Are you considering going to college? Wondering if college is worth it? Wondering how to steer your life and find a career?
Answer up front: Maybe
It depends on a lot of factors.
It's all doable if you really want it.
I graduated with my Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science with highest honors (summa cum laude) in 2009, after having taken a break from school for a few years. I also had previously obtained an Associate's degree, also with honors, which I had enrolled to take right after high school.
During my time at the university I was a tutor for the computer science department and got to see more clearly the experience of many people struggling with their course work and path. After my university education I went on to work for my university.
Through all of this, I spent over a decade in higher education. Besides the time in and around school I spent time in and around private business.
I got to see people do well and a lot of people fail or struggle, regardless of their level of education or training.
I saw people with higher degrees with lots of scholarly accomplishment struggle to do real work, and people who were not as accomplished do very well. Some people even build huge businesses without any schooling and others have lots of schooling and are either mediocre or plain awful in their jobs (this is not to be mean to anyone, it's just the way it is).
College won't make nor break you... unless it breaks you with debt but a college degree is necessary for certain careers (but probably not as many as you think).
There are people who would write a lot more reasons to go to college. They might say "It'll open new doors", "New opportunities", etc etc... truth is only the most driven students are the most successful students AND if you are driven you can also do it your way - even without a degree.
It's up to you, if you feel ready and excited then go.
If you're not sure, that's totally OK.
You would be surprised as to how many jobs don't actually require a degree. I've known multiple people who would apply to jobs and get hired! even when the job posting "required" a degree. I even been a part of hiring committees and I can confirm there aren't too many requirements that can't be adjusted for the right candidate.
That said becoming the right candidate will take work with or without a degree. One thing is guaranteed in life you won't escape work - of some sort. Even really rich people have to "work", it just may look really different than the working people's jobs. Some rich people work a lot harder than regular people and that's why they're rich.
Ultimately, you should be happy wherever you are (& you can learn to be) but your job shouldn't make you unhappy. If getting a job or building your own business in whatever you want in anything without a degree makes you happy then do that!
Don't look back. We only go in one direction in life... Let's go!
Not now, doesn't mean not ever
You can always come back and explore the idea when you're ready.
One thing that stood out to me in my college days was that people who went to college right after high school often didn't know why they were there, they weren't focused and very often they had to drop classes or change majors (which leads to taking much longer to finish and higher costs!). The students who were the most focused, most diligent, were often the ones who waited to sign up... or those who had failed before and took a long break then came back.
Come back to it when you are called.
If you have any questions you may email "jaz" at the domain(jazael.win).
Coming next: What to do if you don't go to college.