College or Not?

I watched a wonderful 15-minute address by Steve Jobs (one of the founders of Apple) at the 2005 commencement ceremony at Stanford University. See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc

Jobs did not finish college, and he talks about that. But mostly he talks about following one's passion and loving what you're doing.

There is a tremendous amount of merit in what he says. Yet, I still feel that a bachelor's degree is one of the most important things a person can achieve.

This is why. In college, you can spend time on a breadth and depth of learning and exploring ideas with other students that is impossible during any other period in your life. (After attending for one semester, Jobs spent a year and a half just auditing various classes at Reed College; I got the impression that he was not going for credit.) A college degree also gives you an edge over other candidates for a particular job. It means you will very likely never have to work in a fast-food joint. Knowledge is something that no one can ever take away from you. Interest in a lot of things enriches your life and leads you to lifetime learning. The people you will associate with will challenge your thinking and teach you broadmindedness. And you will earn, on average, 60% more over your lifetime than if you have only a high school diploma.

My daughter seems to think that she is going to college only to please me. Believe me, it's an expensive pastime of mine, if that is the case! She does not understand that I am trying to prepare her for independence and self-sufficiency, while doing meaningful work. She does not know that she will look back regretfully if she does not finish school, but will have no regrets at all if she does.

I love what Jobs had to say to the Stanford graduates. He displays the admirable quality of having learned lessons from his life. Fortunately, not having finished school has not hindered him. However, this is no longer the world Jobs lived in during the 70s. A degree is even more important now that it was 35 years ago.

My college years were probably some of the worst of my life. The work was hard. I was lonely (though I still keep in touch with some of my college friends!) I was making the break from my parents, which can be agonizing, as I re-examined my values and chose a lifestyle different from theirs. I struggled with my weight. I struggled with the schoolwork. I began confronting my personality flaws. I had some issues with depression. But basically, I learned that I could stand on my own two feet, emotionally, financially, intellectually and spiritually. It was very, very hard. And it was worth it.