Why I Left
Why I left
Hi all! This is a post from my own site. I hope to get more update to date on it, however I have been working hard since the beginning of this year. I can even see my growth since this time. All comments welcomed!
Date: January 13, 2017
Response to First Year at College
What could have happen in those 9 months that I left with essentially no noticable alternative to higher education? Well quite a bit. I learned how to live in that time period. If you wish to hear more about my experience, just let me know.
Clearly, I had different feelings at that time. I thought that college is the only thing you can do after high-school, and that you will be extremely educated if you put in all your effort, and be able to land that perfect job that you always wanted. While this is true for most students, I'm an outliers. The experiences that I was getting was from my own personal work and risks, and not what Rutgers was providing.
What I Was Learning
I must say that the most impressive part of Rutgers is its power to get very incredible philosophy professors. They did improve my critical thinking skills and writing, however, as a degree, it might not really be worth 2-5 years of debt. Also, I learned that if you disagree with a professor, make sure their tests are multiple choice (chances are you will not agree with your English professor, it's just this weird mutation in people who actually think). Computer Science is also very intensive at Rutgers. Yet, this is also something I could self-study and enact in the real world without a degree. I find academia neccesary for the world, but not neccessary for everyone.
Also, it's not about what I am learning, it's about what I am not learning.
Think of all the real world experience I will be having in the next 2.5 years, while students study what I'm doing. Not only real world experience, but also I get paid instead of paying. I'm look forward to this.
Allowing time for things I do love, and less time doing bullshit, will probably be better for me in the long run. Now I can network the world, completely label-less. They have to judge me on my personal work/life experience and overall character. Even if I am doing bullshit deep in concentration, at least it will be for something I believe in. I view it like doing chores for my mom. It sucks, but it shows my mom I love here. I can't say the same about Rutgers.
Concentration vs Awareness
I couldn't really concentrate when I was in school during Fall of 2016. I imagine a response: “Well of course you didn't like college, you didn't engage!” Fair objection. And I agree. Personally, for me to do well in all of the subjects, I would have to ignore any new information, perhaps new information that's vital to my existence or others. I didn't like this. If I see new information that is life changing, I want the opportunity to act on it. Unfortunately, when I have 4 midterms in a week, my life isn't too flexible to make this type of decision. I would have to be ignorant of this new information. This leads me to this line of logic:
- For me to be educated, I must be engage.
- For me to be engaged, I must be ignorant.
- If I am educated, then I must be ignorant.
- Thus, education makes me ignorant.
Wo wo wo. What? Might seem like a radical jump to most, right? That's how most concentration works anyway! The whole world disappears when we are in work flow. Education is a funny word people like to throw around. It's a bit loose for my taste. Personally, College was a distraction to what I find valuable and important.
Awareness is something that has snuck up on me...ironically. I've been mediating since high school. I never notice the effects, until I look back at past habits, worries, and anxieties. In particular, I gained the awareness of how I personally contribute to what I don't believe in.
If I don't believe in a nanny state, then I don't support a nanny state. It is that easy. Accepting state funding has my action unaligned with my thoughts. I find this Robin Hood idea of "generosity" as backwards. And if you feel differently, go gorge on the state's tit, and let know how it turns out. Just don't complain about the horrific job your politicians do.
The Free Market
University is supposed to prepare me for the free market. Off on my own as an adult ready to take on the world! Of course it would give me some debt to pay off, as I do currently, and I would have to start at the bottom of the hierarchy anyway. Most college students feel that the free market is this cold and manipulative place. Well it is. But I'd rather go into it with a winter coat, rather than being jumping in snow after being in a hot tub sipping on Absolut at frat parties. As Stefan Molyneux put it “Nothing will prepare you for the free market more than the free market.” So it's time to hustle.
Would I Come Back To Academia?
Three requirements:
- Finances are covered personally or by a consenting source
- There are professors that I really enjoy
- If one of my end goals involves a degree of any sort
For Those Who Took This Personally
Conclusion
With what I am working on, I don't need access to this network. I respect all who adhears to the institution, and I believe people will show me the same respect. Besides I few outliers, the end result of what Rutgers is producing is nothing I want to emulate. So now I get to write my own story, and find a school of thought that can actually educate me in a solution-orientated way, instead of being a childish consumer who lives in my own world.
Maybe I can even inspire a couple people beyond beyond this camera as well. Let's see what happen :D
It's All About Love, So Let's Prove It
-Juxley
This is a very positive, well-reasoned critique. Rather than complaining about what's wrong, you are looking ahead and showing why college does not help you get where you want to be. I am a big advocate for education, but I do not dispute that it is outdated, overpriced, and not as practical as it should be.
Also, while many people benefit tremendously from college, I have known others who can do well without it (not merely in their careers, but doing well in the way they live their lives). Hopefully, you're one of those. Best of luck to you.
Thank you so much :) It means a lot to me.
I hope the best for all of my fellow millennial in college currently. However, some of them could do better without it, and my heart goes out to them as they waste valuable time and money.
Take a look at the online learning classes that top universities and others offer for low or no cost. Taking a class or two per semester allows you to have it both ways, working your own path while having some credential that you have gained skills in an area you have explored.