Dropout
It is not my intention to have a blog that addresses controversial or sensitive topics, however there is a little subject that hits a nerve somewhere in my left cheek that I would like to bounce off y'all. I am 24 years old and will be reaching the "halfway to fifty" mark in a few short months. Society would have you believe that I am a 24 year old loser. Society would have you believe a lot of things, but we'll let that go for now. Although, in my own way, I am a much accomplished woman, I have not hit the conventional bench marks the mass population still holds to be representitive of success and intelligence. I have spent my youth focusing on unconventional aspects of life. I have made my husband, my family, my job, my friends, my personal growth and development, and self education my most important priorities over the last several years. What I havn't done is finished college, made a lot of money, or purchased a home.
Making lots of money usually comes with a price that I am just not willing to pay at this juncture in my life. I have a job that pays the bills working for a non-profit organization with whose moral practices I am comfortable. As for the home, I live in Southern California. Good for you, anyone who was lucky enough to buy a few years ago. As for most of my generation, I have some advice: MOVE OUT OF STATE. Unless you can come up with a minimum of 50 grand to put down on a home that will cost you at least 300-600 thousand dollars for a simple track home, you are out of luck. And that's only if you get lucky enough to put in your offer first. Most homes stay on the market here for about five minutes. Okay, maybe that's exaggerating a little, but they go pretty quick. The biggest beef I have is with the issue of education.
In our "great" nation we like to use the term "higher education". I think that the term could be a little more subjective than meets the eye. I have chosen the route of not attending college. Now I am fast approaching an age where I am expected to have a degree, and I'm a little confused as to why it is so damn important to everyone! Am I not intelligent? Am I not educated? Do I not generally keep up? Many of my friends and family have put such an emphasis on my going back to college that it makes me ill. All the time I get "What school did you go to?" "What was your major?" "Oh realy? Well, you're gonna go back, aren't you?" Stop it! Structured education is not for everyone. I'm not going back, so quit trying to make me feel like a moron.
I know many "successful" people that come from both sides of the fence. If you want a career in which it is required of you to have a four year diploma, then aquiring one might be a priority. If not, than I think college is a choice. I think I am in a minority here. I have found that the more letters you have in front or behind your name affects how you are viewed in society. I think that's stupid. Some of the most intelligent people I know were self educated. That is not to say that there is nothing to be gained from schooling. Finishing college is often worthwhile, and is definitely an accomplishment. I just don't feel that it is the accomplishment. And it dosn't make anyone better than anyone else. My priorities are different, not lesser than those who went the other way.
I am curious to know if I am the only one who feels this way, 'cause aside from a handful of my friends nobody seems to agree with me. Your feedback would mean so much.
Disclaimer: Spelling and grammar are not an indication of the author's intelligence when presented in a casual forum.
posted by DammitJen @ 10:29 PM
26 Comments:
Hey Lady!
You know, education and dollars can often be completely unrelated... Just look at me.
Not that I am advocating Not going to school, but its a huge, life consuming committment, and if your not ready, your just not ready. What matters is that your happy and comfortable with your own decision. Who knows?! Maybe you'll be feelin' like doing it one day...
Also, one's level of education does not determine intelligence. Trust me some of the most educated of my coworkers are completly clueless.
BTW: Many educational studies suggest that spelling and intellegence are unrelated. I too, take comfort in that fact.
It's not about being ready. I do not wish to complete college. My life is well under way. My way. I am not biding my time until I am mature enough to go back. My I feel complete as I am.
Okay, well first of all I DON'T feel that you should incur $60,000+ in debt in order to have a degree that MAY or MAY NOT serve you in a professional capacity. Too many graduates out there have degrees and fast-food service jobs because, frankly, our economy SUCKS and good jobs are few and far between. So, kudos to you for not giving in to the mass-let's-get-a-degree-because-we're-supposed-to craze.
Secondly, spelling as a form of intelligence is a THEORY. Whether some people believe it or not is a PERSONAL CHOICE. I firmly believe that there are too many people out there that are lax with the language (in some cases, the ONLY language) they have ever learned to speak/read/write. For instance, "THEIR" and "THERE" are two different words that mean two different things. There are tons of words out there... "your" and "you're", "among" and "between" that are butchered every day. It's not that if you get them wrong I will look down my nose at you... but I will think that perhaps you're not paying attention. The misspelling of words doesn't freak me out AS much, depending on who is doing the misspelling and which word it is. :) But those are MY PERSONAL FEELINGS on the matter, so take it for what it is.
I don't think college is THE accomplishment. I guess it all depends on your point of view, but as I enter the 32nd year of my life, I realize that you don't get those big jobs with JUST a degree. In my field anyway, you have to work crazy hours, travel a lot, and with a minor a shift in the economy, or even your company, you could be looking for a new job. You have to constantly be on top of it all, in tune with the trends, and better than the rest. That means making your job priority. Been there, done that. Wound up divorced.
In the last few years, I have learned more about living than I have my entire life. I value the time I spend with my fella, my kids, my dogs. I don't care that I don't drive a Volvo. I like Old Navy more than Banana Republic. I'd rather go for a walk with a close friend than go to an awards ceremony in a room full of people I don't know.
It's all up to you really. Who are you? Maybe you haven't finished college, made a lot of money, or purchased a home because it's not you.
Of course this is all MY opinion based on who I am. =)
very very funny about the spelling.
see, now i tend to think that my spelling errors are because of my artistic tendancies, that conformity and whatever are not important to me. if i want to use a small "i" then i will dammit!! and if i want to put a comma there,,,,,,,,then i will!
laziness, disregard for other people's reading, whatever you want to call it. my mind works too fast to worry about spelling. i'm just trying to get it all out fast enough so that i havent moved lightyears away in my thoughts from what i'm writing on the page!
oh yea, and the college thing.
i went to college because i wanted to, not because anyone said i had to.
and in many circles, for instance with ANTHONY, and with my DAD, my degree is a joke.
i'm $65,000 in debt, and have an art degree that i could never get any kind of job with what-so-ever because it's STUDIO art, NOT graphic design.
does this bother me? no. i went to college for ME, not for my career, not for anyone else. I wouldnt take back a minute of it. I learned about art, learned how to paint, sculpt, throw on the wheel, design, i learned about art theory and ant history, and i got to show my work on countless occasions. it was a blast!! It may not make me any money, but it's what i wanted to do with my life dammit.
Sounds like a bunch of losers who never went to college to me...and in notyetfamousartist's case, art doesn't count! But you knew that.
Alright, Daphne_Blue, I bet you read and reread your post a hundred times before you hit that enter key. (Don't despair, I beat you by a long shot.) And, oh yeah, notyetfamousartist again, it's painfully obvious you're trying to be so-called "artistic", just by the way you're rebelling against the capitals. But I guess that's beside the point and I just feel like being mean. Don't you hate it when you get like that??
So I just want to say- Go back to school, get your degree, and I mean a real degree, in a field you'd like to work (you've had enough time to decide already), get a good job in that field where you can use YOUR intelligence, YOUR perspective, YOUR decisions, YOUR POWER to help YOUR fellow Earthmates. Face it, it matters!!! If we all did that....
Ahhhhh......
Sorry to burst your bubble, anonymous, I read it aloud once for content and tone. Once! Ha ha ha!
Oh, no, Jen, some anonymous stranger thinks we're LOSERS for not going to college! Now, what was your post all about, again?
I completly agree with you Jen! I don't think that it's right for anyone to be conscending to you for exercising your right to choose how you live your life. Don't let the immature, unintelligent opinions of certain types of people affect your confidence in the decisions that you've made for yourself and your life. As long as you're happy, screw what other people think. Especially if they don't even believe in their own convictions enough to attach their name to them. Rock on Jen!!!
Wooo Hooo! A blog-fight! Is there anything more silly on this earth? There have been a hundred-thousand times that I've disagreed with someone's point of view, and almost every time, I'm willing to voice my opinion. What I'm not willing to do, is incite a blog-riot by being a total, immature prick about the way I disagree with someone. On top of that, whoever it was was too much of a coward to even leave their name?! It would be one thing if this was something written about generalizations, but this was written about the author's personal choices for her life, and who's business is that? Not to mention that even the commentors were attacked. Hiding behind "Anonymous" won't hide the fact that you're childish, overly abrasive, and pathetic. Have a great day!
I say that if you need to go to school to work in the type of job that you have the passion for then you should go. If the work you enjoy does not need schooling then why waste your time. My parents are very well off to say the least. my dad went to school for a short time but never finished. He makes dam good money and has no need for some paper to tell him that he is smart. For people like me i need to go to school without it i could never work in my line of work. But if i stayed with the theater i wouldn't need it. They don;t teach Human and set flying in school the way that i learned. i worked my ass off as a tech to learn to fly people and things the way i do. I would take any theater major on and i know i would blow them out of the water.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Well,
I just thought the anonymous post is funny. But let me leave you with these few thoughts:
Every revolution begins FIRST in art forms.
Every Dictator FIRST bans art forms because of the influence on free thinking and creative thought that it has on people.
There is nothing "so-called" about me being artistic. I simply am, and regardless of someone else's opinion on the matter, I always will be.
As for going back to school, no thank you, I went to school to learn what I wanted to learn. I'd rather not be another banker, lawyer, doctor, business analyst or other such non-sense.
In a world without artists, you would have no:
newspaper
magazines
product packaging
billboards
tv commercials
movies
sitcoms
advertising
musicians
modern furniture
computers
coffee mugs
plates
pots
pans
toilet seats
shoes
new cars
toys
blankets
clothing
need I go on? Artists play a part in ALL parts of life, from the guy who designs your business card, to the guy who designed your car.
And I happen to work in a very rewarding field, by the way, I work in the recycling industry. We help employ handicapped folks, recycle paper, make new boxes.
Saving the earth sounds pretty good to me.
Art degree as it is, I still get paid a lot more than I used to, to do the same job without the degree.
Oh yea,
and I have to mention something else.
Did anyone else notice that in my other post I said that I learned about "ANT history" instead of ART history?
I think noticing that this morning just made my day.
Don't blame the messenger....I know you've heard it. And stop being selfish.
You're missing the point; which is you won't really bring change by staying the low woman on the totem pole. You say you love your job already. Great! But I'm sure there are things you wish your boss(es) would do differently. Wherever we work, we can always improve it, even at NGOs. Now, I'm saying that you won't ever be in a position to make things better, i.e. without a degree, on a more institutional level where that change needs to occur most, that's all.
Listen, you all sound very intelligent and empathetic- and that's precisely the point and what this country needs more now than ever! So empower yourself so you can make a difference...in a bigger way than you already do.
Oh yeah, and I don't dispute the social significance of art. But you've already explained above the value OUR culture places on it; it's pathetic. Therefore, don't bet the farm you're going to change the world with YOUR art. Remember, you're unique...just like everybody else.
Forgive me for the sour tone and insults in the earlier post, it really is that time of the month. But it was meant to be humorous (in a pathologically menstrual kind of way, I'll admit it!)
Even with a pseudo-apology, "Anonymous" still can't pony up their name? You must really stand by those opinions and feelings to be too embarrassed to credit yourself with them.
I thank you all for your opinions and comments. Most of you know how to express yourselves in a polite and intelligent manor. I have recieved more comments on this post than on any previous. I guess you just have to get out there and ruffle some feathers. It has been a fun ride. Perhapse in the future It might be fun to get you all in an uproar again. For now I need a little break from all the excitement. Maybe I'll just post some pretty pictures or something for a while. Maybe not, I'm sure I can find something boring to talk about for a while.
I say do whatever floats your boat as long as it stays afloat. I got my 4 year degree; however, I am now working from home doing my own thing.
Nevertheless, if you feel like you want to outdo college educated folks just to prove them wrong, work extremely hard for a couple of years or do whatever it takes and then go out and then buy an established business such as a sandwich shop or a dry cleaners or any other established business with a track record, preferably a franchise. Grow it and then continue to work it. Sell it after about 10 years and you're almost guaranteed to have earned more than a college educated person who tries to climb the corporate ladder with 5% raises each year.
I read wealth articles all of the time and I agree that income producing real estate that is established and has a track record is probably the safest and best way to accumulate wealth. Remember save, save, save, invest, invest, invest. These are success factors that will make you feel like a winner both through your wealth and it sure helps to shut the other folks up.
In my opinion, it is a personal opinion. Just do what makes you happy and have no regrets. You go girl! Rock on!
Hi, umm just wanna say I think Anon should bite our weiners. *shrug*
ok listen up sweetie.
it's obvious that you are not happy with YOUR place in life, otherwise you wouldnt be telling everyone else what to do with theirs.
wow. quite the debate you've sparked! i'm still in high school, so it's really got me thinking. for me, i've never considered NOT going to college or university. it's whats pounded in our heads (highschoolers') day after day: you are required to take so and so courses to get into so and so faculty, you need to get the highest GPA possible because it's getting more and more competitive..blah blah blah. and now that i think about it, what good is this doing me?? i'm forced to get high marks on subjects that i don't even have much interest in, forced to do activities i don't enjoy so i seem more like a more "well-rounded" person..it's all such a waste of time! but its the path that i've been expected to take for so long and i don't know what else there is for me if i don't go into post-secondary education. according to my counsellors, only trades....i have no desire to be a plumber!!! so please let me know what's out there! what kind of fun, rewarding jobs are out there anyways??!
I view education as a personal choice rather then everyone making it their damn business what you do with your life. Economically it can make more sense to continue in your job or career rather then investing time and money in school. I reached a point where I have to finish school to continue with my career, so I went back last semester. I feel kinda old going back (26), but I'm happy because it's something I'm doing for myself and no one else.
Holy smokes!!! I've been trying all day to find little know sources of "real" people online with thoughts and ideas about coolest kid in the world. I stumbled on to your porst about Dropout and although it's not exactly what I was looking for, it certainly caught my attention. I'm personally building a resource for coolest kid in the world and hope you might stop by and check it out when you have a chance...let me know your thoughts. I'll be sure to send people this way as well. Thanks DammitJen...Cheers!
this post was what caught my attention. I was just out browsing around today looking for information on the coolest kid in the world, and happened accross your blog. Although it's not completely related to the coolest kid in the world, it certainly made me stop and ponder. Thanks for the great read DammitJen...I'll be back.
this post was what caught my attention. I was just out browsing around today looking for information on coolest kid in california, and happened accross your blog. Although it's not completely related to coolest kid in california, it certainly made me stop and ponder. Thanks for the great read DammitJen...I'll be back.
Dropout was what caught my attention. I was just out browsing around today looking for information on coolest kid in the world, and happened accross your blog. Although it's not completely related to coolest kid in the world, it certainly made me stop and ponder. Thanks for the great read DammitJen...I'll be back.
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