http://qs321.pair.com?node_id=96538


in reply to Formal Education Required?

I've often found that my own problems in life don't seem so bad when I hear that other people are going through the same thing.

I'm 22 years old, I'm going to be starting my 5th year of college. The reason I'm in my 5th year is because I don't learn a lot from classes, and school has always been a struggle for me. It's not that the topics that I'm studying are hard, in fact I find them very easy, but classes are boring, and I tend to fall asleep, or stop going. My parents view this as being unmotivated, but I have come to realize that my college doesn't teach in a way that interesting to me. I almost dropped out of school completely, but just before I did, I got a job on campus that probably saved my college career and my future plans for a career.

I work in the Web Development Office at my university, and I have learned more than I ever had in any class. I feel that once I graduate college, it's not my degree that's going to help me get a job, but it's going to be the practice experience that I received while working. Don't get me wrong, as Sherlock noted that his degree helped him get paid a lot out of college, a degree is very important. In my opinion, if you have a degree, any degree (so take something that you enjoy and can do well at), it shows a prospective employer that you have the ability to learn. If you desire a job that requires a lot of specific training, then you need to get that training some how, either by getting a job that will teach you what you need to know (even if it's low paying--it's worth it for the training), or go for a degree that teaches you that specific knowledge (your best bet might be a Tech college, if you don't enjoy sitting in lectures). My boss, Mission, has a degree in history, and he's in charge of a Web Development Office, that doesn't have to do with history, and it's very technical, but he got the job because he has the ability to learn.

I guess I'm trying to say is if you plan on attending college, take a major or program that you will enjoy, not one where you have to struggle to stay awake. If you want a job that doesn't match your major, then you need to find some other way of gaining knowledge in that area, either learning on your own, or get a low-paying job that will teach you what you need to know.

I hope this helps you answer your questions.

Arashi

I'm sure Edison turned himself a lot of colors before he invented the lightbulb. - H.S.