The Daily Riff - BE SMARTER. ABOUT EDUCATION.

What does it mean: Not everyone is college material? How is college defined? What criteria would describe a person that is not college material? I remember many, many years ago, my father told me that the guidance counselor at my high school told him I was not college material. End of story. No career counseling. No explanation, No help. No nothing. I went to a catholic school where 94% of my class did go to a four-year college. I took three years of college prep with no preparation or direction on what do after graduation. My relatives told me you can't get a good without a college degree. When I went to the employment office, I was told I can't get a job because I will be drafted into the military. I took matters into my own hands. I enlisted in the army for three years. My parents were not happy with my decision. I got to visit such great places as South Vietnam, Georgia, Virginia, Okinawa, and Japan. I lived with people from different economic, education, and ethnic backgrounds. I saw both the good and bad in people. I made SGT before I was 20 years old. I had to be self sufficient and take responsibility for myself. I saved my money and went to college after I was discharged. I started at a community college, received a bachelor’s degree than a master’s degree plus 90 credits. So what changed? Motivation to learn, persistence, desire to improve myself, self-sacrifice, goals, plan of action, maturity, financial support, parental support (after my discharge), take a manageable workload, select good teachers, take math and English courses in areas I showed weakness. College for me was more than getting a “good job” and making money. I sure didn’t go to college to make money in as a teacher. It was pursuing my dreams. Not all of us are ready for college directly after college. For a young person today, I recommend get some job skills in a area you like and place you want to live. Learn a skill that will provide you a living wage and benefits. Go into an apprentice program and get a two-year degree in a high demand field. After you have had some time to chart a direction, go for a four year degree in whatever you want. Why? Because YOU want to!

What TDR intends with these MIA posts is to break the myth that success = college. Imagine: there are productive, happy, &/or successful people who have contributed to society who never went to college or perhaps didn't finish college for reasons other than "they weren't smart enough"; and there are enough college students who either drop out, use college as a means to delay reality, and/or are simply floundering/overwhelmed while in college, to dispel the notion that one-size-fits all, made doubly worse if the financial burden becomes more than the gain.

Your journey is awesome. Think the idea of an apprenticeship for a year after high school and/or travel is really smart - a lot of kids might not have the courage. Most impressive is your self-realization:

" . . .Motivation to learn, persistence, desire to improve myself, self-sacrifice, goals, plan of action, maturity, financial support, parental support (after my discharge), take a manageable workload, select good teachers, take math and English courses in areas I showed
weakness. . ."

Let the debate begin!