On college
This post serves as a reminder to myself in a decade or two when it's time to consider college for the kids.
When my fiancé and I were talking about how we chose our college path, we learned that we didn't choose this path for ourselves. She wanted to get into architecture. I, engineering. We were obedient to our families since they were the ones paying for our education.
We are both grateful for the deciding to stay on course despite our interests. Since we now have jobs that can fund our daily needs, some savings, and a few excursions.
When we had encountered friends who were in the fields that we wanted, we mostly heard of immense stress at work with lower pay. Some have already resorted to medication to sustain their lifestyle. (Damn, that could have been us.)
We both have relatives who dropped out of college, due to life's challenges—opportunities for them to get back up (i.e. depression, pregnancies, drug addiction, failed startups, and other distractions). There are those who have careers that are remotely related to their college degrees. Even relatives who have the most prestigious credentials that are unemployed.
Therefore, getting into college and even finishing it does not guarantee 100% success.
So is college an absolute requirement in obtaining a lucrative career?
The answer is no. It's not an absolute requirement.
Unless the career we're discussing requires the corresponding college degree. Jobs like optometry, dentistry, medicine, law, accountancy, engineering, etc.
In other words, I hope they get into college with the mindset of translating their degrees to a lucrative career.
You don't need a degree for business. Because anyone can start a business.
What happens if the kids don't want to go to college immediately after high school?
That's okay, too. One of the main reasons people go to college is to use their degree to get a job. Whether for employment or entrepreneurial.
As long as they're able to find work.
Work in the family business, or another company, or themselves. As long as the experience makes them get good at something. A craft. A video game. A type of (legal) service. Some sort of apprenticeship.
Work that can sustain their needs and desired lifestyle.
However, if that work results to low or no pay after a certain period of time, I will have to encourage them to get into college.
After all, as (future) parents, we owe them the necessary means to navigate life.
Updated: 18 May, 2025
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