You Don’t Need a Degree

Nigerians seem to have a script they believe everyone’s life must follow. Hence, there is so much pressure on Nigerian children to grow up and graduate from university, after which they will join the ever-growing team of applicants. Nigerian parents seem to have been brainwashed into believing that everyone must have a university degree if they want to be successful in life. This was a setback in the lives of many Nigerians, as most secondary school graduates had to spend years idly at home awaiting admission to a university. The proliferation of private universities has reduced this, but some school leavers are still waiting at home to be admitted to university. Still, Nigerian parents believe the long wait is worth it, even though they know their children have less than a 30% chance of getting a job once they graduate.

I believe that some courses are best studied in technical colleges while others need to develop their talents outside of school, but in Nigeria, school comes first. You don’t care what you want or what you should do; they take care of what you have to do. They think that school is the only place where you can learn how to assert yourself in life. School is good, but there is more to life than just going to school. Many people have made it in life and changed the world without a degree.

Thomas Edison wasn’t such a brilliant guy at school. Described as “retarded” by a schoolmaster, he only completed three months of formal training, yet he changed the world with his inventions.
Albert Einstein, although a genius, was so slow to learn. His classmates called him an “outsider” and he got bad grades in school. He failed his first college entrance exams. Still, he’s one of the biggest names in the history of science.

Benjamin Franklin only had two years of formal education; he nevertheless became part of American history. Ludwig Van Beethoven, Alexander Graham Bell, Walter Cronkite, Milton Hershey were either illiterate or dropouts; nonetheless, they have become a force to be reckoned with in their chosen fields.

My point is this; don’t make school the only way. Have you noticed something you enjoy doing, do easily, or do better than everyone around you? Develop such skills; It might turn out to be your route to the height you aim for. The founder of Facebook dropped out of school to focus on Facebook. You may not have to drop out of school to develop what you can, but don’t overlook a talent you have, it can be a door opener for you.

Thanks to Niyi Aderibigbe | #Dont #Degree