I'm one of the few not attending college in my Odyssey community. My entire generation has it engraved into their heads that you need to go to college. Everyone from teachers to grandparents expects us to go to college right after we graduate from high school.
I'm here to tell you why I am perfectly happy not getting my degree and you could be too.
1. No student loan debt!
I honestly can't stress this enough. See what I did there. STRESS! Over 18.1% of American adults suffer from stress and anxiety! Student loan debt can take decades to pay off, that's a lot of stress. No thank you!
2. Jobs are everywhere.
There are so many jobs available right now that you could find one for almost any situation. Find something that works for you and master it. You could learn construction or become a sales master. The possibilities are endless. You know what they can't teach you on college, people skills! Be nice!
3. You can make money ASAP.
The world is sadly run by the power of the dollar. While you are sitting in a classroom all day, you make nothing. You're limiting yourself right out of the gate. Getting a job helps pay the bills but also gives you such a great sense of accomplishment. I see all the work I do 5 days a week and when that paycheck is deposited into my account, it truly is a great feeling of accomplishment.
4. No more textbooks!
For me, school was always a burden and chore. I hated every single minute of it. Do you want to know what I didn't learn in school? People skills, how to do my taxes, and how to save money. Because spoiler alert; in high school I was broke. Working part-time after school barely put enough gas in my car to actually get to school!
5. Working is not that bad.
I work five days a week, Monday through Friday. It's just like when I went to school, but I get paid to be there. I enjoy the job I have. Is it what I envisioned for myself for the future? No, but if I continue to play my cards right I could turn it into a great career.
6. I enjoy life!
Five days a week of work feels like a lot trust me. But when I clock out at the end of the day, I am done. I don't have to worry about homework or what my grades are. I don't have to take my work home with me like I would if I was in college. I get to enjoy my life and that is all I could ever want.
College is great, don't get me wrong. If you want to be a doctor, a lawyer, a scientist, or an astronaut please go to college. But that was never my dream. I didn't know what I wanted to do but the right situation came along and I couldn't be happier. I'm not here to tell you to not go to college, but don't go just because someone else said you should. At that point is it really even your life anymore?
