What Is Education Now?

Needless to say, the world has changed and education is not what it used to be. Ten years ago education was highly sought after while twenty years ago education was a privilege and was valued in every walk of life. The farther back you look the more valuable any degree in any area of study is. Now what is it? What is a degree really? A Masters is still impressive and a being a doctor is still being a doctor. But really, what about just a degree? Let alone throwing the word 'minor' around that really means nothing, your faculty wont even recognize a minor, you just put it on your resume and call it quits.

Get a degree in what? Psychology? Kinesiology? History? Math? (well math is still impressive) English?!? The fact is you set a goal for yourself because you want a career in the end. Right? But people change.. you study your subject for two years maybe three and then what? You decided you don't like it anymore and switch to another subject to start fresh and waste more money?

Ok, so you decide you want a degree in english and become an english teacher. You work hard, get the degree, get your PDP and become a teacher. One of three things happen, the love for your job is only equalled by the love for the children you teach and live happily ever after. You realize you love the subject but hate the children hate teaching them and you feel like a glorified babysitter. Or you just look and look and try and try never to find a full-time teaching position because you don't know someone higher up.

Well face the facts the average person changes jobs about 10 times between the ages 18 and 38. So what does that English degree mean to a construction worker of 10 years? Well hell, he can write rings around his co-workers with no grammatical errors!

I'm not writing this opinionated piece to discourage anyone, whether you wish you had done more school in the past its really never too late. If you are in school right now with more uncertainty than the meaning of life. Or if your a high-school student looking towards a higher education. Life is about experiences and I really believe its what you make of it. An employer will look for the person with practical experience rather than the textbook whiz kid straight from _____ university. The only reason this is true is because at the end of the day they still have to spend money to train the kid where the young up and comer already knows the ropes.

Don't get me wrong, don't everyone start dropping out of University now. A degree these days is equivalent to you getting that speed boost in mario kart at the start of the race it could mean nothing or it could put you out in first place in which you never leave.

Why am I still in University? Not only am I immensely interested in my subject but I would never give up the experience that I have gained in going. Sure I can't write 'I've grown as my own person' on a resume but learning different subjects, meeting different people and having intelligent conversations have had an immense impact on who I am today. 

The most valuable tool you can have in this world today (I think) is an open mind.