Why College Isn't a Waste of Time and Money

In our influencer culture of content creation, views, and likes—there seems to be a theme that pops up on how going to school isn't "worth it" anymore. Lauryn Evarts herself (the founder of The Skinny Confidential) said that she thinks her years in college were a waste of time; Gary Vee too agreed that going to college only puts you into debt, and that you could be making money without a degree in this day and age. Now although I agree that college isn't for everyone, I have to disagree with these stances on college being a waste. Going to college is expensive, and I, too, have a large sum of student debt—but college and grad school, to me, was worth every penny.

The influencers I follow on YouTube and Instagram are typically women, and they are major bosses building brands for themselves and becoming financially independent. It's inspiring to see women showcase themselves and their interests in a way that provides value while also providing themselves with a revenue stream, and I love supporting these female content creators and entrepreneurs. But I do still hear from these same women that college isn't necessary, and that going into debt isn't worth it. I think debt is worth it depending on what you value; if you value starting a business, then taking out a loan from your bank and going into debt for that reason is worth it. To me, going into debt to earn my degree is worth it. I want to be educated, especially since women receiving an education is still a major privilege today. "Debt" has become such a scary word that people want to avoid it at all costs, even if going into debt could help you reach a goal or do something that's necessary (author Jen Sincero herself writes about this very subject, and I highly recommend you read her books on the topic, particularly You Are a Badass at Making Money). It doesn't have to be scary; taking out loans can help you find more opportunities in work, school, and beyond.

With the debt portion out of the way, I want to focus on the lack of making money in college. Yes, you will likely not be making a ton of money during your college years. You'll be on a tight budget, along with likely having loans, but that doesn't mean getting a degree is a waste of time. Earning your degree comes with taking required courses that aim to broaden your understanding of the world and the people in it; the point is to learn the value in these courses and not sit there to simply comply with attendance policies. The most important course I took taught me about my white privilege that I didn't really understand before this course, and the tremendous amount of work that still needs to be done in terms of understanding race, ethnicity, and arguments against immigration. Without this course, I wouldn't have grown into the racially-aware white woman I am today; I know I still have a lot more to learn, but this course opened my eyes to how much I did not know about race. How much could our society benefit from each of us enrolling in a course like this so we may be more apt to action when it comes to racist actions, policies, and people that affect minorities daily?

Each course I've taken has morphed me into a more informed person and a better thinker, writer, and presenter. The amount of presentations I had to make as both an undergrad and grad student has practically wiped out my fear of public speaking, which I know will prove beneficial in meetings, large events, and speeches in the future, if need be. I've met professors who genuinely care about the education of their students, and who understand that earning a degree is both a real challenge and a real privilege. The majority of my professors wanted us to learn the material not solely for state requirements, but for the benefit of our overall knowledge. Let me tell you, I would have never chosen to read David Hume or Emmanuel Kant on my own free time—but thanks to my college courses on philosophy, I was introduced to these pivotal thinkers and more who have contributed to our understanding of human nature, thought, and the mysteries of the world. College gives us the opportunity to be introduced to thoughts and ideas that otherwise would have gone amiss in our daily lives, and it's important that we pass on these thoughts and ideas that have been around for centuries for this reason: they inform us on what it means to be human, and what still lies unknown beneath the surface of our basic understanding.

I am proud to hold a BA and an MA, not only because of the amount of work I put into earning them, but because of the knowledge I was able to receive by professors far wiser than me. It was truly awe-inspiring for me to learn about apartheid in South Africa from my professor who grew up there; to learn about the nuances of being mixed-race by my half-black, half-white professor; to learn about philosophy from a curmudgeonly middle-aged British man who had traveled the world and was born in a blanket mill. These teachers, these people, brought to the table information that I otherwise would not have found on my own outside university walls. College certainly can be stressful with midterms, finals, and essays due every week—but it can be incredibly powerful to learn the material for your own knowledge.

Again, you don't have to go to college to be a well-rounded individual. It's not for everyone, and that's completely understandable. You can still read up on the topics taught in college, practice writing on your own time, and meet some very wise and knowledgeable people out beyond schooling. But to say that college is a waste of time and money is completely false; it all has to do with your perspective and your understanding of the privilege you have of earning a degree. There's plenty of time to earn money and make a living for yourself; don't view college as a death sentence to your financial life. Hell, with the easiness of having your own Instagram and YouTube channel, you could be making income more easily than before when you had to bust your ass waitressing and doing work study. Money will come back to you; it won't become nonexistent for the rest of your life if you take out loans for school.

WHEW. With this little rant out of the way, I'd like to cheer to everyone reading this who is currently in or has finished their college degree. The work is no joke, and it's a relief to finally hold your diploma in your hand knowing that it was all worth it. And if you're not in college or choose not to go, you're still just as smart and capable as someone who is college-educated. We all have talents and abilities that will land us our dream life and career, and we all take different paths to get there. Good things lie ahead for all of us.