College

People often ask me, "Where do you want to go to college?" or "What are you going to major in when you get to college?" like it's something I am expected to do. Like I am supposed to fit the cookie-cutter kind of mold for life that goes like this.

Be born.

Grow up.

Finish high school.

Go to college.

Get married.

Get a job.

Retire.

Die.

I'm sorry, what? Did someone mention college? Hold on. I am 15 years old. I barely have tomorrow planned, not to mention the next 10 years of my life. I haven't decided whether or not I am going to college yet so figuring out which school and what major is nearly impossible. And why does most of society seem to think that I will go to college just because it's the thing to do? In case you haven't noticed from reading this blog, I'm not the type of person that does something just because it's the thing to do. If I decide to go to college, that's great. If I don't, that's great too, just don't force your idea of how life ought to be on me please, society. Thank you. Now, I'm done with my ranting part. Let me show you the intelligent part of this post.

I hear ALL THE TIME. 

You have to go to college so that you can get a good job.

You have to go to college so that you can be influential in the world.

You have to go to college if nothing else just for the experience.

You have to go to college because that's where you get the best learning.

You have to go to college.

You have to go to college.

You have to go to college.

Over and over and over again I hear these things. Here's the deal.

We'll do this in order of the "You have to"s

You have to go to college so that you can get a good job.

*Sound of crickets chirping*

You've all heard the arguments for and against this one, so I won't bore you with them again.

I'll just name three people and be done with it. If you don't get what I'm trying to say, go research who these people are, and what they've done with their lives without a college education.

Steve Jobs

Larry H. Miller

Bill Gates

You have to go to college so that you can be influential in the world.

*More crickets*

Ok, maybe this one doesn't deserve crickets. I don't know. I think it does. Here's the deal.

Glenn Beck

Rush Limbaugh

Mother Teresa

And, according to this article, 27 senators and 1 house member. I don't know how up to date that is, but the point is made.

The names named in the good job section apply here as well.

Nothing else needs to be said.

You have to go to college if nothing else just for the experience.

Okay, I'll grant society the fact that it's hard to have the experiences one would have at college anywhere else, but are those experiences that I really need to be successful? I haven't been to college, but I don't think they would be. Other than the learning, from what I can gather it sounds like just a lot of social experience. That's fun and all, but not necessary to be successful. Maybe if one were to get married at college that would be a major plus, but one can get married anywhere else besides college, therefore invalidating the point in favor of college.

You have to go to college because that's where you get the best learning.

Oh please. The fact that you're reading this right now means that you have access to more information than any one college ever has in the history of the world. Use it.

So, in conclusion, college is optional for success. Hard work is the other option. And when I get to the point where I have to decide between the two, I will. For now, let me focus on today please. :)

That's all I've got for now. 

Have a wonderful day. :)