Dear Dorothy,
I am beginning to wonder if education is actually a scam.
I spent years in school, worked hard, passed my exams and eventually got a university degree. I was told that education would open doors and give me a better future.
But now I am struggling to find meaningful work. Some people with degrees are unemployed, while others who did not go to university are doing very well in business and earning more than graduates.
Sometimes I feel as if I wasted years studying when I could have been learning practical skills, starting a business or doing something that would actually make me money.
Was I sold a lie? Is education really worth it anymore?
-Getrude
Dear Getrude,
I understand why you feel disappointed. Many people were raised with the belief that the formula was simple: go to school, get good grades, earn a degree and get a good job.
Unfortunately, life does not always follow that formula.
But I would not call education a scam.
The problem is that we sometimes confuse education with employment.
Education can give you knowledge, discipline, exposure, critical thinking skills and qualifications. What it cannot guarantee is a job, wealth or a particular lifestyle.
A degree is not a magic ticket.
At the same time, having a degree does not mean you have failed simply because you have not yet found the career you want. The world of work has changed. Employers increasingly look at what you can actually do, not just what certificate you have.
That means your education may need to be combined with practical skills.
Learn how to communicate. Learn technology. Build something. Take internships. Develop professional relationships. Start that small business if you have a viable idea. Learn skills that people are willing to pay for.
And do not compare your journey with someone else’s.
The person who did not attend university but built a successful business did not necessarily prove that education is useless. They simply took a different route. Likewise, someone with several degrees is not automatically more successful than someone with none.
Education is a tool. It is not the destination.
If your degree has not taken you where you expected, it may be time to ask a different question.
Instead of asking, “Was my education a waste?”, ask, “How can I use what I have learnt to create the future I want?”
You may discover that those years were not wasted after all. They simply gave you a foundation. What you build on that foundation is now up to you.
Do not throw away your education. Put it to work.
Dorothy