break from school, move out of my parents house and rent an apartment with my fiance, and try to find my niche in the world. Well, I have a more certain idea on what I want to do with my life and which major I want to pursue in college so maybe that is what Johnny should do. Take a break from school, experience the "real world", and maybe that will give him an idea on what he DOESN'T want to do which might lead him to decide on what he DOES want to do.

At first I was a bit appalled by Johnny and his college career, but after giving it some thought I decided he was doing what he loved, paying his way and being responsible about his choices.

If he doesn't think he would make a good husband and father at this time he is saving people a lot of heartache.

I'm sure the parents of *truly* troubled young adults wish Johnny was their son.

I was unaware of this man before the show. After thinking about it i belive that he is right on. I did go to college and sure wish that i had done it over seven years. It is his life and i say he enjoy it for socitial roles should not influence anyone. We must do what makes us happy, I onlywish that he put that energy into grad or doctoraed school. Why not if you have the time if not than just do you but either way he still is my hero. Why get on his case no one seems to care that crazy rock stars and rappers influnce our children without even speaking proper english. He may be my new hero.

It was one of the better shows I've seen from the good Doctor. I had to read people's comments on it and also put my two cents in. I do not understand why/ how anyone could have a problem with an individual who decided to continue educating himself. If I were him, I would never graduate. In response to a previous post...Where did it seem as if Johnny was self-absorbed or fame-seeking? I never got that impression

Why women would date him is beyond me, they must have low self esteem and a skewed sense of worth. Why would an intelligent woman waste her time with such a stagnant person? His "commitment issues" are beyond "issues." If he were really content, why is he so fame-seeking? He must feel like he's missing something, but can't figure out what it is he is missing. His emphasis is on his friends and the good times, not on education, otherwise he would be attending graduate school and moving on to better himself instead of running in place as an undergrad. He is obviously very self-absorbed as he promotes his himself. It all started when he wrote a newspaper about his "story." Pathetic. Johnny isn't worth more than a shoulder shrug.

The argument "fearing the future" because the individual belongs to a certain gerneation is a cheap copout, and I'm not buying it.

"But I don't want to miss the good times with my friends" Oh wah wah wah.

I can relate to him. I graduated college after 15 years (I worked while I was going). But the comparison stops there. I paid my way the last year, didn't work that year and finished up my degree and graduated. I am working now, have a family. It is more disturbing to me that he only has slacker work experience. He will fall flat on his face in the real world. And that line about him not committing because of mom and dad is just bull. It's an excuse he hides behind. His ex-girlfriend should pat herself on the back for bypassing this loser. His parents are just awful. How can his Dad grin like an idiot (aw, he's just being one of the guys?). You see where the irresponsbility spectrum has developed from. His mom is no example either.

I think 13 years is too long to be in college. As I watched the show I kept wondering how he could possibly find enough classes to take in order to continue to be a full-time student for 13 years. He must attend a HUGE university.

The sickest thing was thinking that children who were in kindergarten when he was a first year college student are now his classmates. He is dating girls who were in elementary school when he was in his early college years. That's disgusting!

Johnny actually said "the State" passed the piece of Legislature (thanks TiVo). Regardless, it was another great show.
Did anyone look at his website yet?
www.JohnnyLechner.com

Johnny was so articulate and calm. He also looked great and came off with so much confidence. I'd hire this young man in a second.

There are many people who dread facing each new day. Johnny wakes up looking forward to each day. "To thine own heart be true". If I find myself having to explain (defend) myself to someone, I begin to wonder if I need to be around that person anymore.

I wonder of Johnny's obsesseion with school has something to due with his seriously ill mother. Anorexic, diesease, meth? She looked 150 years old! That is a whole show in itself!!! Jacki

Dr. Keith and Co.,
I was just watching your show about the guy who has been in college for 13 years (first time ever watching the show coincidentally), and I am now angry with you! You keep on rubbing it in that 13 years is just a despicable amount of time to be in college, as if you really know any better (with your paper degree for information, knowledge, that needs only to be recited for the achievement). The guy's whole point isn't about how long something takes, it is about himself learning about things that people didn't or don't put in "extra" time or more effort to learn about. Can it be that you and all the other people who are in dissension are just angry that you didn't have the courage to do exactly what you wanted? In other words, "they" told you to go to college and then get a job and teach your children to do the exact same thing (and that it will work out BS)...and we wonder why people of all ages aren't happy. Isn't this supposed to be a society of understanding and acceptance? Isn't the goal of life to be happy, figure out works for you at each moment? Are you or anybody else allowed to tell me how to feel and act on those feelings? I don’t want anyone ever again to tell me they are a respectful person and then go on to tell me what I shouldn’t be doing. Whatever happened to all those sayings from parents to children; if you don’t have anything nice to say say nothing at all, if he jumped off a bridge would you (the bridge is a metaphor for only going to college for 4-5 years)? Who do you guys listen to? Each other, hahah!? What about those millions of college students getting business degrees? Are they all going to get jobs with same exact collegiate qualifications? Simply put, no! The point is, he's trying to find his stride and enjoying and making the most of it at the same time, and he's not a homeless slob on the street I might add.
I'm 22 years of age, am attending college, but have no interest in, what i consider, an abundance of worthless information. College as it was and remains, was designed for the generations before the one I belong to. Young people are increasingly smarter (for their age) in comparison to our parents, and as someone mentioned on your show, there is more opportunity and interesting things for us (the young ones) to experience. (btw I don't think 40 is necessarily old) I wish I had a platform to preach from, I definitely think I could enlighten and would, more importantly, be willing to potentially make a fool of myself in the spotlight. My mom went to a university, and guess what, her degree had nothing in common with her occupation. My dad didn't go to college, but he was a successful business man, craftsmen, and architect with lots of building projects in his local. My grandpa always told me that a degree “don’t mean squat” if you can’t legitimately back it up, whether intellectually, or physically. And so, it explains why college isn’t such a huge accomplishment in my eyes and mind, nor does its “importance” put strain on my thoughts for my future. I think lots of you Ablow fans need to reevaluate your take on life, and do what you should have been doing, worrying about yourself. Or does Jon, and people alike, influence you that much? In that case, I think you should be asking your psychology buddy (Dr. Keith) what you can do to not worry about someone who, in reality, has nothing to do with you! Do I make sense yet?
And to address the whole argument of younger people struggling with commitment, Jon’s example is clearly not a matter of commitment. I must have forgotten that the biggest commitment we will ever make is to graduate college…what about raising children, all you parents out there? (rolling my eyes). Or even commitment to yourself to remain an upstanding individual through whatever hardship and violence comes your way, to not let people get the better of you, in a negative way!?
If anybody has read all this, I might come off as a bit of a jerk, but for good reason. We can’t baby everyone and talk with a subtle tone of voice. Either you are concerned with yourself and your family, or you are concerned about other peoples business. You could be both, but either way, being overly concerned with others lives, deduce specific things about you as an individual. And only you have the power to determine who exactly you are in your actions and intentions. So for all of you who think it’s your place to complain about Jon’s choice to stay in school, I say you’re the jerk; you’re the a-hole.
Lastly, Dr. Keith, I would enjoy it much to banter with you about related issues and try to understand why you think certain things are bad, inappropriate, or even what poor judgment is. My friend will be receiving his Psychology degree from a university this year (a “better” college than the one I go to) and so I know how difficult it would be for both of us to see eye-to-eye. I fear no question, and have no fear in giving a reply on anything.
Heather had the best point out of all of you (opinion of course), at least someone else has some of life figured out, thanks Heather, Jon will be well rounded indeed.

I think this whole thing is a JOKE! Lil' Johnny and his sh**-eating grin (much like daddy's I might add)... claims to be the most educated undergrad, highly 'driven' and motivated. It's obvious the old man is just 'high'! These people just want to f*** around and party!!! Notice the only footage of LJ's college life is all about... not working, drinking and taggin b*tches! All the adults around this looser enable him! He's just an irresponsible slut!

I love how he says with a straighrt face, that he supports himself through college... and yet he has so much 'fun' being an undergrad. Listen, I WAS and undergrad- and it is NOT fun working 2 jobs and putting yourself through. If he was REALLY supporting himself, he would want to get the hell outta there!

Obviously, the only people that support this jerk are his party buddies and mommy and daddy. Thank God his parents are divorced- they should be steralized as not to be allowed to breed ever again!

This is not even remotely funny. It's a sad state when this is the role-model of today's youth!! WAKE UP!! There's a WAR GOING ON!! PEOPLE ARE DYING!

I think Johnny needs to take some government classes. His 13 years in college hasn't taught him the difference between legislation and legislature. He said the school passed legislature regarding the rules of his eternal stay at college. He should have said the legislature passed legislation regarding his eternal tenure at the college. There's hundreds of thousands of dollars thrown down a rat hole. Great going mom.

I think everyone should leave Johnny alone. It's his life. Wheather it's a good thing or not he'll figure it out on his own. Who are we to judge him!

Dr. Keith, I think, was way off base on this one. I'm not sure what generation he is a member of, Older X'er Younger Boomer(??), but many people the later Xer/Millenial Generation are just not into the "corporate grind". We are a generation that rarely saw our parents because they were working so hard, we have seen emotionally detached marriages, been through single parenthood, groomed from birth to recite letters and numbers,etc..

We just want to have fun. We believe in living life-whatever that means to us as individuals. We were also raised during a time when diversity of race, status, finance, religion, and lifestyle was/is the norm. We understand that the "ideal" that the Boomer's believe in isn't real. This isn't pessimism, it's realism. We are very excited about life, but we are not conformist. We do what feels right in our hearts. There is nothing better in life than following your heart, and living and learning with people who you can love and can be loved by you. If 13 years in college can do that for an individual, who is to say that his happiness must end?

Dr. Keith also said to Johnny that there are "better" things in life, implying children and marriage. Look, those things are not to be played with. Most people in this country DO NOT have a college degree, but DO have children. If children and marriage make people so happy, why are we a nation of pill-poppers? In addition, can you imagine a professional telling a 30+year old single career woman, in 2006, that she should be seeking a marriage and children(i.e. "better things in life") than a high powered career? "Better" is a matter of perception, and most women in high powered careers would be utterly insulted by such a comment. Most men don't mature until after women anyway. Thank GOD this man didn't marry and have kids young. He trust himself and the life stage he is in. By doing what he feels is right for him, he is modeling self-trust and responsibility for many, old and young.

Grow up.We would all like to act like a kid.I fel sorry for the girl who ends up with him.

Some of us never got to go to college
At 30 years I say your done,, go get a job ,,,,a life and grow up at least you got to go and ALOT longer then most people some who never got to go at all get out of college

Interesting show. Johnny seemed like quite an interesting and complicated guy.....Dr. Keith was in his element I think. Plenty of food for thought, although I think no resolutions came from the show as Johnny seemed quite happy to continue this lifestyle a little longer. I'd be interested to know if anything Dr. Keith said to him speeded up the process of him starting the next phase of his life.

As a side comment....the Mother looked anorexic, or maybe had some physical illness?

Kess

What's the problem? We are socialized to go for the American dream and work our whole lives... It's bunk. I went back to school a couple of years ago and finally graduated, however, I'm quitting my job as an air traffic controller and going back to a simpler life. I have no idea what I'm going to do but I'm planning on working to live rather than living to work. He'll figure it out and he'll be really smart and well rounded!