1 post tagged “fancy writing on a piece of paper”

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.