Have we just now started to question some of the ways to become successful? Are we finally past the generation where “a college degree is the only way that you can get your foot in the door”? Are kids finally becoming comfortable not fitting in the mold of going straight to college after walking across the high school stage? The answer to these questions is beginning to ring yes…and not just by some “current” college dropout who’s never held a significant job anyway (yes yours truly). Some of the leading companies in tech, finance, and all the rest are changing their induction policies. These include Apple, IBM, Bank of America, and even Google…who are no longer requiring that first degree to get a spot on the roster.
So where does this all start? Well, it starts with the false promises and encouragement of achieving the American Dream. Kids are pushed towards the river system of university with force. They may have no real idea where their destination is or even what village towns lie downriver. But they get in because of the false presumption that they’ll “go to college, get a degree, find a nice paying job, and live happily ever after”. And then after working hard for 40 years, they can retire and go do the things they’ve always wanted to do. This is just not the case anymore!
What ends up happening a lot of the time? Let’s first mention the numbers. Two thirds of college grads finish school with student debt adding up to the tune of 1.6 TRILLION good ol American dollars. This equates to approximately $30,000 per student. And then what’s even worse? They usually graduate not being able to find their dream job…or even WORSE than this…realizing what they studied isn’t even what they want to do in the world.
What happens when the river sweeps you up and spits you out in a tizzy? Well usually the river of life is just across the way and with “no better options” people jump into that one next. Let’s use the rat race analogy here. Someone in their early or mid 20’s leaves the framework of school and now has to play ball in the game of life. This means paying bills, paying back student loans, taking care of family, building a family of their own, and finding time to enjoy life…at least a little bit. After not getting their dream job (which some totally do but we’re talking about the majority here), these “young professionals” are forced to take the first decent paying job they can find. And the cycle continues. Making enough money to pay their bills and maybe pay down some debt. And this my friends, is the rat race. Too many people are forced to run it but with better guidance and a shift in mindset, some of this can be prevented.
Why rush into adulthood? Going to college and then putting yourself into the “real world” is just forcing yourself to grow up…and with that comes tons of responsibilities. There’s a new deal on the table with some amazing possibilities! How about before going to college, really deciding where you’d like to end up in the world? Or maybe even not end up, but go play your first few games? It’s totally ok to take a break between high school and going to study…if studying is what makes sense for a person. I believe people need to be much more strategic about how they think about all of this. Don’t let these major life decisions depend on someone else’s idea of how your life should be built. Go travel the world, work at a hostel, volunteer for some organizations, or a million other amazing experiences. Once you get to a certain age and have taken on those “real world “ responsibilities, it’s much harder to go back. Re-evaluating at that stage is not so simple. 30 is the new 20 and it would be so inspiring to see more “young kids” realizing that!