Re: Formal Education Required?

[particle]

> Do some of you (older|experienced) monks believe that the formal education is worth the time spent?
> AND
> In your experience, have these things been required, or your previous experience brought you through?

if nothing else, a formal education is an indicator that you are able to accomplish a goal that may span years, and may cover a wide range of situations, some of which probably will not be to your liking. although there are (of course)exceptions to the rule, "go to school, be a success," in general, higher education teaches you how to learn, how to approach problems, and how to react to difficulties--all skills you'll use the rest of your life.

it took me eight years of on-again, off-again schooling to get my bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. during that time, i also worked as a consultant in the world of computer programming. i'm proud of what i've accomplished in both areas. honestly, i didn't need to complete my engineering degree to get where i am in the working world today. but my years of schooling were invaluable to me by improving my problem solving skills, and business sensibility. i can say that without my years of schooling, i wouldn't run my business as smoothly and successfully as i do today.

most importantly, achieving my degree was a personal goal, one of which i'm quite proud. don't sell schooling short. if you feel that you are, as you said, an "unmotivated loser," what makes you think you'll succeed in business, or in life? business is more difficult than school, and the responsibilities are much greater. if you're considering such a drastic change in the direction of your life, perhaps you should consider this before you make your decision.

business and school can be done at the same time. i am proof of this. it was not easy. these were some of the most tumoltuous years of my life. it was with the support of my family, friends, schoolmates, and business mentors that i made it through. i grew up in new york, i went to school here, and i based my business here. that gave me a level of comfort that i may have taken for granted at the time, but looking back, it made these years much easier. if your support network is rooted one thousand miles away, i think you may have a difficult time adjusting to the twists and turns of life.

i could ramble on, because i don't feel i've finished my thoughts, but, real life becons. it's my last day on my client's site, and they're waiting for all my documentation, and have just requested a change to my script. best of luck.

~Particle