This is a good post. Uni is not for everyone, however you can get a lot more out of it than just the technical knowledge and piece of paper.
Poll: What's your annual household income from your day job only?
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This is a good post. Uni is not for everyone, however you can get a lot more out of it than just the technical knowledge and piece of paper.
This may be comparatively true when considering $ in isolation. Personally, I have a range of 'pieces of paper' from Trade Apprenticeship completion through to a Bachelor of Engineering and later this year, onto a Masters of Science in Engineering... I have been asked by a few friends why I bother, when we know that this course of study & career development is not the biggest $ spinner.
Well, my life does not revolve around $. If $ was my primary motivator to get out of bed in the morning, I would be living a dismal existence IMHO. Sure, we all require $ to enjoy certain aspects in life, but some things $ just can't buy! A billion $ won't cure cancer.... Scientists will! I implore people to be thankful for the 'professionals' who dedicate their lives to pursuing such endeavours so that WE can enjoy a better quality of life.
Don't take it for granted if you didn't achieve it! Be thankful and humble...
People with degrees are no less dismal that people with degrees! Have you ever seen a happy academic?
I agree there is a place but its not the be all and end all!
I agree there is a place but its not the be all and end all!
Agreed.
University is a lot more than just a piece of paper. It takes drive, energy, effort, intellect, passion, sacrifice, time and money to complete a degree. They're not easy! For someone to dismiss this out of hand as just a piece of paper is naiive, derogatory and insecure. It takes years of disciplined hard work to achieve a University education and in doing so genuinely builds a very strong skill set along the way both professional and technical.
I commend anyone who has the commitment and sacrifice to do the hard work required to achieve their degree. Just like I commend anyone who has the discipline and hard work to achieve results in other fields of endeavour.
To dismiss education out of hand is very shortminded. We're only on this rock for a fixed period of time. Seeking to develop your mind and capabilities to their maximum potential should not be considered a failing, quite the opposite. I'm done studying for now having finished my MBA and being awarded the University Medal. But at some point I will no doubt return to school, probably in an unrelated discipline, maybe philosophy or economics or a mix of both.
You don't need a degree to be wealthy but I disagree wholeheartedly with those that argue a degree is an impedement to wealth.
When I hear someone say a degree is just a piece of paper I immediately get a mental image of some obese person sitting in front of the Olympics watching the mens 100m final and saying: "yeah, they're OK. I could do that if I wanted to but I decided I could spend my time better elsewhere". Yeah right. Don't criticize what you haven't achieved yourself. If you've got a degree then you've got the insight required to make informed criticism. Armchair observers have no cred. I don't care how good you think you are.
Cheers,
Michael
Michale kudos for pro education side. I agree in the main.
I dont think a degree is just a piece of paper. It does take commitment and inginuity and all those things - but so do other activities!
Its about perspective. Why is a degree seen as a higher achievement than say growing a business, becoming a church leader or making lots of money?
All are worthwhile (or not worthwhile in equal droves)! IMO opinion anyway.
75 percent of the people I know say they do not use most of the skills they were tought at school. Many many people lament that University was primarily about the certificate at the end of it. that is the cynical reality. Most of my lecturers were terrible!
Why is algebra or English literature more important than say 'the cashflow game' in everyday life?
I agree that a degree is NOT an impediment to wealth. having said that though many doctors and lawyers have no financial sence and believe that a high wage is the road to wealth.
How many doctors and lawyers contribute to this website? Maybe they are too busy...
I dont think a degree is just a piece of paper. It does take commitment and inginuity and all those things - but so do other activities!
Its about perspective. Why is a degree seen as a higher achievement than say growing a business, becoming a church leader or making lots of money?
All are worthwhile (or not worthwhile in equal droves)! IMO opinion anyway.
75 percent of the people I know say they do not use most of the skills they were tought at school. Many many people lament that University was primarily about the certificate at the end of it. that is the cynical reality. Most of my lecturers were terrible!
Why is algebra or English literature more important than say 'the cashflow game' in everyday life?
I agree that a degree is NOT an impediment to wealth. having said that though many doctors and lawyers have no financial sence and believe that a high wage is the road to wealth.
How many doctors and lawyers contribute to this website? Maybe they are too busy...
Or too rich!
Agreed.
University is a lot more than just a piece of paper. It takes drive, energy, effort, intellect, passion, sacrifice, time and money to complete a degree. They're not easy! For someone to dismiss this out of hand as just a piece of paper is naiive, derogatory and insecure. It takes years of disciplined hard work to achieve a University education and in doing so genuinely builds a very strong skill set along the way both professional and technical.
I commend anyone who has the commitment and sacrifice to do the hard work required to achieve their degree. Just like I commend anyone who has the discipline and hard work to achieve results in other fields of endeavour.
To dismiss education out of hand is very shortminded. We're only on this rock for a fixed period of time. Seeking to develop your mind and capabilities to their maximum potential should not be considered a failing, quite the opposite. I'm done studying for now having finished my MBA and being awarded the University Medal. But at some point I will no doubt return to school, probably in an unrelated discipline, maybe philosophy or economics or a mix of both.
You don't need a degree to be wealthy but I disagree wholeheartedly with those that argue a degree is an impedement to wealth.
When I hear someone say a degree is just a piece of paper I immediately get a mental image of some obese person sitting in front of the Olympics watching the mens 100m final and saying: "yeah, they're OK. I could do that if I wanted to but I decided I could spend my time better elsewhere". Yeah right. Don't criticize what you haven't achieved yourself. If you've got a degree then you've got the insight required to make informed criticism. Armchair observers have no cred. I don't care how good you think you are.
Cheers,
Michael
Michael - awesome post. I look back at my time at Uni and although I don't use all the tools I was tested for over the years, Uni did teach me how to deal with vast amount of data, analysis and problem solving, and, in the main, perseverance. It's not easy getting that piece of paper, especially through engineering disciplines. I would not be earning multiples of the average salary if it was not for my 4 years sacrifice at university..
From my latest issue of Time magazine, an interesting article, (obviously referring to USA), but still interesting, bit of food for thought as ever:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1967580,00.html?xid=rss-topstories
Excerpt only:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1967580,00.html?xid=rss-topstories
Excerpt only:
Agreed.
University is a lot more than just a piece of paper. It takes drive, energy, effort, intellect, passion, sacrifice, time and money to complete a degree. They're not easy! For someone to dismiss this out of hand as just a piece of paper is naiive, derogatory and insecure. It takes years of disciplined hard work to achieve a University education and in doing so genuinely builds a very strong skill set along the way both professional and technical.
I commend anyone who has the commitment and sacrifice to do the hard work required to achieve their degree. Just like I commend anyone who has the discipline and hard work to achieve results in other fields of endeavour.
To dismiss education out of hand is very shortminded. We're only on this rock for a fixed period of time. Seeking to develop your mind and capabilities to their maximum potential should not be considered a failing, quite the opposite. I'm done studying for now having finished my MBA and being awarded the University Medal. But at some point I will no doubt return to school, probably in an unrelated discipline, maybe philosophy or economics or a mix of both.
You don't need a degree to be wealthy but I disagree wholeheartedly with those that argue a degree is an impedement to wealth.
When I hear someone say a degree is just a piece of paper I immediately get a mental image of some obese person sitting in front of the Olympics watching the mens 100m final and saying: "yeah, they're OK. I could do that if I wanted to but I decided I could spend my time better elsewhere". Yeah right. Don't criticize what you haven't achieved yourself. If you've got a degree then you've got the insight required to make informed criticism. Armchair observers have no cred. I don't care how good you think you are.
Cheers,
Michael
Kudos to you Michael... great post!
I personally don't view my qualifications as merely 'pieces of paper' and use the term tongue in cheek on occasion. The education knockers are in indeed shortsighted IMO as they still need and USE Doctors, Lawyers, Pilots, Engineers, CPAs, Dentists, Vets, Policemen and more everyday! If it is so easy, why don't they do it all themselves?
IMO, the world need a balance of those that make the commitment to professional studies and those that don't.
