I started classes last night. I think Sociology will be easy if I merely go to class. Anatomy and Physiology, on the other hand, is going to try real hard to kick my ass. The professor speaks 90-to-nothing and presents a lot of material. But, I think I lucked out because she seems to be good at giving relevant examples and keeping my attention. She sounds a bit like Ellen Degeneres though. I wonder where she’s from?
What is it about higher education that makes people think it’s the be-all end-all of life? Once someone finds out I don’t have a degree, they lose all respect for any other accomplishment in my life. Without that piece of paper, society doesn’t seem to think anything else matters.
It’s pissed me off several times. Especially at 19, when I was told I couldn’t advance anymore for YEARS. The next stop for me was management, and the youngest manager was 33. That’s death for a Gemini! To stay in the SAME job for THAT long? They should have just put me out of my misery. I’ve also interviewed for jobs where the competition has a degree but no experience. When asked about my lack thereof, I’ve merely said that just because someone can memorize facts doesn’t mean they can apply them in practical situations. I guess I’m a better sales person than I thought, because I always get the job.
Hopefully I can stay motivated this semester. I suck at self-discipline. Anybody know a good way to make you do something that isn’t always appealing? I’ve tried bribing myself, but it just doesn’t work. The little gremlin says, “But I don’t want to go!” and it’s a fairly persuasive voice.
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I agree with the degree vs experience thing. I’m at the other end. I’m full of information about everything, but have no experience applying it. Not even work related, just life. Friends call it a “unique viewpoint”, I call it lacking a life.
Here’s a good motivator. If you don’t go to class, you’ll end up like me! Bitter and jobless.
Comment by maskedfencer — January 19, 2005 @ 10:09 am
I agree with the degree/experience thing too. It sucks how people with no degree are viewed as less smart or able. That doesn’t mean a thing. College is a must for some careers, but not all.
Comment by transientmind — January 19, 2005 @ 10:35 am
I don’t have much since I’m in the same boat right now. I did finish college but since I am also very undisciplined it was a colossal effort, took many years….
Do you like what you’re going to school for? Do you have a sincere interest in it?
Comment by xanderschild — January 19, 2005 @ 11:54 am
In the ideal world, a college degree will give you an introduction to a wide variety of situations and thought-processes, which you would hopefully be able to apply to other situations in the commercial world; especially true in the sciences.
That’s why businesses look for a college degree, it has reasonable utility as a screening tool as far as who is going to be a good employee, and who isn’t.
Of course, exceptional individuals don’t need college, and get screwed. But don’t expect businesses to be able to detect exceptional individuals at the entry-level. That’s just not what they do.
Comment by wang1961 — January 19, 2005 @ 12:29 pm
Sociology was one of the more interesting classes I took. My suggestion is to savor it. Hopefully you have a good instructor. You won’t agree with everything (or at least, I didn’t) but it’s extremely interesting and presents new ways of looking at things (at least it did for meeee).
As far as why that piece of paper matters so much? One reason is it’s common. Another reason is many people seem to consciously stop trying to learn once they’re ‘done with school’ (college grads being no exception). The main reason (IMO) is it just provides another way to weed through applicants in many professions, since there are more people applying than positions available especially as you move up the chain. =\
The last reason being the most asinine.
Comment by marian333 — January 19, 2005 @ 1:28 pm
pssst. Don’t tell anyone but I don’t have my degree either
Comment by grizzilla — January 19, 2005 @ 5:16 pm
I would only suggest that college is what you make of it. Some people most certainly will go through it and just memorize the facts, as you said, and there are just a few degrees that actually provide skills that can be used in a real job. But, some people take a lot more from college than just a piece of paper and some forgotten facts. It can be a life changing experience, and at the right school, there are so many opportunities: academic, social, leadership, teaching, interacting, etc etc. If you’re lucky, you find a really stellar professor or a subject that just really rings your bell and you may discover a new hobby or interest in the process.
Comment by droppy21 — January 19, 2005 @ 10:39 pm
There are days I wish I were jobless…until I want to go shopping
Comment by jaxia — January 20, 2005 @ 9:41 am
I changed majors, so yes, I am very interested in it. The problem is I am just working on basics right now. If you have any tips on how to get through it, I’m listening (or reading, as the case may be…)!
Comment by jaxia — January 20, 2005 @ 9:42 am
You are right, but that doesn’t make me feel any better.
Heh.
Comment by jaxia — January 20, 2005 @ 9:43 am
I think sociology is interesting, but the teacher just likes to hear himself speak. He even told us the first day that in all his evals, his students say he talks too much. He said, “But this is a lecture class, so I’m going to lecture.” I hope the material is engaging enough that his monotony doesn’t ruin it.
*sigh*
Comment by jaxia — January 20, 2005 @ 9:46 am
You don’t? I didn’t know that. If I had wanted to stay with MS, I’d have needed to move to Redmond though (more opportunity). I really was told I wasn’t going anywhere for a few years. Bleh.
Comment by jaxia — January 20, 2005 @ 9:47 am
That’s a good way to look at it. At 26 though, I must admit I am jaded towards school. I’ve never been a good student. Don’t get me wrong, I get good grades, I am just not good at paying attention, studying and taking notes. It’s that ADHD, I guess.
I’ll try to stay open minded - thanks for the new perspective
Comment by jaxia — January 20, 2005 @ 9:50 am
I get frustrated sometimes at the way management chooses to “motivate” their employees. I amnot an expert, but I would think that telling somoen that they have no opportunity for advancement for a few years is not a good way to get them fired up.
Comment by grizzilla — January 20, 2005 @ 11:32 am
I just grinned and bared it once I really got serious about it…because I finally resigned to the fact that I had NO OTHER CHOICE. I had to take the basics to get to the good stuff…and the good stuff was worth the basics and the hell.
However, see if there are some basic courses that you can take that are of some interest to you now. For instance, I needed a Science course and I’m horrible with it so I wound up taking Astronomy (which many people argue really isn’t science…). I don’t know just a thought (and an example).
Comment by xanderschild — January 20, 2005 @ 7:32 pm