Graduated In Another Universe
My advisor for the few months I had at Union wrote a short post about the physics graduates this year (the year I would have graduated). I'm sure I hung out with a couple people in that group, not that I can put any faces to names at this point, and while it's curious to think about what would have happened if I had stayed, it's not something I spend any significant amount of time pondering nor do I regret anything that happened on account of leaving college. I do wish I had the knowledge that these graduates now have because I'm so interested in physics but it really all boils down to my appreciation of what I would have learned in the courses I would have taken - something I'm sure I'll have more of now than I did then.
Anyway, I commented on the post congratulating the graduates and mentioning that it was interesting to think that I was in the class at one point in time. I didn't go in to any detail but I often get curious questions about how I ended up in a full-time job that I really enjoy before I could legally consume alcohol so I tell that story a lot and it's right about this point where I get some sneers from people who feel like I'm stomping all over their hard work at universities wherever because I found something I enjoy without spending countless hours and money on a degree. I'm going to take this moment to reiterate that I'm not putting down your degree with my current non-degree nor do I look down on anyone because they have a degree nor do I feel that I am "better" than anyone with a degree. Let's recall that I did spend countless hours learning things for my current job, I even did it while in school (i.e. spending money), just not while in school for that particular subject.
Also, I've noticed that if you refer to a degree as "fancy writing on a piece of paper", certain people get a little hostile. I assure you that I will continue to refer to it as such even when spending two more years getting said piece of paper and numerous years afterwards (likely) reinforcing said piece of paper.
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Comments
i'm sure this isn't true for all fields. but you need a lab to work and learn in before you can be a scientist, and most people just don't have one of those at home. the theory, well you can learn that on your own, mostly. but without the lab, chemicals, and amazingly expensive equipment, forget it. we don't live in the days of Mendel anymore :)
beyond this, it might be just an expensive piece of paper, but i enjoyed every minute getting mine.
ya know, ya really pissed me off! Cuz' I try and try to forget how incredibly useless going to college has been for me yet I keep being reminded, haha=D I honestly wish I had never gone to college, or had just done technical school or somehting, its just kindda pointless b/c by them time i get out I wanna do something completely unrelated to what I majored in!
Plus, i got a degree in liberal arts, which is like, getting a degree in nothing lol. I mean I worked hard, but I dont quite get how Im supposed to apply that knowledge to the real world unless I go to graduate school!!! (which is def not in the plans) Young students need to be offered more of the reality, that there's other options after high school besides the traditional 4 year college thing, its def not for everyone I agree completely.