by Josiah King

Created on: May 23, 2008   Last Updated: June 12, 2008

Well there is no cut and dry simple answer to this really. You see, it depends on the job as to how much the college degree matters. I have friends who are on both sides of this issue.

On one hand take the story of my good friend ,A.(I will not be mentioning actual names or initials to protect privacy.) He never did any college, but yet he runs the offices of an oil company here in Texas and brings in an income in the six-figure range. He is a brilliant man, but yet has no college degree. He enjoys skiing, and traveling with his wife, and hanging with friends. He is able to enjoy many of the luxuries that most people hope their degrees will bring them, and all without a college degree of any kind.

Then, we look at the story of my friend, B. Who is presently in college at SMU, or Southern Methodist University, and is studying to become an attorney. He has thus far racked up a student loan debt of nearly $80,000 to pay for his college, and has developed some ulcers along the way from all the stress. But, if he lands a job at a respectable firm he will make that back plus in no time.

See, it is my personal belief that not everyone needs to go to college, and it is really a matter of determining whether or not the technical knowledge you get will make as much difference in the career you want to pursue.

That being said, there is one thing I notice about the two stories I mentioned above. And that is this: A, has no college degree, makes lots of money, and has minimal stresses in his life, and is able to enjoy his life more. While B, though working hard to get to a place of making hopefully lots of money, is under lots of stress, and is not able to enjoy his life right now. But the emphasis I am pointing to is not the money, though it is a useful tool, but the quality of life.

It is my firm belief, that it is far better for one to work at something they love doing and have a heart for, even if it means less money. As opposed to doing something you dislike or even hate, and get paid boat loads of money for it.

I guess what I am boiling it all down to is this one simple fact: In life there are priorities to all things, and high up on the list ought to be an enjoyment of life. See money come and money goes, just like one's life. But, here's the big difference, you can get more money, but you only get one life.

With that, the better way to look at the question of whether a college degree will pay off or not is this: Will my pursuit of this college degree enhance my enjoyment of life, both now and later, or, will it decrease my enjoyment of life?

Just the thoughts of one writer who is fortunate enough to see both sides of the coin. Take that for what its worth.

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