<p>John Grisham has just published an opinion piece in the NY Times about his work experience before college. It is terrific. I’m going to have my soon to be freshman son read this piece. Any kid headed to college is blessed. Any kid already in college is blessed. I want to make sure my guy knows this – and doesn’t blow it. “Son, you, too, could be selling men’s underwear. Get to class and get some sleep or this could be you.” </p>
<p>I find it droll that Grisham learned what one of my uncles learned: college is a LOT nicer than working on an asphalt crew. </p>
<p>Gosh I don’t know. I caddied the summers before college and I thought it was really fun and I made good money. I legit “worked” about four hours a day, spent the rest reading, watching TV, playing basketball, etc. When it came down to it, work consisted of a 4 hour stroll through parkland, interrupted by cleaning clubs/balls and giving yardages. </p>
<p>This past summer I was a camp counselor, and I had one of the best times of my life. I was getting paid to do things that parents had to pay thousands of dollars for. </p>
<p>Both jobs didn’t really require college. And jobs I could see myself thoroughly enjoying (things like park ranger, actor, etc.) don’t require a college degree either really. Nor did Grisham’s eventual job; as far as I can tell he probably didn’t focus on writing in college much, although the law degree probably helped his writing a bit (so Olymom, this may not be the best article if your son is shrewd enough to catch this). If anything this article I think is more about finding your true passion, not just taking a job because it pays well or because the employers like you or whatever. Some people’s true passions may even be hindered by college. </p>
<p>My friends who had academic internships and the like complained of work all the time, although some intrinsically enjoyed their experiences. </p>
<p>Senior0991, try living on the wages you earned at these jobs that you’ve held that don’t require a college degree. The money won’t stretch very far if you have to pay rent & all your other expenses & aren’t being bankrolled by the bank of mom & dad. The summer jobs I had, I also enjoyed but know I could NOT have lived on the wages I earned, though they were above minimum and considered pretty good for my years and experience.</p>
<p>We have a friends who have twins. Each went to different universities with significant merit awards. One is scheduled to graduate in 4 years with a degree in engineering. The other has lost his merit award due to too much partying & is selling pre-owned cars; would eventually like to return to college. True story!</p>
<p>Back in the day, we had people who worked in the pineapple cannery. It made them very interested in doing well to further their education & do other work. By the time I was old enough to work, getting jobs there was a lot more competitive–fewer jobs. I worked as a summer recreational leader. I had no illusions that the wages I earned would go very far to pay my bills–saved it all toward college. I also worked as a babysitter, salesclerk, switchboard operator, and one year as a clerical assistant (convinced me I would be awful as office help–this was before word processors & computers).</p>
<p>I worked in a factory one summer during college. There were 3 other college girls in my department and we spent every break together swearing we were NEVER dropping out of school. We all got our degrees.</p>
Yeah those jobs won’t get me very far, although both provided free room and board for those who needed it. But there are other, more financially stable jobs, that do not require a college degree. </p>
<p>As a fairly smart student, who could go to a great college if I wanted to (well I actually am at one), I have the feeling that I could be successful in this world without college. If I dropped out of college, I would not end up as a janitor or factory worker I’d think, but something better (more enjoyable and lucrative) if I put my mind to it. But maybe I’m just overconfident and naiive.</p>
<p>There are many great folks who manage to overcome great odds and achieve wonderful things without college degrees. Having a degree is no GUARANTEE that you will succeed, but it does open doors and expose you to some ideas and people you may not have met otherwise. It is also helpful to many in getting jobs that are otherwise MUCH harder to access, especially in a challenging economy.</p>
<p>When push comes to shove and two candidates are equal in many respects, sometimes having the degree or advanced degree will give the tip to that candidate over the other. There are many organizations (including our state government) that REQUIRE you to have a degree before you will be considered for many jobs–some jobs require you to have an advanced degree to be a successful job applicant.</p>
<p>One of my hubby’s former neighbors did not go to college but has started and runs a successful landscaping business. He says he hires many college grads & kids who graduated from elite private HSs (he is a public school grad himself). He’s happy and doing well with his business. I am sure there are many like him doing all sorts of things. Another friend who dropped out of college took a job 3.5 decades ago as an assistant manager at McDonalds. To my knowledge he’s still there & still locked in at that position that he can’t advance above until & unless he gets a college degree. There are unfortunately many like him as well.</p>
<p>For me, the point of the article is ALL of the experiences Grisham had brought him to his fulfilling and eventually lucrative career as a writer. Someone else at a construction job might have discovered his passion for trucks, tractors or earth moving equipment.</p>
<p>Not arguing the merits of college just that there are many ways to realize what you are passionate about. It’s about the journey.</p>
<p>Slightly off topic: I recently saw a lecture by Dan Gilbert on TED (can’t post it, but it is worth googling) where he describes the ability of the human brain to create “synthetic happiness” even in what most would perceive as the most harrowing circumstances. According to this concept humans have the ability to be truly happy in any set of circumstances and having many options does not increase happiness. Makes me think…</p>
<p>^Yes, that lecture seems to continue (and likely add to) a very-long debate. Quoting Mill (I think): “It is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.” Of course this is open to much deliberation. One might counter that the most satisfying life is filled with eating, sleeping, and mating. </p>
<p>The college graduate may lose out on a lot of sleep, may be pained by desires for potential other career paths that he is not taking, may be a lot more dissatisfied with all the visible problems in this world.</p>
<p>My D worked on an assembly line this summer working midnights. She was grateful to have a job, work 40 hours a week and to be able to go back to college in the fall.</p>
<p>She was one maybe 2 kids working there who was going to college. The rest were trying to obtain a permanent position at the factory.</p>
<p>I worked in a bunch of jobs in middle-school and high-school and had a variety of interesting experiences. I went to college for a year and was hired out to do programming full-time. It paid well enough for me to live on my own. Finally finished my undergrad ten years later and my graduate degree four years after that. Back then a lot of programmers didn’t have undergraduate degrees but it clearly held them back for promotions, transfers or while looking for jobs in other companies.</p>
<p>Our son has had his tutoring job and is in his third year of it now. He gets a lot out of it and gets a fair amount of socializing with students that he wouldn’t necessarily run into otherwise. He’s had academic internships too which were intellectually interesting. He well understands how hard it is to make a buck these days from watching me.</p>
<p>I worked as a waiter at a swank hotel before college. I made more than I did even ten years after graduate school. Had I stayed with it for maybe five more years, I would have either have been the captain of the dining room, the maitre’d, or in 10 years, the hotel’s VP - in any of these jobs, I would make more money than I do today.</p>
<p>The job I currently have requires a Ph.D. in epidemiological statistics, or an MPH plus 90 credits in the same. I haven’t taken a math course since high school. Go figure.</p>