Why I Asked Was Getting A College Degree Worth It

When I graduated, I didn’t have a job lined up and that’s a reality for a lot of people. Honestly, I wasn’t lazy by any means, but it was hard to get interviews or any offers. I’m not sure what it was about me, but I had a degree from a really good university and I thought that I could compete. When I was met with resistance, it became a hard pill to swallow. I thought for sure I was a failure. This wasn’t true at all and thinking that way did nothing better for the situation. Now, I know that this attitude was perhaps not the best way to go about things. However, let’s be honest. I did ask myself this: “Was getting a college degree worth it?” Yes, that’s right I questioned if getting my college degree was worth it.

Was Getting A College Degree Worth It?

Yes. I’m just going to start off with that solid answer to that question. You see, even though my fancy degree from my fancy university didn’t immediately land me a job, it did help me. There are so many things that I was able to do because of it. I know some will say that anything is possible with or without a college degree, and those people would be right. However, my experiences tell a different story. To simply say it, I may have very well turned out to be lazy if I hadn’t gone to college. Why? Because college pushed me so hard to be better. Yes, compared to other people, I think I was quite mediocre. I mean, you have students who are developing apps, building businesses, and creating opportunities. The thing is that I was creating opportunities for myself and I didn’t even know it.

Why Do I Think It Was Worth It?

I remember when I was high school, I just begged for a chance to show people what my talents were. In hindsight, I’m not sure if they realized it or just felt that I had nothing to offer. Frankly, this contributed to a lot of missed opportunities that I could’ve taken. My thoughts were that I was never going to be class president or student activities board leader. Those were positions reserved for the popular kids. I wish I didn’t have that attitude then because I think about how many great things I could’ve done. However, college was a bit different for me. When I joined a sorority, I found a community of people who were so incredibly supportive. I ended up having experiences that I probably wouldn’t have had otherwise.

One thing that I loved was that my talents were recognized. Essentially, I became the sorority’s party planner, holding positions such as special events chair and director of event planning. Then I moved on to director of alumnae-collegiate engagement, which meant planning alumnae functions. I had never been given opportunities like this and it was really nice to feel like I was creating something. I also studied abroad multiple times while I was in college. When I was studying abroad, I learned so much about myself and I truly gained a sense of independence. These were some of the best things about college and if I hadn’t gone to college, I’m not sure where I would’ve been now.

Related: Advice For College Freshmen

Is A College Degree Worth It For Everyone?

I definitely think it is. However, I can understand why some choose not to do it. I can’t speak for everyone but I loved my experience. I especially think it was worth it because it built credibility for me. What I mean by this is that in the future I have a list of things that I have done during those 4 years. So, sure I asked myself, “Was getting a college degree worth it?” and the answer is yes. I think it’s important to note that sometimes we do question the decisions we make but sometimes we need to reflect. Just because things don’t work out the way you think they should, doesn’t mean it won’t.

Just because things don't work out the way you think they should, doesn't mean it won't. Click To Tweet