Posted on 09/15/2013 6:42:22 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Every time I write or speak about college, I tend to upset many parents and other decent, educated people. They are righteously offended at the mere suggestion that college isn’t necessarily the only way to go. Angry mothers email to tell me that my “anti-college” message is polluting the minds of their children. They don’t want their kids to skip college and become hobos and drug addicts. This is understandable. I should know — I’m one of those malcontents who decided not to get a four year degree. And what a tragedy my life has been ever since I made that fateful decision.
I’d like to apologize to anyone I’ve upset by relaying my own experiences and perspectives. I am NOT anti-college. To prove it to you, I’ve written this Message About Education. Call your kids into the room, this is addressed to them:
Hi kids! Hey, let’s discuss college! Actually, this is not a discussion. You WILL go. You MUST go. Only lazy, dirty losers don’t go to college. You aren’t a lazy, dirty loser, are you? ARE YOU?
Good. I didn’t think so.
This week, the President has been making his pitch to “fundamentally rethink and reshape” the higher education system, and so the conversation has once again turned to the importance of cramming as many warm bodies as possible into colleges and universities — at any expense to themselves, their parents, and the taxpayers. Over 70 percent of college students are already on some form of federal aid, and damned if we can’t get that number to an even 100 percent. Meanwhile, outstanding student loan debt has long since surpassed a trillion dollars with no signs of slowing down. If you had a math degree you’d know that a trillion dollars is, like, a lot.
You see, kids, as executives at the academic and banking institutions make billions from this setup, a bunch of 20-something’s with no assets, little to no income, and no work experience, are left with an accrued debt many times higher than the GDP of a small European nation. Millions of college graduates haven’t been able to find a job, with even more either moving back in with their parents or refusing to leave the nest in the first place. We are now faced with legions of young adults who have sacrificed their financial future — and whittled away several years of potential life and work experience — all for the sake of a piece of paper and a severely damaged liver.
Clearly there just isn’t any conceivable reason why any rational person would want to miss out on all of this!
Although formal “higher education” is obviously necessary for people who wish to become doctors, nurses, engineers, architects, etc., some rebellious souls might question whether ALL young people should be pushed into universities. Some crazed anarchists are beginning to suggest that this situation could be brought under control if we stopped positioning four year colleges as the ideal for all kids. These troublemakers claim that purchasing a six figure education on a credit card might not be in the best interest of those who haven’t a clue as to which job path they will ultimately pursue. These barbarians run around insisting that you should try to figure out what you want to do with your life, and then only invest a considerable amount of time and money into a four year college if it will actually be necessary to attain your goals. These psychopaths even go so far as to claim that, often times, skill and experience are more important than a piece of paper from an expensive college!
These voices should be silenced immediately. Cover your ears, kids. Don’t listen to them. Don’t question these artificial societal constructs. Don’t question anything. College is normal, you should want to be normal. Don’t strive to be an exception. Don’t attempt to break any mold or venture outside the box in which you’ve been placed. Some have made this grievous error, and they’ve all become failures, bums, terrorists, and cab drivers.
Kids, consider this an episode of Scared Straight. I’m that hardened, hopeless, caged criminal, reaching out, imploring you to avoid making the mistakes that I’ve made. I didn’t go to college, children. I arrogantly ignored the pleas from guidance counselors and college recruiters. While my friends were off to tour campuses and attend college fairs during the summer before our senior year of high school, I lazily and selfishly went to work and learned life skills. How could I have been so foolish?
Well, it’s too late for me. My future is broken, my potential is shattered and wasted. I’m an uneducated failure.
People enter college for two specific reasons: First and foremost, the experience. Nobody wants to miss out on the once in a lifetime experience of college. As a far, far, distant second, college is also pitched as a means to an education. Now, allow me to tell you how my life has been ruined by missing out on these two things.
Experience.
The college experience opens your mind and expands your horizons. A bunch of kids from the same age group follow the same path and go to the same colleges where they live together in a controlled environment. There, they go to the same classes, dress and speak the same way, do the same things on the weekends, drink the same crappy beer, develop the same priorities, and even vote the same way on election day. Also, they learn a lot about diversity.
My experience, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as fulfilling or eclectic. Like the unambitious sloth that I am, I got into my car at the age of 20 and drove 150 miles to a place I’d never been, in a state I’d never visited. I rented an apartment with my own money and got a job at a radio station and a second job as an assistant manager at a pizza joint. I met and learned how to work with people from all different age groups and backgrounds. I set out specific goals for myself and worked to achieve them.
Needless to say, without college, it was all in vain. Seven years later and now look at me. It’s the classic tale of failure and despair: Married, two kids, a career, a long term plan for the future, no debt, and I’ve never been unemployed. Please, avert your gaze. I am so ashamed.
Education.
As you can no doubt tell, I am teetering on the edge of full fledged illiteracy. Kids, when you’re told to “get an education,” remember that you can only learn things about things if you pay exorbitant amounts of money for the privilege.
I did not do this, so — just like all of my fellow non-grads — I am uneducated and uninformed. Such is the fate of anyone who does not attend an educational facility. Sure, I can go to bookstores and libraries and read books on many different subjects. Yeah, the internet, if utilized properly, can be a magnificent portal to an infinite expanse of information; but none of these things qualify as an “education.” I merely research topics and explore ideas because I want to know more about them. My motivations can not match the purity and fruitfulness of someone who learns what they’re told to learn in order to pass a test.
Recently I got into a debate with someone about the War Between the States. He argued that the Civil War was fought primarily to end slavery. I contested that economic and cultural factors played a much larger part, particularly in the lead up to the conflict. Halfway through our discussion, he angrily responded to a point I made about the Morrill Tariff by blurting out, “Please! I have a history degree! Where’d YOU go to college?!” End of debate. Trump card. Me, I’ve read books and essays on the subject. I’ve traveled to various battlefields and reenactments. I’ve spoken to people well versed in Civil War history. But I don’t have the piece of paper to prove it, so my knowledge is unsanctioned and illegitimate.
Education is something that happens in buildings specifically designed for that purpose. Then, after a few years, you walk across a stage and — POOF! — you’re educated. You’re done. Education complete. You are officially an educated person. You completed all the steps, followed the path, solved all the puzzles, made it to the final boss and killed him, and now you’ve beaten the game. Time to kick back and take it easy!
But not me. I’ve no experience, no success, no way to learn anything about anything. I can only crawl back under that bridge where all the other non-graduates live. It’s getting crowded under there, in the mud, amongst the nameless failures. Maybe one day I’ll tell you the horror stories about some of the other miserable mopes in my community. Many of them have had it WAY worse than me. Losers like Bill Gates and Steven Spielberg — trust me, their stories would send chills down your spine.
So go to college, kids. No matter what. Just go. It’s the only way to avoid a life of sadness and disappointment.
My stepdaughter works as a respiratory therapist,after two years of community college. Her husband is a licensed contractor with a high school diploma and a couple of years spent studying for his license. They just bought their second home and own their first home, a rental property. Both are in their twenties. Not basd!!
When I worked in “welfare-to-work” at the state unemployment office, I’d often send the ladies to RT, LPN,
Pharmacy Tech, X-Ray & ultrasound tech and nursing home administrator classes, all two year degrees with earning potential.
My real problem with colleges is
A) way too expensive , especially since its flooded with tax dollars
B) The scam of professors forcing students to buy THEIR books or books written by their friends. The textbook industry’s profits are crazy. $300 for a book on Statistics! Is it printed on gold plates?
C)The fact that students are REQUIRED to take ludicrous courses in ‘social sciences’. Oh, you must take the environmental anthropology class and be brainwashed into thinking global warming is real. Time to end compulsory social sciences which are the driving cog in the indoctrination mill, both in colleges and high schools.
In any day and age, that’s great. More so today in the land of gimme. Well done.
Since college is a major lib indoctrination center it makes abundant sense that GayMuzzie would push kids to spend FOUR YEARS in a place some of them would prefer not to go.
Exactly correct. Remember those classes where you’d buy 6 or 7 books, and with some you might be required to read 4 or 5 pages?
It was like those books were a FORMALITY:
It’s cuz for every book they require the DEPARTMENT receives a kickback from the publisher —they are FARMING the kids they purport to serve.
Having graduated high school in the late 80’s, I can say the classmates that did the best were the ones that went to the technical schools and similar types of educational setups. That’s where I tell the kids today to go and save their money - something hands on, real world based, and relatively cheap. You can make six-figures depending on the skill you focus on.
And online is just starting to arrive...
The whole higher education system is frought with corruption and corporatism.
I graduated in 1960.
A few of the kids went to college most didn’t.
At a recent reunion the richest kids in my class were ones who did not go to college. One got in the Trash business, made a million, one opened a store selling welding equipment made a million. One got in the Septic tank pumping business sold it and got a million.
One of the college girls married a Doctor.
One became a Nurse
Two became school teachers.
Other are electricians ,Plumbers, Brick layers,
I went in the Fire Department.
College is great, but I sure wouldn’t suggest borrowing $50,000 dollars to go, unless you have a plan, and someone that can get you a job./
“At a recent reunion the richest kids in my class were ones who did not go to college.”
Same here, and of course Steve Jobs never finished college.
My youngest is a plumber and his fiance a receptionist they just moved into their brand new home and are considering an overseas trip atm - hard work will get you were you want and he didn’t end up in some continuous party having sex with multiple partners and getting diseases.
Mel
I graduated in 1960
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
I supposedly in 57 (went in USN in 56)...
Back in ‘the day’ we also had the draft looking over your shoulder.
Had 27 in Class of ‘57, all but 1 of the guys served and 6 went to college (some Community some University) AND served.
My oldest Grandson graduated this year and is going to a Contractor/Union(??) sponsored Electrical Engineer/Electrician Trade School.
Enlistment or ROTC - that is how our children pay for college.
Theoretically, College is practical. Practically, College is is theoretical.
I know a man since we were children. Drug dealer by 16, 2 B&E’s before 17, never made it past 10th grade. 35 years later he’s holding down an 800k a year job without bonus, put his son through College until he got his Phd, and has been married for 30 years.
He’s a Banker ... lol figure that one out.
“But not me. I’ve no experience, no success, no way to learn anything about anything. I can only crawl back under that bridge where all the other non-graduates live. It’s getting crowded under there, in the mud, amongst the nameless failures.”
LOL
Spot on! ;-)
I agree with almost all the complaints about college — especially these days. Its way too expensive; it doesn’t always do a good job teaching what people need to know; faculty is made up largely of drug abusing individuals who don’t want to work very hard but expect everyone else to. And I could go on for hours. I get it.
HOWEVER: if someone doesn’t go to college, he or she is taking a huge risk with their life. The stories of those who succeeded without college are ALL irrelevant. They would have all succeeded WITH college, and there’s no evidence that their success was based solely on the lack of college.
The problem for the masses INCLUDE, in no particular order, the lack of job prospects — now and in the future; the lack of an ability to conclude your childhood with what could be one of the most enjoyable periods of your life; the lack of relationships that will last a good bit of your life; the inability to make career changes without a huge time and expense of retraining; and the ability to go to college at a time when there is (likely) no mortgage, no car payment, no kids, and few if any commitments.
I know several people who didn’t go to college that, due to layoffs and to an extent, work related injuries, were forced into an unplanned career change in their late 30s and later. Had they had a degree or at least been near one they would have been in much better shape and had many more options. My sister had some issues during her senior year in college. A decade later after she made some life adjustments and knew what she wanted to do, she returns for 2 semesters to finish a degree in an unrelated field and then go to grad school. She’s 2 years away from being eligible for a state retirement. My other sister didn’t go to college and was very successful during the ‘90s and early 2000s. Then the dollar crashed and all but wiped out her import/export business, and she’s struggled since.
I know many successful people. Virtually all of my clients are successful people (who I’ve chosen carefully). I don’t know everyone’s life story, but if there are some that didn’t go to college, I’d bet their billing for a year that if they had to do it over, they’d go. My current venture, which is training that caters to business professionals, is only going to work on those who’ve had at least some college. I’m getting some good feedback from this venture and may soon shut down or scale back a fairly good legal practice. And I couldn’t have done any of this without a graduate degree.
Look — anyone can finish college in 6 years while working a part, 3/4 time, or even full time job. They can do the first half in community colleges and get good instruction — probably better than some large state schools and cheaper than anywhere else. Find a major you’re interested in and do that while taking other classes that will help you get a good job. There is no reason why this plan wouldn’t work for most people out there. And while we need plumbers, electricians, and the like, do a 2 year college program with classes that will transfer somewhere. A plumber in his 40s that has a debilitating back injury and can’t work, as well as no education, is not going to end up being a productive member of society.
It all depends what people study in college.
Some majors lend themselves to career paths, and others don’t.
Degrees in accounting, nursing, engineering and various science fields, give people training and knowledge needed for careers. Many of these jobs are good paying jobs, enabling students getting such degrees to have increased earnings, even after factoring in paying off student loans they may have taken out.
Degrees in fields such as humanities, liberal arts, sociology, women’s studies, etc. DO NOT lead to any sort of career field.
Sometimes these subjects are discussed in either/or ways. We can’t just say that college is a bad use of time and money, it all depends on what people get degrees in.
I can make an impassioned argument about several advantages of going to college, but insofar as making a living is concerned...there are other good ways to do that..and only SOME college programs help you very much in the future income department (other college programs either do not help you much at all, or even teach you attitudes that are counter-productive to economic success).
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