Other than my husband, my best friend is Drew. We met in college, a hundred years ago, and have remained close ever since.
Drew graduated from college yesterday, and I couldn't be prouder of him. I know it was difficult to go back after all these years, and he did it with a complete focus change- he was a history major originally, who went in to retail management. Now he's the proud owner of a shiny new CIS degree, and is ready to wield it with a vengeance.
I'm also trying to get my degree, finally, I've mentioned it before. I've always wanted to, but it wasn't ever a necessity until I moved to Kansas. Well, more specifically- until I moved to Lawrence, KS, home of the University of Kansas and a pretty nice place to live. Seems there's a glut of degree holders in the area, and those of us without... well...
It's very frustrating, why would anyone NEED a degree to do what I do? (executive/administrative assistant/secretary- not what I do now, but to be honest- IMO my current job doesn't need a degree either) If I did have a degree, I doubt I'd be a secretary. I'd be doing something IN MY FIELD. I don't know anybody who has a 4 year degree in secretary. I have students right now who are graduating in a week who have NO clue what they're going to do and NO job prospects. But they're going to be able to go out and get a job that pays more than I get, simply because they have the paper. It makes me question the value of a college degree.
So why am I proud of Drew? Because I know he's going to USE his degree in the manner it's supposed to be used- as the starting point, not the end point. That's my plan too, to use what I learn as a jumping off point in a career I choose, not just a job I can get.
Anyway- off to sign up for Algebra. ;)
Drew graduated from college yesterday, and I couldn't be prouder of him. I know it was difficult to go back after all these years, and he did it with a complete focus change- he was a history major originally, who went in to retail management. Now he's the proud owner of a shiny new CIS degree, and is ready to wield it with a vengeance.
I'm also trying to get my degree, finally, I've mentioned it before. I've always wanted to, but it wasn't ever a necessity until I moved to Kansas. Well, more specifically- until I moved to Lawrence, KS, home of the University of Kansas and a pretty nice place to live. Seems there's a glut of degree holders in the area, and those of us without... well...
It's very frustrating, why would anyone NEED a degree to do what I do? (executive/administrative assistant/secretary- not what I do now, but to be honest- IMO my current job doesn't need a degree either) If I did have a degree, I doubt I'd be a secretary. I'd be doing something IN MY FIELD. I don't know anybody who has a 4 year degree in secretary. I have students right now who are graduating in a week who have NO clue what they're going to do and NO job prospects. But they're going to be able to go out and get a job that pays more than I get, simply because they have the paper. It makes me question the value of a college degree.
So why am I proud of Drew? Because I know he's going to USE his degree in the manner it's supposed to be used- as the starting point, not the end point. That's my plan too, to use what I learn as a jumping off point in a career I choose, not just a job I can get.
Anyway- off to sign up for Algebra. ;)
What you just said about yourself and needing/wanting is exactly why you're writing about me. I didn't need a degree for the 20 years I managed retail stores. But without it, I'd still be there listening to an idiot with an Australian accent yelling at us about things he lacked the capacity to understand.
ReplyDeleteI needed to change to do the things I want to do. And so do you! And so *can* you.