Why Did You Go To College?
Hunter1
808 Posts
What made you decide to go to college? Family expectations, just the thing to do, higher earnings potential, a teacher who inspired you?
I can tell you the day I decided to go: My dad, who was an intelligent guy, but had just a grade school education, came home one day from job hunting just about the time I got home from school. He had gone to apply for a job as a janitor in a manufacturing plant and was more 'down' than I had ever seen him because they wouldn't allow him to apply without a high school education. (Remember the day when employers just set whatever standards they wanted???) That was it for me. No one was ever going to tell me I couldn't apply for a job just because I didn't have that sheepskin! Realistically, now, I should probably have a law degree. : )
I can tell you the day I decided to go: My dad, who was an intelligent guy, but had just a grade school education, came home one day from job hunting just about the time I got home from school. He had gone to apply for a job as a janitor in a manufacturing plant and was more 'down' than I had ever seen him because they wouldn't allow him to apply without a high school education. (Remember the day when employers just set whatever standards they wanted???) That was it for me. No one was ever going to tell me I couldn't apply for a job just because I didn't have that sheepskin! Realistically, now, I should probably have a law degree. : )
Comments
My parents grew up in Poland and neither of them finished grade school because of the war. Seeing them struggle their entire life, "getting educated" was my number one priority.
The Fed paid 100% for all college expenses so it was a no-brainer. I went nights. Looking back on it now, it was one of the most major decisions I have made. That piece of paper didn't make me smarter, it made me wiser.
I'm glad that I went, but I also realize that it is not for everyone, nor is it the only path to success. My step-kids are much more hands on....I would never push them toward a 4-year degree if they were not ready or interested.
No one in my family graduated from high school including my parents and siblings. I was not pushed or encouraged to do so but I just did my best in school and, consequently, I graduated. I was actually picked on for doing so well and wanting to go on to college by the family.
I seriously considered college only when the couple I lived with in Maine during my senior year told me that if I went to college, they'd pay my debt at the Church Academy that I was then attending. They told me that I was the one who could break the pattern the rest of my family had "settled" on. I always appreciated their encouragement. My only regret was that I stopped with an Associate in Office Aministration due to constraints put on me by my husband and children. I have always wished that I had continued on to earn a BS or MS. Now that my kids are grown, I can think about myself and how I'll spend the other 1/2 of my life.
After getting divorced and returning to small town Iowa with nothing I decided that never again will I be dependent on anyone else to provide me with anything so I returned last year.
I am a single parent of a very active and very involved 5 year old, working full time (45+ hours), and I attend night classes as a full time student. I'll graduate after the October term. I am already trying to figure out what I'll do with my "free time" now that I won't have to spend 12 hours in class and complete 8-10 hours of studying and homework each week!
I work with a lot of "younger" (aka 20-25 year olds) single people and also older ladies who have raised and set their kids on their way, and when they complain about their salary I mention going to school and they say "oh I'm too busy and could never do that" I want to ask what is more important "drinking or your career" but always just bite my lip.
Thanks for posting this as I was having a gloomy day knowing I have 2 tests tonight... it made me put it all back into perspective!
Nietra
Earlier on I had gone for a couple of semesters like all the humanoids in my HS graduating class. Unfortunately, I was more interested in the extracurricular activities than I was in class. My dad told me I was done wasting my time and his money, and the that the best thing for me was to join the Army.
Gene
Just to be sure, I took my first semester off right after high school and worked landscaping for 4 months to make sure I was doing the right thing by going to school. Needless to say, I was ready to enroll when the spring semester arrived.
#1 thing a consultant shouldn't say: "I could tell you the answer right now, but we're committed to a three month project..." #-o