Weekly Debate Thread

[BumblebeeCody*]

Personally, I didn't got to university. However, I don't think that traditional education in any form worked for me - but that doesn't mean it doesn't work for anyone. I think that it's a decision that should be made by knowing yourself, and knowing your ideal market. I never wanted to work in a traditional position as a bank manager, or some shit like that. I've always wanted to be a self-employed, work from home webmaster. As such, it's been that I worked on such a field from the ripe old age of 7 years old.

It's a tough choice, and not one that anyone can make for somebody. I think that we struggle in the UK with schools basically telling us that if you don't do well at school, you will fail at life. They also rarely tell us our actual options, for some bizarre fucked up reason, and try to convince you that your school knows best. And they tend to have connections with other schools, and it's generally conceived that not going to university is a bad option. When it isn't, it's just another option.

For the record, all of my old school friends are at university. Half of them regret the decision, half of them don't, but they universally all agree that it's a life experience that they will never forget, and it has given them the opportunity of self-exploration, being amongst like-minded people for so many years. I went traveling around the world and came back with no debt, and found myself far more than I think I ever would being surrounded by nerdy dude who want to run websites for other people one day in the future. Not that everyone would be nerdy or anything, or that there's anything wrong with it, but in order to stand out and learn something, I feel you need to break the mold.

Saying that, I feel I've also missed out on the connections my friends make at university. I have a hard time making new friends because by it's nature, what I do is very lonely. I don't need to leave the house, or work with other people besides online over Skype. My friends where I live now, Peterborough, are only my friends because I have a dog and walk it every morning, or because my fiancé worked at a bookstore and she invited a bunch of them back to our place for pizza.

It's a tough choice, and not black and white.

@Bold:
Pretty much this. Schools put a lo of emphasis on how important education is, and yes it's true, but once you finish GCSEs (with C's and above) you're pretty much set. It only comes down to your pursuing what you want rather than staying in education with a crap ton of debt hoping it'll pay off. There is nothing to stop you from making game, programming software, writing stories, creating music etc only when people tell you that it's necessary. If you have the motivation to push yourself into what you want, you'll succeed. Not only that and as bullshit as it sounds, it's possible to be over qualified for a job.

However I wouldn't agree with the point that 'it's a tough choice'. If you're interested, pass A levels/college so you have the option to go to Uni available to you, try it for a year and if you don't like it, quit and start your own personal work/projects and get into the industry by putting yourself out there.