(ThyBlackMan.com) When I was growing up, to even think college was not in the cards was an awful thought for most of us, a thought that would make our parents want to have our heads examined. A college education opened the door to career opportunities and allowed our people to take advantage of academic learning that our predecessors had long since fought for. But while that is still true today, does it mean that college is for everybody? Or are we thinking with tunnel vision and limited ourselves and our children by refusing to think outside the box?
Your destination must determine your path. Many of you will need a 4 year college degree or more for certain fields. A doctor, for example, will need 10-12 years of academic education, but you can become an RN with a 2 year associate’s degree. On the other hand, you can become a police officer then a detective without a degree at all. I can recall speaking to a young lady majoring in criminal justice who attended a 4 year expensive college because she wanted to become a homicide detective. Though she could not expect her career adviser to cut the school out of money by giving her an alternative path, I told her college was not necessary for what she needed to do. Tara could have become a police officer without a college degree then set her sites on becoming a detective. College degrees will open doors and get you noticed faster sometimes, but in other cases, experience trumps a college degree.
A very well kept secret 4 year colleges or universities don’t want you to know about is entrepreneurship. Some of the richest and most successful people in this country are not successful because of a 
college education. In fact, some of them could have done what they did without one. This is more common than you might think, but if people knew that, college and university enrollment would severely decline. The way they counter my argument is to say “the people he speaks of are exceptions and there is no guarantee of that“. But to them I say there is no guarantee of anything in life. And to them I also say take a look at how many people with a college degree are either unemployed or in a position where they did not need a degree.
Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard his junior year to start a little company now known as Microsoft. His friends and instructors thought he was crazy, but what do you think they say now? And though you may not make as much as he has, you never know and he is only one example. Walt Disney is another. Sophia Stewart is another. Tyler Perry is another. Hallmark is another and the list goes on. Ron Kenoli is another. Don’t forget Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA. Even Harry Potter was written and created by a lady who was homeless. And Paul Allen who became a billionaire, also dropped out of Washington State University after convincing Bill Gates to start Microsoft.
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You have to understand why businesses select people with a college degree. It’s not just the knowledge or skill set the prospect brings. A college degree shows commitment to something, a track record of disciplined study, consistency and diligence. A college degree shows the ability to finish what you start and that quality is what employers want. But a 4 year degree is not the only way to show that to the employer. A distinguished military career can show that as well. A 2-year associate’s degree can show that. A successful business that you owned for a while can show that too. I have even seen a solid pattern of volunteer work show consistency, diligence and commitment.
College can be expensive and every year millions of students go deep in debt because of their student loans – debts that seem to hang on forever, even years after you have gotten your college degree. Many students do not even end up in the field they majored in. Others come out of college in the hole, not making nearly enough to pay off their school loans. Then there is deferred payment, the pseudo-benefit that delays your loan repayments for years. Sounds good and it may have been designed by well meaning people, but do you really want to only start paying off a debt ten years in the future? If you do, that debt will continue to stick around.
Michael Dell (Net Worth 14 Billion) of Dell Computers dropped out of the University of Texas. He states “As you start your journey, the first thing you should do is throw away that store-bought map and begin to draw your own.”
Today there are many other options besides a 4 year degree. Do I say skip college? Not necessarily. Do I say go to college? Not necessarily. Again it depends on what you want to be or do and what that field requires. If you have a vision or a dream and the passion to pursue it, college may or may not be necessary. YOU must believe in yourself if you want others to be convinced. A college degree is one way, but not the only way – and not necessarily always the best way. There are all types of training programs, licenses and certifications that can be acquired without a 4 year college degree. So whether you want to be a fireman, a police officer, a motivational speaker, a minister/pastor, an entrepreneur, an RN, a mediator, a life coach, a published author, a commentator, a web designer, an independent contractor, an actor or entertainer, a mechanic, a photographer, a business consultant, a real estate agent, a wedding planner, a caterer, a musician, a postman, a plumber, a tennis instructor, a personal trainer, the Sheriff, a city council member, a crime prevention specialist or even in some cases, a judge -there are many, many options open to you, even without a 4 year college degree.
All it takes is doing your research, mapping out a plan or path to your destination, the drive and the passion to make it happen. Just remember, if you want something different, do something different. It has been reported that Ray Kroc was 50 years old when he founded McDonalds so you are never too old to pursue whatever path you choose. Don’t be afraid to think and step outside of the box just as Peter stepped outside of the boat.
Staff Writer; Marque-Anthony