I’ll be ←this old→ when I graduate college.
I was told that in order to succeed in life I needed a college degree.
but this isn’t a story about the importance or insignificance of having a college degree. Instead I wanted to share with you why I no longer care if I graduate in three years or thirty.
There are many factors that have helped me arrive to this seemingly nonchalant decision but three of them may stand out to you.
1. A degree does not insure a career — or a career of your choice.
It seems like every new person I meet has a job that — according to them — is not challenging, is boring, is f*ckn horrible, while their degrees collect dust in some corner. (Psychology degrees?)
And that’s after all their resume apps, job hunting, network building…
It’s not always economic times or job availability or even cover letters that guarantee your degree equaling a career.
2. College leaves you in debt.
Ever play the game of life where you start out with 180k in debt? I mean why even continue on with the board game?
Recently my coworker was eating her meal during lunch break with a stern look on her face. Her eyebrows quirking up and down. She looked upset. I asked why. She said her college debt wasn’t letting her focus.
Debt adds stress, no matter how great you are at managing it.
3. Wealthy without college.
My brother is the perfect example of this. In fact if he was refunded the money he had paid out for his college attempts he might be able to invest it and double down.
Let’s face it, a CEO of a company doesn’t need a degree. Connections yes. Interpersonal skills yessseehh maybe. But a degree, not really.
I know a stock person earning double what she would have earned in an office as a medical assistant.
I know a general manager earning triple what she would have earned as a teacher (I know, this is sad news).
My brother is in communications. He might have been an accountant, maybe, if he ever got through college, all those general courses, all the state core requirements, all the electives a university demands. Maybe he would have been successful.
Except he is. And without a degree.
He found a company, gained experience, moved up, changed companies and repeat. SIMPLE.
College is the mall.
What college should be is a process. A life process. A synonym for life long learning.
But college is not that. College is the mall of learning. You go in, you shop, you pay with credit, you leave with your item. In most cases that item is a degree. College is not a life long process of learning.
Why? Because the government wants you to go in, shop, pay, and leave with your item. The assumption is that you will join the rat race and share your learning, start a business, or join a business in which they can tax you. i.e. they get their money back in surplus along with any interest that your student loans accrued while you were working to pay off your loan.
I originally wanted to title this blog, I will no longer go to college unless I am paid to go. That’s the ideal situation. To get paid to learn. I think that’s something that should be awarded to all people but unfortunately it isn’t.
So I had the idea for this essay while I was answering a questionnaire on what year I believe I’ll be graduating. It was an online questionnaire for a scholarship. SPOILER — I haven’t won the scholarship. But I did feel embarrassed scrolling through the years listed as I realized my graduation date is a heck of a lot farther than I thought it would be three years ago.
Don’t get me wrong. I WANT my degree. And I will finish it. But if you’re in the same boat that I am, don’t stress so much about the time. It won’t move quicker.
And if you happen to change your mind and follow my brother’s path, hey, you’re doing great. Do what’s best for you. F*ck everyone else.
