(03-27-2021, 05:43 AM)The Real Marty Wrote:

(03-27-2021, 01:29 AM)americus 2.0 Wrote: What made you decide to get the history degree in the first place? 

A liberal friend once told me people don't go to college for the education or to learn/earn a career but for the experience. Seriously? I'm pretty sure all of those nurses, teachers, doctors, lawyers, accountants and engineers would disagree.

The first time I went to college I was just putting one foot in front of the other, going to college because I was supposed to, and because it was easier than getting a job.  That was Indiana University.  I changed my major 5 or 6 times, and finally realized I enjoyed history and that majoring in history would involve the least amount of work.  

I got out with my history degree and drifted from one job to another.   I painted the bathroom stalls at Ribault High School, I swept the floors at the Simmons mattress factory, I managed a gas station/convenience store from 10PM to 6AM, and I managed a warehouse for a small company that sold theater supplies.  I worked as a security guard.  I got my real estate license and completely failed at that. 

That's what my history degree got me- enjoyment of history.  Also, as in any liberal arts program, a basic knowledge of philosophy, psychology, anthropology, sociology, political science, astronomy, film studies, economics, art history, etc.  But no money.  

When I was 27 I woke up and realized I was going nowhere and that's when I went back and got my accounting degree at UNF.  

What your liberal friend told you is true for some college students, but not all of them.  IU was a typical college campus, with all the fraternities and sororities, all sorts of clubs and activities, college sports, all of that.  UNF was totally different.  At that time, there were only juniors and seniors.   The average age of the students was 27, while the average age of the professors was 26.  The students, having some life experience, were very motivated.

I took a totally different path.  High school bored me and I couldn't wait to graduate.  As a young man I "knew a lot of things, but was a master at none".  I went to the police academy at 19 and became a deputy sheriff.  I did it for 4 years and during that time I saw fellow officers take their own life because of the stress involved, and I got sick and tired of seeing the things that I saw weekly and almost daily.

I made a switch and joined the Navy at 23 years old just to "get away" and perhaps find my way.  I learned about electronics and computers, learned about leadership, honor and love of country.  I took that experience and education and applied it after my time in the service.

I've held jobs as an "electronics engineer" and a "software engineer" over a period of about 20 years or so.  I don't have a degree, yet I have had to train people coming out of college with EE and/or CE degrees.

Today I am a manager making a pretty good salary looking at retirement well before the typical "retirement age".

The misguided advice given to kids that they "need to go to college" needs to be stopped and changed.  The idea of "forgiving student loans" also needs to go away.  I as well as millions of other people paid for my education.

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