Today, I thought I'd share with you a recent article by Michael Lind, posted on salon.com, which focuses on economics/education and how the measure of success has changed over the years. Interestingly, this subject has been a hot topic of discussion among my mom-friends (and soon-to-be-mom friends) lately as well. I'm curious to hear what you think.
There was never a question in my mind whether I would go to college, only how I was going to pay for it and what I would study. At 17, when I graduated high school, I had no answer for either...but I was lucky enough to get a scholarship and started taking liberal arts courses anyway.
Although I certainly don't regret graduating from college, I can't imagine my BFA in musical theatre had much effect on the advancement of my Wall Street career. I will, however, acknowledge that had I not received a diploma, it likely would have been difficult to get in the door of financial institutions and ultimately become a supervisory analyst. So having the degree did give me options I might not have had otherwise.
On the other hand, many of my friends never got their college diplomas, and by all accounts they lead incredibly successful and happy lives. (Had things gone another direction for me when I was pursuing my theatre career in my 20s, I can't imagine it would have mattered whether I was a college graduate.) The question for me then becomes, if I hadn't had the options afforded me by my diploma, how might things have been different?
The only truly important difference I can think of is that I probably wouldn't have met my husband, since we met while working together at a bank...which would be a real shame, because I think he's a keeper.
The only truly important difference I can think of is that I probably wouldn't have met my husband, since we met while working together at a bank...which would be a real shame, because I think he's a keeper.
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| Hubby being protected (pinned?) by the monster-pup, Taylor |
In my case, going to college worked out great because I ended up with a wonderful family that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. That said, I don't think there's one "right" answer that fits everyone. What I do think is that the most important thing we can do for ourselves (and teach our kids) is to accept responsibility for the choices we ultimately make.
And on that note, I'll leave you with this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt:
“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”
Yk, I've thought a lot about this topic. And I don't have an easy answer. I question whether my degree was worth the money we are STILL putting toward it (20 years later, with no end in sight!). The only reason I wanted to go to college (well, the main reason, and the only reason I finished) was to have more job opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sorry to have my degree. But I paid very dearly for it, and not just with money. And let me not dismiss the fact that I hated it! I had some fun at school, but in general the money was far too much a source of stress, and the work was frequently too boring.
I am convinced of the ability of my children to educate themselves at that age...most adults DO educate themselves, just as children do, when they are left to it. But I have serious hesitations about counseling my children to skip "higher education" altogether.
I think that there needs to be a bursting of the college bubble. For several decades we have told ourselves that nearly everyone should go to college. There is so much degree inflation that in many fields even a Bachelor's isn't enough to just get in the door. Yet, those degrees often really only do one unique practical thing...they prescreen for employers. A degree isn't even necessarily a GOOD screening tool! But it is ubiquitous even in jobs that don't require the brainpower of a 6th grader!
Like I said, I don't have a good answer. I pray that my children will follow their own paths and do what will be best for THEM.