For the most part, I didn’t grow up in the traditional educational system. I spent pre-k through 2nd grade in public school, in third grade, my family started homeschooling. From eight years old till now I’ve been driven to be a self-learner. If I want to know something, I’m encouraged to dig for answers. This environment has allowed my curious mind to flourish.
During my last semester of high school, I took a concurrent composition class at Oklahoma State University. That was the rude awakening. I knew then that I didn’t want to spend the next four to six years of my young adulthood shuffling from classroom to classroom being told what is important and what isn’t. I knew if I were to follow the path laid out by society my creativity and passionate curiosity would be crushed. Not to mention the outrageous student loans and the fact that I would still have to begin at an entry-level job with low pay.
I could see right from the start that the return on investment for this deal was shot. Maybe I’d be able to dig myself out of debt in a decade or two while slowly climbing the ranks, maybe. But the fact that drove it home for me was that I wouldn’t really be accomplishing anything. I’d be sitting at a desk filling out a time card so I could have a piece of paper that tells everyone I’m qualified to do the job. A piece of paper, might I add, that everyone else applying for the job I want has as well.
I knew I wanted to be doing something. Not listening to the man. I wanted to be creating things, asking questions and finding solutions. I knew I couldn’t do that at a university.
So, I’m not doing it. I’m not going to college. Because college sucks.
