Not Going to College: What I Wish I Knew
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 พ.ค. 2024
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I dropped out of college after one year and it was the best decision of my life. Traveled the world as a professional musician for many years, discovered the beauty of working in radio, lived in different cities, and got jobs (no recruiter asked me for a degree, ever) cause of those experiences. And I'm only now wrapping up an arts degree, after a six month scholarship in Seoul, and only because I felt like studying. There are no rules. Enjoy life your own way, y'all.
Happy I read this comment. Thank you for sharing 💕
Shit it looks like your life is from a whole movie, was incredible to read! Best to you!
I would love to be that brave. I cry so much of anger because of the stupidity of having to have a degree under my arm to be someone.
@@josotorres9643 Quitting was really tough at first, I got tons of criticism and it was so frustrating. Hang in there, it's your life after all, you'll call the shots, either right now or as soon as you can. Take care!
@@mysoundiskillingyou Thank you, I really just want to finish to see my parents proud and feeling safe
As someone who holds a bachelor's degree, four master's degrees and a doctorate, I agree with you completely. Education is not to become something, e.g., a doctor, a layer, a business man, an engineer, even if it is required for your professional goals, it's to become someone, yourself. Go because it's the place for you to explore yourself and your interests, if that's what works for you, but never let it hold you back from living and learning and growing. Education is so much more than academics, although I obviously love academics. There are so many other lessons in life to be learned that can only be learned outside the walls of academia, and for some people, those are the only lessons needed to become a happy, well-educated person living and loving at full capacity. Academia is only one path. Don't limit yourself every. Choose the path or paths that best satisfy your thirsty for life!
I appreciated this comment so much that just a like didn't do justice so just thank you! Your comment is so full of energy and motivation :)
Amazing comment, thank you!!
Absolutely agree. I think the things you learn at university are more to do with the people you meet and experiences you have, not with the timetabled lessons.
It is truly unfortunate that the cost of college has risen as much as it has because it has truly ruined that aspect imo.
Omg I love that summary
As a teenager, this gives me a lot to think about…either path has its own advantages and disadvantages that in the end there really isn’t a right answer for *everyone*. But sometimes we just need to jump in and see how it is-no backup plan!
I think you should give yourself the opportunity to try things on your own now that you are young. It it doesn't work you can go to university.
To be on your own path without having a degree is not made for everyone. You need a very stoic, self motivation personality and a doer to make things work. Otherwise you are digging your own grave.
Also, doesn't matter how much I admire Nathaniel, you always need a back up plan.
It’s really fun to see this kind of comment because I remember following him way back when he was first putting out those videos when *I* was in highschool. Now that I’m in my twenties, I’m really proud to see how I’ve grown and how Nathaniel has grown as well. Very powerful to read your comment, Ryan.
it also really depends on a profession you're shooting for
While others are right. One of the things you gotta factor in is success with and without college degree. If you do trade school and want to go that route that's completely fine. If you want to go to college and get a job that way that's also fine. But if you want to skip both it's a lot harder to go up. It's possible to go up but a lot harder unless of course if you're parents are rich. If your parents are rich you are probably fine and can network through them.
@@willowwright8526 what do you do for living?
Brings this quote to mind: "Good ideas are always crazy until they're not" - Larry Page
Thanks for sharing Nathaniel!
@James Allen I very rarely comment on TH-cam videos, but felt compelled to respond to your comment. Here's your sign.
I knew college wasn't for me at a really young age too. Being the black sheep of my family has been challenging, but my freedom of choice is far more important than anyone's approval 🙌🏻
👍
Feels
The thing is, you worked toward an intention. You didn’t squander your time, you learned and grew, and you focused on developing a way of making money while investigating life, the world and everything. I went to college myself, but I recognize you as an educated person from your videos entailing personal investigations of other countries, different lifestyles, philosophies, ways of thinking and methods of living. I’m not a college snob as some of my friends and family are, who consider others uneducated if they don’t have a degree. For me it’s about what the person did with his or her time and how they’ve developed themselves. There are plenty of people with college degrees who seem to stagnate intellectually after acquiring a job and seemingly settling back. I’m enjoying watching your unconventional path unfold. It’s inspiring. Thank you as always for the quality content and food for thought. I’m very grateful!! And I always click on your videos if I see them in my notifications! Many blessings, sweet adventures and good health be yours!!
Hi Kristian 👋 I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this complement. If you don’t mind can we be friends? You can text me with my gmail on my profile Thanks God bless you….🌹
As a college student I can say, that even going at college you can miss social life, yeah I've met people but all of them fall apart, so it's a hard and lonely path, I still feel like is killing me 🙃 definitely take your time to make your decisions, do not fall for the pressure
same here... 💯
I graduated college having zero close friends bc I spent all of my free time working to afford the degree :^/ Not a decision I'd make again
I also missed all this social life. I learned that you can't rely on college to have social life, you need to build it on your own if you want.
Those are called semester friends. Once the semester is over those people fade away
I went to College because it was thing to do - got a degree in Electrical Engineering. I cannot point back to one skill in the classroom that I learned, but understand there’s aspects that helped. I would definitely not do it again if I had the decision, the problem is recognizing how you can be productive while not going and how you can support yourself.
I can relate to this. Though I’m not done with college, I am in the third year of my electrical engineering degree and sometimes I fear that I will come out with no actual skill. Skill is the application of knowledge, and while I absolutely believe I have gained knowledge in college, I wish higher education (or at least my institution of higher education) would focus also on the application of the knowledge you’re learning so you are coming out with something more valuable than unapplied knowledge.
@@eanwarren6471 i would start trying to go really broad on a couple of things and understand what you really like and where you need to focus your time / what you want to do. You’ll never have ‘dead’ time again in your life like you will in Uni so would take advantage.
@@eanwarren6471 at least you’re not in an easy major where not only gain little skill, but also gain almost no knowledge.
I was 28 when I walked into a university class for the first time. I think its a worthy life experience if you can do it on your own terms. However, I don't think anyone should go to college just because you feel like you're pressured by society. I'm now going on 32 and getting ready to graduate with my bachelor. I feel accomplished in my academic achievements because I accomplished them on my own terms. I hated high school and never thought I'd be a student again. But here I am, grateful I had that experience, albeit the non-traditional route. Also 4 years is a drop in the bucket the older you get.
May I ask what are you studying? Im 22 almost finished my degree but I'm thinking of taking exams to enter another college but I'm worried of being the oldest in class ( really stupid of me I know but I suffer from social anxiety). How was your experience?
@@DMp-xp6mj For one, you WILL NOT be the oldest, I had people in some of my classes in their 50s! I would say you should do what feels right to you. Like I mentioned before, when I went to college at 28 I was ready, curious and excited to have the university experience, which at 28 is vastly different then what an 18-22 year old may experience. I was older than some of my professors along the way and I never felt awkward, just as you may have a boss some day that's younger then you. It happens.
I studied a B.S in Paralegal Studies at a large public university. If I were almost finished, I would finish the degree you're working on and then consider going back for another degree or perhaps a certificate or other qualification in another subject that you may find yourself interested in. NOBODY goes through life without their interests changing!
@@usuallyroamingrob7731 Thank you for this, I'm really stressed out about my future and you helped me a lot.
@@DMp-xp6mj Good Luck!
Good to hear I’m not the only one! I’m 26 and just started a bachelor. I’m 8 years older than most students, but I’m so excited and grateful that I can do this now, and I’ve never been this motivated for going to school, feels crazy! After high school I traveled for a few years because that’s what I craved the most back then. After doing all that, I feel more interested in the subjects I have now and I’m just a lot more focused as well. Good luck with the end of your studies!
Wow this hurts. I’m a millennial who was a good, obedient kid who followed all the well-intentioned advice of my parents and mentors. The result: a masters degree and over $100,000 of student loan debt. 😢
You don't need a degree unless the thing you love doing requires having a degree so you could get to the places you could't go without it. Instead we need to figure out what our passions are and follow them. A degree is 99% for those who plan to work a 9 to 5 all their lives.
yes but most people don't know what it is that is the thing that they love until they get more life experience
and people who work 9-5 do honest work that benefits all of our lives, and make our lives even functional.
People should go to a degree if they feel that will learn more and have more skills in the area they like. Is totally wrong the concept of a degree = 9-5. If I learn more about economics or managemente, or health science, marketing, AI, whatever, you could use that for want you want.
I didn't know what I 'loved doing' at 18 so glad I got my degree as a backup at the very least and got to meet great friends in the process.
THIS! I'm not going to be miserable and let myself get into debt for something I didn't want in the first place.
Nathan, I'm so glad to hear this man, I'm also a college dropout and I come from a less developed 3rd world country ( Lebanon). With all the pressure I was handling from friends, family members, and even random people. I made up my decision and dropped out 2 years ago. Now, I work as a senior video editor & Social media specialist with 5 international companies. I have a stable income and I'm working on increasing it. I'm starting my own business without being financially worried, I can invest my money , and most importantly, I'm so happy and living a full life. Cheers !
💪🏻💪🏻
That’s amazing 💪🏼 you’re living the life you want
Proud of you, random lebneineh!
@@Spacie.AnnaMaria thank you🙌
Hi i am from india. As same we both are asians and have the same pressure. I also took one year gap to think and now i decided that I don't want to go to college instead follow my own pathway. Any advice for me ??
I'm graduating this year (master's degree) and I can say that it's harder to get friends from college than people think. Especially if you always feel kind of out of place at school like I did.
In university, everybody's life situation is pretty much the same, and most people's views about lives are similar. That can be super boring and non-inspiring.
I'm just looking forward to finally getting to new places and meeting people who live differently from me.
I think you made a great choice by not going to college. You probably met a lot more like-minded people than you would have at college (and when you meet like-minded people, you have a higher chance of really bonding and becoming friends). Uni has a weird way of narrowing down your worldview, it's a bubble. The world is out there and not in your books.
I just started uni and I feel exactly the same, especially the last part really resonates with me! However, I don’t know what else I‘d be doing and that seriously affects my mental health.
I feel the same way. But education is necessary for my field.
@@judgegoodevening6231 whats your field
@@Masterstrange56 architecture
Yes, i totally relate to your situation. It has been a semester at my university now, but i don't have a close friend to talk to, share my perspectives about life and in general, nobody. On top of that, i have some crazy things 😜 on what to do in life, but first need money. Just hope i will find a like minded mate soon.❤
I remember being 18 and people asking me what I was going to study and I had no idea. Honestly I wanted to take a gap year to find out who I was and what I was interested in, you know, grow up a little and make mistakes and to find my own voice, I felt like all my life up to that point I had been doing what others told me to do and doing what I was “supposed to do” and at home all I heard was “study whatever you want and if you don’t like it change it, but get a degree”. At the time I didn’t knew how to say no or to stand up for what I thought it was the best for me, so I did went to college and I got depressed because of it ‘cause it just felt so wrong, honestly the idea of disappointing others was worse than dealing with my depression. I know that I’m very lucky for having that opportunity but I still feel it wasn’t the best for me.
Listening to your story and having the experience that I had, I know it takes a lot of courage to say no to something like that, to listen to yourself and follow your own path. It’s great that you’re sharing your experience because someone out there might need to feel like they’re not the only one feeling this way, sometimes all you need that person online who follows a similar path to the one you want to encourage you walk into that direction.
I needed this. Thanks!❤
I wish I had taken a gap year too. But my mom (I'm an only child of a single mom) would've had a full-on mental breakdown if I did that. She didn't even allow me to change my degree, she was adamant that I needed to stick to whatever I chose. Feeling pressured, I chose a major that didn't interest me and changed it after one year and my mom was furious. As a result, I went through the worst depressive episode of my life and had to be on antidepressants for 2 years after that. At 19, I truly felt like my life was over. I wanted to die. I'm 27 now, recently got my MD, and it pains me to see how much needless suffering my mom's pressuring caused me. She's 100% the reason for that depressive episode. An episode that cost me 2 years of my life, and she doesn't even know it. I know her intentions weren't malicious, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I don't want kids, but if I ever do have them, I'm going to try my best not to repeat my mom's mistakes.
Personally agree with nathaniel, do take gap year people.
I started my gap year after high school not knowing what i wanted to do in life, went to germany for a year to learn german. It was a one enriching experience but it didn't feel right for me to stay another year there.
So after my summer vacation in paris, i decided to move to Lille, France to do another gap year. I ended up falling in love with the country, learned the language from party and hanging out with friends, met amazing people along the way that helped me to open my mind to question my life decisions. It has been a life changer for me. Stayed initially to only learn the language and the experience, but ended up finding my passion and a way to have my study fully funded while working in Paris, in that field i'm passionate in and getting paid for it :)
Thank you so much Nathaniel, personally your videos have been a hell of encouragement along the way when i started to doubt myself or question my life decisions when other people tried to talk me out from my dreams.
It was hard at first but seeing there are awesome like minded people like you who dare to think outside of the box and go out from the norm, everything seemed possible for my previously 18 year old self who just went out from high school..
Too bad we couldn't meet when you were in Paris, but if ever you come here again i would love to grab a coffee with you! You have been such a huge inspiration in my life and i am looking forward to talk to you in real life :)
CBYX?
Hey,
What did you do speficially in Lille? Like did you work in somewhere and how did you meet new people😅? I’m planing to take gap year after high school, but the uncertainty scares me a bit.
I'm 18 on my final year of high school and I'm planning to have a gap year too, also planning to move somewhere else to learn the language (Spain). How did you plan before coming to Germany? Have you started looking for some kind of job after, or before moving in? Finally, what were your biggest mistakes or things you wish you'd known before?
OMG I'm on my exchange in Lille rn, love the whole student-bursting-with-life vibe. Glad you enjoyed your time here as well😍
How did you finance your gap year in France?
I went to college for 6 years , got a doctorate in pharmacy and now it's not what I want to do anymore. I understand the family pressure . But the most important thing is to follow your inner guidance.❤
Sending you love and positive energy to everyone ❤
That’s so interesting to me as a 16 year old. So if you’re okay with doing so, what’s the plan now? And could you speak a bit more about how you came to that decision and what it felt like? Thank you, no worries if you don’t want to
@@oblivious9609 you deserve an answer
@@oblivious9609 So my dream is to work from home so I'm working on growing my TH-cam channel and have my business. But obviously I'll still work in the pharmacy field if I need money and I'll still do my best at it but it's just not my calling right now. I think there's a lot of pressure to choose a career at a young age. But sometimes, when we grow and change ,our desires change too and what seemed like a good decision isn't fulfilling us anymore. So there's nothing wrong with changing careers even at 50 year old.
I hope this helps. Good luck!
@@nessyempowerment this helps so much and is so reassuring to hear as someone who feels pressured to “pick a path”. Thank you :)
@@oblivious9609 You're welcome 😊 I'm glad it helped 💯 good luck 💕
It took me 20 years to go to college. I've just begun my journey to a doctorate and I'm almost 40. I think each person's decision is their own and whatever they choose will be right for them.
You've definitely lived such a full life, and youve had more life experiences than most! Keep on doing you man!
I'm currently an 18 year old with a gap year, and probably taking a second gap year. This video has a perfect timing for me and all my doubts about my future
same but 19
Same
Im still in college. Every year that pass by, the more i regret going to college. Im taking software engineering. I shoudlve taken a bootcamp instead that gives me hands on experience because everything i learned so far is taught on youtube and other website for free
same but 20, 3rd gap year
I’m almost 22 right now. Taking a gap year in my 18’s was the most crucial decision in my life. Never doubt yourself, I’m happier than ever right now. Risk, explore, enjoy.
I did go to college. It was one of the worst phases of my life. It was the first time I came face-to-face with depression and suicidal thoughts. All my notions and beliefs about life and society was shattered in college. I learnt what it meant to "live" in the real world.
Do I regret going to college? Absolutely not.
My college time was bad but it changed the trajectory of my life and my view of it. And I am happy where I am right now, and excited to see where I go.💖
Same I felt suicidal due to college and got diagnosed with major depressive disorder
I want to chime in with some of the other older students here in the comments and say that it's never too late!! I dropped out of college when I was young, and came back in my 40s; I'm now in my 50s and finishing my PhD. You are 100% correct that there are things you can learn via life experience that are difficult (if not impossible) to learn in a classroom, but the reverse is true as well. Academia is absolutely magical when it's where you really want to be. I loved every class and drank in all that information even when it had nothing to do with my major. I had tons of drive, passion, and focus that I never had in my late teens. I was also in a long-term, stable, supportive relationship, and that made a huge difference. I've made some very dear and close friends who are much younger than I am, and I can confirm that there was a lot of real life knowledge they didn't have--I think that having a student body that is very diverse in age is of great benefit to everyone in it for this reason. So you are absolutely right that every person should make the choice for themselves, but it's important to know that it's not a zero sum thing--you don't decide not to go to college and then that's it; you can change your mind any time! There are also a lot of funding opportunities out there for older students. I did have to take out some loans, but I feel like that's better to do with your eyes open and the knowledge that you are making a choice that is worth it to you. You are right that the way young people in America are driven into debt like a herd of cattle is horrifying. Being an international scholar has really opened my eyes to how different attitudes toward education are in other countries, but that's kind of another topic. 🙂
That it is amazing.
We’re swimming on the same stream. I’m in my late 40s and enrolled in a pre-med and my insatiable thirst of academia has never been better.
@@inigojuancarlos Did you have a degree before that or this is your first degree
@@inigojuancarlos
Are you getting a load of wokeness in college right now? I am curious to hear your perception of what’s going on as well as your perspective, having lived and being twice the age of most of the classmates🌿
I went to a 2 year technical college, all of my classmates are nearly bringing in nearly if not six figures maintaining X-Rays and hospital equipment. Took us under 2 years to complete… best decision I’ve made so far! Eventually I plan on owning my own business but I definitely have a head start as a 21 year old with no debt.
What did you study??
@@Msteez Biomedical Technology. Look up Imaging Field Service Engineer salaries.
The school also gave me lots of grants just for getting good grades. It was a very hands on school.
@@daviddelahoya151 That sounds so cool! I didn't know such a job existed. * 0 *
@@maylin1986 yeah! You can also get a 9-5 job in a hospital just fixing equipment. But pays much less.
However, the 9-5 job is basically a coordinator job that outsources specialized equipment repairs and just does monthly function checks.
What country are you in? Medical tech jobs are super competitive in the US.
I recently dropped out of college after four years there, and I already feel like I made one of the best decisions of my life. I feel free now, free to do everything I've always wanted to do and it feels good!
CONGRATSSS!! you have so much freedom ahead of you, it's so exciting
And it’s been three months since your comment. What have you done with your freedom?🌿
Congrats on your newfound freedom!! What did you decide to do?
How are you doing in life now, mate?
What do you do for a living now?
If you think about it, it's crazy to *not* take a year off to reflect on what you actually want to do the coming years. Too many people dive head first into college because it's expected of them,... unfortunately.
This took me a while to come to terms with, but going to college is one of my biggest regrets in life. I was pressured by my mom (and societal standards) to attend and get a degree and now that I have it and I’m working, I realize I didn’t actually take much away from the whole experience, I could’ve easily learned what was taught to me on my own, plus taking on the huge debt just wasn’t worth it AT ALL.
100% my experience as well. No close friends from uni, tons of debt, and, while I have built a career related to my studies, I feel limited to stay within that box to make it all seem worth it and comply with people's expectations of who I now am. I learned to jump through hoops, tell professors what they want to hear/stroke egos, and stay awake through poorly written, boring books that cost more than my food budget. At best, my time at university can be characterized as an extremely expensive and time-consuming disappointment.
You're in a more unique situation in that you didn't want but did so anyway due to societal pressure. In my case, I didn't go and for that, the societal pressure got me and I am yet to have an undergrad, or formal higher education per se. I am debt free but do not make much money. There are retractions and positives to the whole ordeal. I wish for a median because formal education is always good no matter what, the circumstances and context at hand. I would want at least an undergrad.
Same.. I regret it dearly... :(
To the *incredible person* seeing this, I wish you all the best in life❤ don't over blame yourself, accept things and go forward. Don't let others define what “success” is for you. Get up, learn the skills needed and get after it, all the keys to a happy life is in your hands. Keep pushing.
needed this, thank you
Thanks 👍
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I think being in college just makes are mind limited, I mean we always think about grades, projects this or that . But the real knowledge or education is to know about beyond life and to search for the real purpose of life❤
You are doing better than 9-5 job :)
I totally relate to this. There is so much emphasis on getting “good/passing grades to succeed” and that true in order to get your degree and that puts a lot off strain on our minds and bodies and it’s not always going to be easy. But I think the important take away from this video is that grades numbers and letters do not define who we are and what matters the most in life is good work ethic. After you graduate from college grades don’t matter in the real world.
I took a gap year which also turned into six gap years! I was also one of the only people I knew from school who didn't go right away. I'm very happy with my decision. I had no idea who I was or what my passions were. I worked, saved money, traveled, and grew so much! During covid, I decided I wanted more stability (work/home/social life), and I enrolled in University in 2020. I'm now in my second year doing a double major in Computer Science (I never would have done this six years ago) and Psychology. Sometimes I wish that I got it done sooner, but I wouldn't trade it for the experiences that I had! Because I am making the choice to be at University now, I am actually applying myself and am much more driven than I was at 18. I'm definitely not getting the "college experience" I would have at 18, but I did get amazing life experience!
(Note: I am in Canada and going to school is significantly cheaper -- as a mature student I was able to get enough grants to fund my whole education... If I had to pay American tuition, I don't think I would have gone)
Hi Hannah. I'm a computer science major in my last quarter and I this past year I have found that I'm really interested in psychology as well. It's all that I read and listen to for fun these days. What made you choose to go back to school for both?
Yeah as an American I can assure you, college is basically a scam if you study anything besides becoming a lawyer, doctor or engineer. The debt your flung into at such a young age recks you until your in your 40s sometimes. Seriously, it’s horrific. My parents saved up thousands of dollars to force me into school just for me to take a gap year and realize school was not for me. Now I’m stuck here waisting my time because it’s not what I want/need to do at all
I just got my degree in architecture recently. Going to college was mostly because of the insane pressure my blood family and the social circle around me at the time had put on me. And if I had known better then, I would have chosen my own path instead of caring about what others think I should do. Now I have a degree I'm most probably not going to ever use,and I've wasted years of my life for it. But now I've grown mentally and spiritually enough to know what I want and I'm going for it.
It all comes down to what you want, if you want a degree ,then get it, if not, don't let people tell you what to do.
If you want to be a doctor or something then of course you should go to college, but for anything that doesn't specifically require a degree, it is a totally personally choice. Either path can lead to great things, it just depends what feels right for you. Just make sure you do the proper research first, and you aren't just following the status quo.
1st generation college grad here! 8 years after graduating with my bachelor's, I see that my degree taught me very little - BUT it got me through the door and into jobs where I wouldn't have otherwise been welcome without it.
“No matter how much you learn in college, it never prepares you for the real world.” ~ Donald Allen
I went to university, got a degree in computer science, and am now working a job in my field at the age of almost 23. Even with my life experience, I can completely agree with your points! Of course my degree is worth it and I enjoy my job, but that can’t be said about all degrees. It’s always a breath of fresh air to see a perspective from the other side, and part of me always wonders what would have happened if i took a gap year!
I live in a developing country. To go to college, I had to fight my dad because he didn’t want to pay for my education, but my mom did. Now, I realized it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. Probably, this is not the case for many people. I strongly advise you to do what suits you more based on how you see yourself in the future.
I find your channel helpful when it comes to guiding my teenager. Especially in how things look when you don’t follow the norm, you’ve been a good talking point and source of information- thank you!
Honestly, college during COVID is terrible. And the more I’m growing (I’m in third year), the more I’m starting to think about taking a gap year after my Bachelor. I’m tired of the stress; COVID making all about school because no social life, I want to discover myself and grow out of the « my grades define me » mindset. You followed your gut instincts and did great!
I feel this so much. I am in my 3. semester right now and covid really kills my whole motivation and makes me think about if it was the right decision. Had the same idea as you with the hab year after the bachelor. Will definetly do it
I totally understand you! Half of my college time was spent in house, with my laptop because of Covid and it SUCKED. I felt robbed of the college experience and started hating college so much that, after getting my Bachelor's, I decided not enrolling into a Master's and I am so so happy with my decision. Compared to my classmates who started their Master's right after, I am much happier with the way I'm spending my time. I'm working in the industry that I like and I'm learning so much more through practical experience than I would've learned during a Master's. I was so angry when I finished my Bachelor's because of the lack of social interaction that I decided that I won't be considering a Master's unless it's offline, after the pandemic. So, take that gap year if you want to and don't feel sorry for it. If you miss college, you can go back anytime, but you definitely won't enjoy it if you're angry about the effects of Covid.
I relate to that so much. I am trying to detach myself from that mindset too, and therefore my relationship with formal education is damaged to a point that all I want is a gap year to heal myself and start from zero
I feel totaly the same! I took a gap year after finishing Highschool....well i started one and then Covid came and i had to go back home, sitting inside. Me and a lot of my friends went from "lets explore what we want in life" to "lets figure out wich degree to pursue so we got something to do"
Im in my 3 Semester now, the reason i choose to go was because i wanted to get out of the city i grew up in, meet lots of new people and learn as much as possible about interesting topics and grow as a person. Well covid really took all of this away. Its just me, my laptop and my waterbottle vs. exams and due dates. Its lonely and i feel like the past year was the most uninsteresting in my life. i know that if i would have chosen a different degree than my current one or none at all i would have regrets aswell but yeah university suucks. And i cant wait till im done with it and can go on a new gap year again next year, crazy how fast and unused this time flew by, feel like i havent learned a single good thing.
@@kriegerdorf5459 honestly, same. I'm in 3rd semester as well.
Loved this one Nathaniel! Though I learned more so "how I learn" during my time at school I see now my biggest lesson comes from the "doing" you talked about. When I graduated I went through the tribulations of working for a broadcasting network on-air. I felt like this path was the same hamster wheel peddled to anyone graduating an institution. Go to school, get a good reliable job. "Reliable" being the most hilarious of all the words here.
After years of witnessing friends be laid off from their posts I realized the only thing I can really rely on is myself and my own thirst for knowledge, learning and understanding about the world around me. I feel fortunate and in all honesty privileged to be working for myself now and I can't wait to continue to grow my platforms and skills.
Thanks for your thoughtful videos they inspire me as a person and as a creator. Much love from a Canadian gal! (P.S. send some of that Mexico sun and warmth our way please!)
You have no idea how much this resonates with me. I didnt go to uni when i left college for various reasons and i find myself wondering whether that was the right idea every damn day almost ten years later. Im 28 and i dont really have any significant qualifications other than 10 years of work experience.
That being said i still have no idea what I want to do with my life. And its dumb to think embarking on a degree would magically fix that for me...
This is what happens when people think you're a bright kid and leave you alone at school. With so many paths open and nobody to guide you, you don't have a direction and you get lost in the woods.
Im not in debt though, so that's a plus.
That’s similar to me :0 …minus the part where people thought I was a bright kid. I studied because I had to and only tried when I was 15. I’m yet to choose a path but I hope to soon 😕🤞🏼.
This is definitely something I’ve been pondering as I’m finishing my last year of high school, what I’m going to do. So many different factors to consider and wonder what all the what if’s and maybes would be. This video definitely helped with just understanding someone’s experience choosing to do this with their life and I really appreciate the honest and humble approach.
Such an amazing journey.
So beautifully portrayed ✨
Kudos.
I totally agree with you. It was nice to see such a great video. I wish you well.
UGHHHHH I LOVE HIMM HOW AND WHY ARE U SO DIRECTLY INSPIRING??!?!?! it's not even vague advice it literally moves something in me
My schooling situation is definitely a unique one. I never went to school when I was a kid, but started taking college classes at the local community college when I was 14. I never had any issue keeping up with my other classmates who were many years older than me and who had a whole life of school experience. I've always hated school and found that it sucked out every bit of passion I had for subjects that I genuinely loved and had an interest in. I hated being boxed in with all sorts of restrictions, rules, homework, and tests that only made you stressed and miserable. I've always been the kind of person that if I really love something and have a passion for it, then I will learn and study on my own. That is still a fact for me, even today. I have studied and learned multiple languages, I am constantly learning about new topics and gaining new skills. Even though I was in college for many years, I never ended up getting a degree and ultimately, it was a great decision for me. There are so many ways to learn things through actual real life experience. I'm honestly proud of where I am today and what I've accomplished. I'm so thankful to my mom who allowed me a different kind of education. To have the freedom to be able to focus on what really mattered to me and to learn through real life experiences. ❤️
Thanks for writing this. It resonates strongly with me, particularly on losing passion for things you love in school and finding better ways to learn. I’m trying to do the same rn. Honestly a lot of what’s taught in school can be learned on your own from books and the internet.
I'm glad that someone else went to college so young. I'm 15 and I'm in community college right now. I left high school because I thought college would be better, but honestly it's not really. mostly just feeling lost I guess. I don't know what to do with my life. oh well
What do you work in now?
As someone who now has a career as a stockbroker just 4 years after graduating from high school, I can say college is not always necessary. I had to choose between a business degree or joining the work force. I joined the workforce and did retail management for about three years. That job experience was equivalent to a college degree and got me a job with a broker dealer who sponsored me to get my brokers licenses. There are other ways of getting a career where you can make money instead of go into debt.
Wow, congrats. That's pretty cool to know that working in finance doesn't always require a college degree. I'm wondering how many people actually know this because i always thought all stock brokers had college degrees.
I went back to college at 50. Got my accounting degree, getting my CPA now. I have a BA degree also. Totally love learning. I’ll continue studying for the rest of my life! And I work full time M-F 8 to 5 at a great hight tech company. Life is good.
Happy for you. I'm 27. Started college. Bit late. But this gives me hope.
@@andyc9902 - The secret is to be persistent. Do not quit.
I applaud you for taking taking the time to really think about what’s best for you. You see, when most people (myself included) give advice, they typically only share what has worked for them. As cliché as it sounds, what works for others won’t necessarily work for you. People only know what they know and they can only share what they know. The fact that we don’t really know how things will play out is, at worst, terrifying, but exciting at best. I choose to see it as exciting.
Thanks Nathan! I’m happy you seem happy with your choices!
I think we have to be careful when making such an important decision. College can definitely be useful and many times essential to achieve some dreams.
Having said that, college is not the only way to success and we should definitely stop stigmatizing those who decide not to go to college.
College= success since when? The people I see as successful are not engineers working for people. It’s the people hiring the engineers.
@@0hleg I did not say that and just going to college for the sake of it does not make you successful--in fact, it may make you miserable. However, it can set you in the right direction to, for example, become a university professor or to get a PhD and later go work in the private sector.
You can definitely be successful without a college degree and Nathaniel is a great example of it.
@@HeyImRod I think statistically if you are smart and creative you have a smaller chance of being very very successful going to college. Than what you have pursuing making a successful business. Running successful businesses is not as hard as people make it seem. With e-commerce and crypto nowadays a smart 15yr with guidance can make more than a engineer or programmer does in silicone valley. The difference is there is no pay roof for a business you own. While engineers and programmers they all have max salaries. But not everyone wants to experience the stress of knowing if they fail or go in debt they have nothing. For most people getting a job and feeling safe without stress or anxiousness is a better option.
Even though, I live in Germany where College Education is mostly free, I can relate sooooo much to what you are saying!
Though, I feel like I still lack a little bit of courage to follow my own path and rely solely on learning through life. A college degree gives me a (false?) sense of security that I am not willing to give up yet...but I totally see your point.
I love your videos and I feel very inspired by your story and your commitment to your cause. Keep the good stuff coming! You are on fire man!
Lots of love and a big hug
Anna
I am a current senior, graduating in almost 4 months. dude, you actually reminded me of an option I was always putting off, just because it didn't suit my community. Only time can tell where I will end up, I just hope I make a decision based on a thorough process of research and thinking. However, as a female in the middle east, I guess the consequences may be far greater. Really glad you did not end up with student debt lol that's scary FR. in Islam our prophet Muhammed PBUH always made the prayer: "Allah, I seek refuge with You from sin and heavy debt”. Love from a Jordanian- شكرا ناثان
God bless you dear
What a video that was! awesome vocabulary and you support your arguments correctly. Keep doing an insane work!
Im 19 on a gap year, and have had all theses thought’s going through my head. Im moving to Mexico City, and it good to hear you share some of the you’re thoughts on college. It’s a affirmation for me that I am on the right path, its the hard path but the right one. Thank you again for this amazing video.
I have a Masters Degree in engineering but I learned most of my skills outside university. University doesn’t give you skills, it only gives you knowledge. I really learned the job during internships.
I went to uni right after high school, because it was my dream and I absolutely do not regret it. I graduated in 2020 and getting my bachelor degree was fun, I honestly loved every aspect of it (the learning, the friends, the parties, the research etc.). BUT: starting my masters just right after I graduated, in the middle of a pandemic, with no "real life" experience, not taking my time to have a gap year or basically to THINK was a terrible decision (made purely because of pressure). I still can't fully accept that I have to study completely online, I rarely meet anyone, I feel burnt out, and I have no job, no career yet, and not much money to start with when I finally graduate. I think the pandemic nuanced this topic even more, due to the fact that in some countries, college/university does not serve you with its social aspect anymore.
Thank you, Nathaniel for a most generous & focused "lecture" .
I never went to college - no desire - just threw myself into NYC & theater
training. I did what I fell in love with.
I have had so many fascinating & satisfying experiences in my life that sometimes those memories destract me from present actions (ha!). Congratulations to you.
P.S. I have a 15 yr. old grand nephew who has a podcast with 100,000 followers - The Malarkey Project.
Best New Year to you, S.
I really appreciate this video, and you sharing your experience.
Many of us still struggle with our decisions to have chosen college. But, you highlighted the importance of making use of our time with what we feel is best fitting for ourselves with whichever path we choose.
College is grossly misrepresented as linear, and so is life. We forget the importance of our experiences along whichever path we choose, as we rush towards a ‘finish line’ in our minds that we’ve mislabelled as being indicators to our success.
Congratulations on all your success and Happiness Drew, your perspective is refreshing and honest.
Thank you for what you do, Nathaniel
Awesome to see how far you've come Nathaniel! Keep it comin'!
Always a wonderful reflexion thanks dude !
Bises from Lyon
I feel like at this point in my i would have loved to meet you earlier and have those discussions much earlier. The message is still relevant for people with a job who feel like their lives is meant to be that lonely and boring and repetitive. I'm struggling to not agree with a system that's obviously not working just because "it's how it's supposed to be"... next step is gathering up the courage to move past the old rhetoric and learn to enjoy what I enjoy doing instead of feeling guilt or feeling incomplete because I am not where I am supposed to be !! fcking hate it here
I live in Argentina. I've been trying to do a career here and I gotta admit that it has been years wasted. It was for me a very lonely place and making friends was basically impossible. At this point in my life, after years of failing, I'm waiting for the moment to finally be brave enough to admit that this is not for me. You can feel when you don't belong somewhere and I shouldn't care about what my family could say or what could happen if I don't keep trying. Because everything that I learned till now I learned it outside university, and I got to find a decent and independent job thanks to that.
Right now, you're a huge inspiration for someone like me. You're living my dream of traveling and embracing new cultures.
¡Un abrazo enorme!
I kept watching this for twice. Maybe would go for 3 times. You always kinda spark me in some point of view. I’m in the new city now and starting up my baby steps for my journey! Makes me clarifying what am I here for!!! Thank you again! It is lit to be a content creator. I appreciate deeply that you speak your own perspectives more in sharing way but not the mentoring way. So caring 💕
words were incredibly powerful!
And as usual Thank You again
Thank you so very much for this video. I have been so ridiculed for not going to college and not having a degree. Lazy!!! The word I was accused of being a lot, people who didn't even know me. Society can be very cruel.
Thank goodness for amazing people like you and your parents, also this awesome community.
After two years of depression and family pressure I did go down the traditional path and signed up to a university. And just as I had expected, uni took such a heavy toll on my mental health.
It didn’t feel like education to me it all. I felt like I was being fed useless information that I wasn’t allowed to question, just like in high school.
And so I abondened it and decided to once again give running my own business a shot. I‘m still at the very beginning, I barely earned enough money to pay for rent and food last year but this year I am going all in. And even if I don’t make it, I would honestly rather starve than live life off of someone else „academical blueprint“.
But that is of course a personal choice. I guess I am just not made for traditional education, just as I am not made for most traditional jobs. And it’s hard to come to terms with that. When „normal“ work makes you suffer immensely, everyone and maybe even you yourself will start seeing you as weak or as unfit to live in our society. But that is so wrong. For the first time in thousands of years we live in a society in which we can actually make by persuing a non traditional path and I believe that a lot of us owe it to ourselves to at least try
Great video Nathaniel! I agree with you! Often there is really no master's degree needed (unless you want to be a medical doctor or something)! We are capable of so much more if we just take our time daily and practice really really hard! I noticed that kids are able to do something again and again and again in order to learn and improve and they won't stop and don't get distracted easily like adults. We have to be more focused and try things out and be brave enough to go out and go for the things we really want in life!!!!! Keep doing your great work!
You're amazing. Thank you for making these videos.
Tengo 16 y la verdad no pienso ir a la universidad por ahora, en mi país, Colombia el estudio se lo toman demasiado a pecho, mi país es hermoso pero las ideologías que tienen al respecto de la educación debido a que las oportunidades escasean tienen una perspectiva muy pequeña de lo que es el siglo 21, la verdad tus video me inspiran y me motivan a seguir por un camino alternativo, y sobre todo fluir y seguir con “Amor Fati”. Fluyan y disfruten la vida, hay mucho más por descubrir de ella y también de nuestro planeta 🗺
Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I think it's really brave to make a decision against the social pressure to go to college. You knew what you wanted to do and how you wanted to do it, made your decision and then followed that goal with all your energy which is a great way to approach life.
Yet, I still want to give some advice for all people that are not sure what to do. Higher Education is obviously tied to annoying stuff and mostly very theory based but there are certain advantages to consider. First of all, obviously, some professions are just closely tied to a degree and there is no way around it (medical/ legal/ engineer stuff etc.). In the creative fields like art, journalism or business there are more possibilities to reach your destination. So like Nathaniel you can choose to go for a practical and less formal education. However if you choose this you have to be aware of the responsibilities that come with that. You have to make sure you actually do stuff, you have to figure out many things on your own and you have to keep track of your progress. The good part about higher education for not so motivated people like me is that there is a schedule and things you have to do period. I study Media Science and there I am forced to deal with topics that can be boring yet have some valuable knowledge to offer. On my own I would probably avoid them since Im not good at forcing myself to do unpleasant things. So its helpful for me to know that I need to do it anyways and so I don't overthink it too much.
Second big thing is the value of a degree. A degree is like a proof that you have acquired the basic knowledge and that you can accomplish tasks that are given to you. If you don't have a degree you need to provide that proof in a different way and some people might be a little hesitant to trust your abilities. So if you don't start your own business it probably will be harder to find a job since many of them require some degree for their applicants.
On the other side, degrees are also overrated to some extend because like I said you really only learn the basics and the actual expertise is acquired on the job. So getting into the practical environment can be a big advantage if you make sure that you actually do stuff and not just change plans all the time. Especially if you want to be a free content creator or start your own business this can give you a head start.
At the end of the day this decision really depends from person to person and career to career. My main point is simple: keep an open mind and don't make the decision before you thought it through. Like Nathaniel said, take a gap year and gain some experience and then make a decision. You have all the time in the world, don't get pressured by your friends and families.
Everytime I watch one of your videos I’m like “YES!!” Thanks for being you and sharing with the world! ❤️❤️❤️
At 38 years young, married, and a mom I love listening to your channel!! I can so relate with the many topics you choose to share. I went to college for a trade (1 year only) travelled the world for a decade, and then decided to settle (a little) having been an entrepreneur basically my entire life. I 100% agree with the social aspect, I've often felt alone on this rather unique but commonly growing path. You are gaining SO much experience and experience is the key to unlock all doors of our future. I would never expect my child to go to college or uni but rather to experience the world and then make a conscious decision when they are ready..
I decided last year to quit my education. I was studying construction engineering and was getting basically straight As (not to brag, but simply just to make my point stronger) but I couldn’t see the point in finishing it because - like you mentioned - I believe in learning by doing it. During my education I did two bigger renovation projects in my free time and I did an internship. Learning muuuuuch more than I had done at the university. So I decided to quit. In stead I started investing in DA, started a YT-channel and live part time in Mexico. I will at some point probably start a freelance and start doing some engineering jobs again but I doubt that I will ever put my butt back on a school bench. I can learn more in real life.
Also let me add: before I started at the education I had 2,5 gab years. During those I learned Italian and Chinese and lived in both countries plus spent 14 months working in a huge company in Dubai. I learned the same amount of Chinese as people have learned after doing an master in it. My Italian was also pretty good. I also did learn very little Arabic. I never really believed in the education system cause you learn more irl.
So a huge thanks for sharing this video and encouraging people to think about their choice and reveal other opportunities ✨
Thanks for the caveat at the end. I think it’s also important to add that children of first gen immigrants have an added pressure to go to college with the opportunities their families made possible for them. From a societal perspective college = success. I’m glad your parents gave you the freedom to explore other paths that weren’t college and it brought you to where you are today, but I know not all people are afforded that support.
Your college video was how I found you. I’ve enjoyed your content since then.
I fucking love what you do and what you've become, man. Hace un montón sigo tu laburo y te ves (desde una apreciación muy artificial, unsolicited, superficial) tan en sintonía con lo que sos y sentís! El humor, los comentarios espontáneos, reales, la comodidad de ser quien se es. Might be trippin, pero me vino un flash de algún video de un par de aNIos atrás en dónde comentabas cómo la gente te cargaba por no sonreir, no pestanear, por parecer tal vez un poco, acartonado..? Y acá estás emanando una vibra que sólo aquel que vive desdibujando la línea entre su social-persona y su ser en esencia puede transmitir. Que sigas tomando decisiones que te lleven a donde estás destinado a ir :) Thank you for bringing authenticity out on this space, for being honest. Cheers man !
as someone whos finishing undergrad and appying to grad school, i see a crazy amount of people at my school who have no idea what they are doing or why they are the major they are. if it wasnt for me ending with a liscense to practice medicine, it wouldnt have been worth the debt for me. love these videos
Growing up, I imagined myself getting the highest degree that I could achieve -- and more than one! I love(d) learning. But during my first week of college, walking from one class to another, it just hit me -- college isn't for everyone. And when most people say this, they're usually talking about "tradesmen" and blue collar workers. I was not one of those kids. But I realized that most of the things I've learned in life, the things I truly valued, I learned outside of school. And so, I finished an associate's degree a semester later (I had credits from high school, so I only needed a few classes), and decided to try and make it in NYC working film/tv. It was definitely the best decision I could have made. Traditional school is for some people and for some degrees. I think there's use in it. But I also think people would get more use out of school if they took a gap year -- or some time off -- before they figured out what they wanted to study. Great video, Nathaniel. I totally related to the film industry part and not going to film school (Also not wanting to be a prisoner to debt!). Thanks for sharing!
Honesly, your content is of such good quality: the message, the storytelling, the editing, the soundtrack, all add up to a highly valuable piece of art here on TH-cam. Always a pleasure to watch your videos ( their quality clearly shows that the decision to become a content creator over choosing to go to college, and all the effort and dedication that it has taken to make things happen are paying off).
Hey I've been watching your channel for some time now and it's been a joy to watch the growth an all the journeys you've embark on so far. Wish you more success moving forward! 👍🏿
It's like the Universe answered. I was questioning my decision to leave uni, even though It's been 8 years. And yeah, it was right for me. Even though there were some cons as well, in the end geting a degree for the sake of the degree seemed wrong and shallow.... Thank you for the timely video 👌🏻
Last September I decided not to go to college to pursue a career in the creative fields, TH-cam included. Against all odds. 😐 My parents were not happy with this decision, and I understand that they want what's the best for me, but still - not having their support in a decision so big was daunting. Not to mention the fact that so many people questioned me and just straight-up discouraged me and tried to prove how bad of a choice I've made... 😟
I now have to pay my own bills, and let me tell you - the beginning is NOT easy at all. But I'm happier than ever. I've always learned things on my own, and I oftentimes felt that school was holding me back. So I decided to take a leap of faith and risk it all for doing something I love.
I just realised, that your video 3 years ago might have been the first domino in my no-college journey. Thanks for making this video, I must create something like it myself 😁
I actually found this channel with the first college video as I wan in my application process. The channel was small enough that I could reach out to Nathaniel and have since gained a lot of respect for him. I love people and ideas that are strong enough to oppose conventional norms. I am now at Dartmouth which has taught me the power of wealth and that there is no place you can go where everyone is a good person. I learned to hate comparison culture & social media as nobody her is necessarily more happy than anywhere else. Live your version of the human experience. Appreciate all that you are blessed with. Amor Fati.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and journey! I went straight into college after graduating from high school when I shouldn’t have, because I was really just there because that’s what society/family wanted for me (I’m also a first gen kid). My grades were bad, I tried different courses to see what I like, even changed schools to try a non-academic program for design, and still, nothing clicked. Afterwards, I took about a year break, not including the terms I took off or terms where I took one or two courses, and I just worked in retail/as a barista, because those were the only kind of jobs I could get.
I stopped working when the pandemic hit so I really spent most of my time at home, kind of doing nothing. I’m not sure what led me to decide to go BACK to school to study psychology, but that happened and since the fall of 2020, I’ve been back in school. I do enjoy what I’m learning, but I also think that I could succeed in a more creative career if I really flung myself and put in all my energy into it. I know I want to finish my degree, but in the meantime, I’m also putting time aside to work on creative projects because part of me feels like I’m in school to avoid the feeling of failure if I put my time into what lays outside of academia, because at LEAST I’ll end up with a Bachelor’s.
Yo sí fui a la universidad en México y ahora que terminé me doy cuenta de lo que realmente pasa en la vida real, y es triste y decepcionante todo lo que dejé de hacer para cumplir con tareas, exámenes y demás cosas universitarias. Ahora me embarco en descubrir realmente qué es lo que quiero y plantearme cómo lo voy a hacer, porque definitivamente pude no ir a la universidad y hacer mejores cosas de provecho. Otro tema importante es el desempleo. Yo sí me creí que teniendo título universitario podría llegar más lejos y pues no, el desempleo y los salarios mal pagados están de terror por acá y es cuándo me siento tonta de no haber aprendido otras cosas más lo que me enseñaron sobre mi carrera. Gracias por tu video, me hizo reflexionar mucho.
I think, it's important to remember, that what works for one person will not necessarily for another. Remember, what works for a handful of people many have failed. I believe in taking risks but mostly calculated one's if it's something that can impact your life!
Bro thank you for sticking through those 4 years your messages have been very inspiring and thought provoking to many people including myself
One of my favorite channels on TH-cam, keep the creativity flowing bro
While I did go to college, after college I vowed never to go back to school. I worked for a couple of years in startups and then realized I wanted to go back and get my master. I've since come to value both paths
Hey Nathaniel, thanks for your therapeutic content.
Just to weigh in, I am from Africa so college isn't an option for someone looking to get employed - meaning you have to have a degree. I studied the health sciences for 3 years, earned a degree but ended up in the business and international organizations sector doing admin work with that degree. I was lucky in that some good people trusted in me and gave me a chance. This is to say that I don't believe in the school system and I wish there was an alternative for students to pursue other things.
Watching your videos of like the past years and now... I'm seeing so much growth!! It's inspiring bro👍🏽
Awesome video, Nathaniel! It's enlightening indeed 💡
I went to college and I can't say I regret it. Most important things college or university gives you are the community, the possibility to learn from the best and the exchange programs.
I didn't go that way abut I wish I did. I guess it would be much more logical to first take some time off (gap year or so) after school to really find out what your passion is, where do you wanna be and what you wanna do. And then with a clear mind and goals you can go study something you know what you need for.
There's an urge we feel to get everything asap, not to waste any time, so we try to do everything at once. So we rush through the school, college not able to realise our calling. Which is more important than anything.
I have been flirting with the idea of taking a gap year for a while now (I'm in grade 12 in Canada) and I hadn't been getting the most support on the idea. But I feel in my gut that it could be beneficial for me, and I think this video has given me even more courage to do so, so thank you.
I also wouldn't mind hearing if anyone has opinions on smaller universities? I was hoping that going to a small University helps students learn real skills and connect with their school more, as opposed to just being another number in the classroom so I would love to hear if anyone has any thoughts on that.
Hey I'm going to take a gap year too I just graduated from senior high school in the Philippines and actually my mother doesn't support me with my decision but still im going to take it because honestly im not ready for college yet and still undecided on what course should i take. I thought i was the only one in this situation but anyway goodluck to you :)
@@giancarlotubal5985 Hey! Goodluck to you as well and good for you for making that decision on your own. I'm wishing you the best for yur gap year! I hope it does for you what you need it to.
One of the biggest and obvious complaints I have with college is the "requirements" of general education for degrees.
I don't give a damn about US history! I want to design games.
such an amazing vid! got me really curious about your experiences in the film industry before your yt channel took off. would love to hear that story if u ever decide to do it!
this video has lit my fire for living! thank you for the inspiration, ND 🙏🏼 also just made some french flash cards as the beginning of my endeavor to learn french on my own inspired by you
I went to college immediately after high school but I took a working gap year between my BSc and MSc, I had part-time and odd jobs all through my undergraduate years, and I graduated from my MSc a year later because I was already working full-time by my second year.
I sometimes joke that I took up college as a part-time hobby while I was working.
As of today (I am almost 39) I'm glad I went to college, at least for the bachelor's (it wasn't an obvious choice because I wasn't a good high school student and I come from a working class family where almost nobody went to high school, let alone to college).
I'm not sure if I really needed my master's degree - Probably not, but that's because my career turned out to be a creative patchwork of different stuff which is still a work in progress today, as I reach my 17th year as a professional.
(I could've gone for a PhD too, in terms of opportunities, but I didn't care)
Having had part-time and full-time jobs while studying, being in touch with what it meant to have a job, made all the difference in the world to me.
It created some distance from having too many expectations about college education, which is important but ultimately, very rarely it's helpful in terms of real-life skills.
I always say to younger people that college is a time and a place to think about what your interests and passions are, but it won't always be that life-defining moment that a lot of us tend to hope about when thinking about college.
My youngest brother recently left college after a year because he had a good job offer.
Lots of people (including my mother) thought that he was squandering an opportunity by leaving college.
I am very happy for him, I wished him good luck and said that he can go back to college whenever he wants, if he ever feels like something's missing.
(I'm not from the US, so I didn't have the additional pressure of being in debt because of college, and this is of course a whole different discussion for those who want to go to college in the US...)
I’m 18, I’ll be finished education in around May and I’m choosing not to go to university, I have a successful business online, 6 figures saved and it is enough to live off + I’ll be able to scale it further with more time. My only worry is the social aspect and never meeting anyone. Maybe I’ll go after my gap year but I don’t see any other benefit than the social side.
At 18?! What’s your online business?
@@mandeep3.14 Media service related - video editing and graphic design mainly
That’s so cool! From your experience, what Video and graphic editing skills are companies looking for because it seems that many companies want to modernize their marketing game
@@DiamondFlame45 most the people/companies I work with didn’t exist or have their brand 10 years ago so they are already pretty modern. Just be modern, create your own style and be good at keeping viewer engagement.
You know, lately I’ve been thinking a bit about my own next decisions. I didn’t feel good doing college this past year after graduation so I jumped. Thanks to my mothers encouragement to try things I left for a discipleship training school through YWAM. So I lived for the first time out of my home city of Spokane Washington for the past 4 months, 3 of which were spent in Texas and now I’ve been in Juarez Mexico for a few weeks for a mission trip! It’s been one of the most incredible experiences ever. I love your message man. I totally agree.
I"m taking a gap year right now, and just applied to a university. If I look back to myself a year ago, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do, or what I wanted to learn or whatever. I took a gap year and I'm goint to the gym regularly and stuff, it's great. And I also like the fact that when I get out of unversity I wont have 100.000 dollars in debt, because where I live university costs 1000 dollars/semester. #europe
I went to college and it was awesome from the social point of view, it also "opens doors" automatically when you are looking for a job. Like, it does not always necessarily make you cleverer, but people assume you are cleverer if you have "XXXXX" degree. Or certain positions only consider hiring you if you have a degree.
On the other hand, I feel like what I have learned professionally came a lot more from my work experience than really from my degree. This of course depends on what you study and what you then work as... So it does not have to apply to everyone :)
But, my degree cost like 1000 Dollar a year cause I lived in Spain. With US prices, I might not have studied at all, but then again, who knows? Maybe it would have been better, you never know!