“So, are you going to college?”
It’s a question I get asked quite a bit. My answer:
“No, I don’t think so.”
Awkward pause. Sometimes I wonder why people ask “are you going” without a “where” or “when” in front of it.
Nope, I’m not going to college. Before I get too far into this, let me say that I don’t necessarily think that all of the college system is a waste of time and money. It’s not — there are fields and professions that require college. What I do think, however, is that college isn’t for everyone.
I get the feeling that our culture expects every high-school graduate to go to a college by default. It’s just expected. But is it necessary?
Here are some reasons people give supporting the notion that every young person should go to college:
1. The biggest thing about it is learning how to learn.
2. There are numerous opportunities to get out into the world and socialize.
3. Young people often find what they want to do in life at college.
4. Young people also find who they’re going to marry at college.
5. Having a college degree will allow one to get a good job.
Here are my counter-reasons, answering in the respective order:
1. If a person goes to college to learn how to learn, they haven’t been paying attention for the last 18 years of their life.
2. Exactly what I don’t want to do: spending a lot of time with people who are going to be shaping my mind in a way contrary to my beliefs. Some people think homeschoolers don’t know how to socialize in groups larger than three or four. Meh!
Figure A. A bunch of anti-social homeschoolers.
3. Yep, sounds like a great reason to me! Go to college, switch majors three times, then work a job that has nothing to do with any of them for the rest of my life.
4. While this is true, I don’t see the point in going to college solely to help a young lady get her MRS. degree…
5. While also true, this point isn’t true in every case. Good character, integrity, and a work ethic will go a long way for fields that don’t absolutely require specialized education.
And again, I realize that some people really should go to college (brain surgeons, for instance). I’m not one of them. Here’s why:
• I don’t feel that the Lord is leading me to go to school.
• I’m getting into the field of video production. This means I would either need to go to a school that offers education in that, or go to a film school.
I would spend four years working on student projects and learning from the professors who teach all the videographers that end up making low-quality local TV stuff. That would be four years of getting simulated experience, rather than working in the field. What’s more, I would have the distinct privilege of paying big bucks to do so!
• Film school, and college in general, is a place where too much indoctrination takes place. I don’t want to be subjected to that. And believe me, with all the weird beliefs that float around in the secular film world, you wouldn’t want to either.
In short, I don’t feel that it’s worth it to go to college. That doesn’t mean I think I don’t need to learn anything else; quite the opposite! If I need to take classes for anything, I would much prefer distance learning over the physical classroom. There are other, better, less expensive (in more than one sense) ways to learn without using the conventional method.
That’s it in a nutshell: why I’m not going to college.
This entry was posted by chadstembridge on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 at 9:00 am and is categorized under All and tagged as college, film school, learning. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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very interesting perspectives Chad. It sounds a lot like the journey I was on when I decided to quit a “Christian” college, take time off of school and eventually go to a tech school. I ended up with a 2-year degree that would get me a job in the residential home building field, but promptly joined campus crusade staff and worked with them for five years, upon quitting I taught English for two years, and now I work for Lukas Media.
That brings us to today. I’m in my early 30s, live in Turkey, I have 2 kids, I work in a “normal” job I like which allows me to work from anywhere in the world… and I’m spending precious evenings and weekends “finishing up” an online 4-year degree in business administration through a state university in my home state. Why?
because I know there are doors that I can never knock on if I don’t have that piece of paper, most specifically overseas. Without getting into details, it’s almost impossible for me to get a permit to work legally here in Turkey if I don’t have a 4-year degree. If I did have that degree, I’m pretty sure I’d still be working the same job I have now, I’d just have a lot of other options IF I had that 4-year degree.
I can totally understand why you’d see film school as way too expensive and toxic to your faith. I’d suggest looking into online courses through state schools (cheap)in business degrees (practical in every field.) The things I’m learning (advertising, operations management, accounting, sales, finance, etc) are literally relevant to any job; but especially to small businesses like film production companies. Online courses are surprisingly easy and since you’re a homeschooler, they’d be even easier for you. basically, I’ve come to see the four year degree as something like “computer skills” or “knowing Spanish”. Neither will get you a job, but having them expands what jobs one can be considered for. especially overseas. Those are just my thoughts.
August 12, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Chad, very well written article! We think you are certainly a bright cookie and know that as long as you continue studying God’s Word, and apply it to your life, He Will use you!
I learned so much more in my years followin college…. wish I had done the same thing – ALTHOUGH…. I never would have met your aunt Lorrie
We love you!