college isn't the only path.

[@Rob-to4mu]

When I was 6 years old, my uncle, who was a civil engineer, bought me a construction playset with a crane and some heavy equipment. I played with that set non stop for a year or two. One of those times, my mom made a side remark, "if you like playing with that so much, maybe you should be an engineer when you grow up." She had no idea the impact this remark had on my life. From that day forward, I wanted to be a structural engineer. 30 years later, I'm happy to say I did become a structural engineer. The degree costed me 100k, I make much more than that now. Thanks mom.

[@General_Eisenhower1945]

You hit the nail on the head here. College was such a huge push in the early 2000s. Didn't care what you did, just go to college other wise you'll amount to nothing, seems like that's still a thing in schools. I figured out pretty early on, college isn't the path for me. Seems like a racket, like the insurance industry. Now I'm an industrial mechanic, enjoy my job and am able to do pretty much what I want with my family. Spouse doesn't even have to work

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

It makes me happy to read this. I’m glad people found success in ways that suit them.

[@YR77929]

Got out of high school and had no real direction or motivation for the future. Tried community College and wound up having a real bad mental breakdown cuz of it and personal matters at the time. Been bouncing between work lifestyles since trying to eventually settle on a goal. The military always interests me and now especially its become more appealing, but bacj then I always had some other obligations that kept me. In the end I've found my happiness and moderate success with just the tiny amount of college so i tell my family not to even stress that much about it the way so many people do.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

I’m glad you’re carving out your own path.

[@CodyHomes]

I'm first since my notifications finally worked for the first time. There's other problems too. College isn't for everyone. Some of us are good at learning but really bad at grades no matter what. It's wrong that trade schools often have a cutoff date too early. I was forced into doing the college route. If someone told me what you just said and backed me up in pursuing the trades I'd be a lot better off. I've been having to retake so many classes a lot of times that Financial Aid has banned me from using them. There's a lot of flaws in our educational system and society. We don't need to make it worse by continuing to force an overabundance of people with degrees and a ever increasing desperate need for more tradesmen/tradeswomen.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

I couldn’t agree more. There is improvement that needs to be made to the system.

[@TheMoistestNugget]

My life was hollow, devoid of purpose and worth but then I got a degree in communications and went to work at Starbucks

[@jaredbryant8297]

The job doesn’t matter, your fulfillment matters I hope you feel fulfilled!

[@TheMoistestNugget]

@ oh i dont actually have a comms degree or work at starbucks i was just being sarcastic, but yea I dont hate my job per se

[@MorbidVoluntaryistbrahbrah]

This video really helped me a lot. I only went to community college this last year because I felt there was no other option for me. And the people around me keep looking dumbfounded anytime I say I'm skeptical about going to a university. I keep saying my major will be accounting, but really it's just empty words. I still don't know what I want. I feel like I should just take a gap year like you mentioned, and maybe keep trade school in mind.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

I’m glad it did! Follow your gut.

[@nomadicstrength]

Bro just work and travel for a bit. Taste the world a bit. I did and came back. It's worth it.

[@Jakezillagfw]

College is the biggest scam. I have a semester left and feel the same exact way I felt walking into community college. I've learned to most from working retail, college has taught me nothing. I feel it's just brain rot and how to indoctrinate kids into being liberals. (I am an independent and these left values are forced on me ever time I step foot on campus.)If you don't know what you want to do before college you won't figure it out after. Take that gap year don't fall into the dooms day saying of without college you are nothing. Because I know plenty of people in retail work just like you and me who have full business degrees, degrees in stem I know plenty others in trades doing the same.

[@Jakezillagfw]

Sorry i graduate in 3 weeks not a semester.

[@RonnieJamesDeodorant]

I winged it going for accounting too at a community college. Never even bothered claiming the certificate at the end because I had no interest by the end of it. Made me just realize I don't want to handle other people's money. And that was after useless going for "retail management" because I was just uselessly told to "go for business" for my college classes.

[@SpartyMarty]

The lifelong conversation around college for me gave me the impression that getting a college degree is the only way to make enough money to live and start a family. I'm in college now, 3rd year, and I'm starting to really worry that the career this will lead me to is something I'm going to be ok doing. I wanted to go into the trades but because of pressure from outside I felt like college was the only way I could fulfill my life goals. I'm in too deep where I kinda have to suck it up and accept the career I land in and live with it but I often wish I had just gone into the trades. Also, your discussion of how degrees have lost value, I actually wrote an essay about this for an AP test, talking about what I called "degree inflation" where everyone's got a degree so they can't "buy" you as much (in terms of getting a job). I talked with my dad about this before and he would talk about how decades ago you could get an ok job with a high school diploma, and now you can barely get that much with a bachelor's. Anyways I say all this to say that I appreciate that someone else is speaking about this kind of thing. The state of education in the US I also take issue with and I'm glad there's people like you teaching out there. I hope you're able to make a difference and I appreciate the effort you put into these videos. Good luck out there man, I believe in you.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

The college discourse is wild. Fear mongering into believing it’s the only way to make money. I’m sure your essay was a good one. But thank you for the kind words, I’ll do my best to keep it up.

[@tylertesla3678]

The topic of education is so important to me to. I always struggled in school for one reason or another. I always disagreed with school curriculum and how it's taught. I hated how pressured we were to go to college and I hate what college ended up being when I got there. I ended up going to trade school and feeling much more at home so to speak. I went to job corps where I got my diploma since I had dropped out and my trade certification in painting. I then moved from that to general labor and typical blue collar work. Then recently as of about 5 months ago I became an abatement worker.

[@muhnoodles]

I was one of the "get pushed to college with no goal, flounder, flunk" types. Didn't help that the financial situation wasn't good then, either. Maybe if I finally figure out what I wanna do I'll go back if need be, but.. until then, I'm fine where I am. I appreciate your words, it's nice to hear some validation haha.

[@kebomp]

I'm on my way to becoming an educator. It wasn't my first choice but hearing this is reassuring

[@spacewolves7253]

I completely agree especially because I recently graduated highschool and throughout my entire time there only 2 of my classes every really pushed doing a trade or enlisting those being my metal shop and JROTC class. It also didn't help that my school used a dedicated program called highschool and beyond to help you figure out what you wanted to do which was great but it always pushed you towards college, if you looked at the pathways between enlisting/ trade vs college it always told you to do all the extracircular and AP classes for college. Where as with trade and enlisting it just suggested doing the normal classes without doing anything extra that might help with whatever you plan on doing. Lastly my school's credit system was based entirely around what would get you into college this was the baseline for everyone. However if you wanted to do something different you had to actively tell your counselors you aren't going to college so they can change what credits you need to pass. I know for a fact you needed 2 language credits if you were going to college but I was never told this I was only told you need 2 language credits to graduate I only found out that you don't need the language credits till my junior year luckily I only ever took 1class my freshman year before than. Im lucky though that I knew I wanted to enlist by the time I was already in highschool so I didn't feel like I messed up choosing my classes every year the only one being chemistry just cause the teacher wasn't great and I didn't have any fun.

[@BushMurple]

This one hit different for me

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

💪🏻

[@carlos.daniel.santmaria5477]

Dam...This is deeper than I expected. You are so right

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

Appreciate you watching

[@CaptainAhab117]

I remember a lot of this going on when I was in school. It was just assumed that everyone wanted to go to college. They never bothered with why you would want to, what you would study, or what the job prospects would be after that. The only students they talked to about trade schools were poor kids and Latinos.

[@ianhall6614]

I knew since pretty much middle school college was not for me since school did not interest me at all. Barely passed high school, had my counselors push college hard despite me being near the bottom of the class. Ended up going to a JC for two years, got bored, worked for another 6 and now finally back in the welding program at the same JC and I finally feel like I’m where I belong. Hoping to certify here soon.

[@BoundlessPLYR]

This is absolutely true, it took me so long to figure out exactly what i wanted to do and wasted so much time at a University. If anyone out there is reading this and i can help, go to that trade school, get that apprenticeship, find that mentor, or get that tech diploma!

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

Facts

[@idanjones8865]

Literally a little less than a week after deciding I’m leaving college I get this on my recommended, the universe got a funny way of doing things. Thank you man, I really needed to see this, puts things into a reasonable perspective. Helps that my favorite game is in the background 😂.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

Glad it could help a bit. Thanks for taking the time to watch.

[@dannyb5232]

Needed this right now. Thank you

[@nomadicstrength]

Same here. I did terrible in high school. My parents pushed me to university anyway, where I played Warcraft 3 all the time and failed my classes. I dropped out and had to pay 14k in student loans over three years. I always said I'd never go back to college unless I was going for a specific purpose and was getting paid. Fast forward, now I'm 32 and getting a full ride, plus 5 grand a semester. Scam college, don't let it scam you.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

It’s so expensive

[@woodsgump]

I did not see the notification until now, thanks KZbin smh. But yeah, unfortunately my parents pressured I go into college because “a degree will get you a job”, guess what. I only had a remote job for about 4 months until I got furloughed coming off graduating in May 2022. Several years after COVID and around the bad timing in the IT industry where layoffs were abundant. Hurted me emotionally and mentally. Now for college life do I regret it? Hell no, I loved every second of it. I loved making friends, eating free food, learning the courses, learning life lessons and professional skills.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

The college life was amazing, I agree. But the college degree will get you a job is pushed so much.

[@Gator159]

I'm 33 and I'm still paying college debt. I didn't even want to go to college I was just going because my mother insisted on it And to seal the deal my guidance counselor pointed my parents towards the college that was right for me. All I got is an associate's degree in general studies. I was like 18 just doing my best in school, parents who insist on college only hurt their kids, college hurt me. I lost my virginity and my taste and woman have become trashy And it took me 10 years to stop going for those types of ass. But yeah, I guess it's my fault that I went to college.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

Thanks for sharing 💪🏻

[@nomadicstrength]

I'm 32 and I'm grateful I got out of it when I did. I find it hilarious you can't drink alcohol but you can sign your life away with the military or school and completely destroy your mental state. It's like giving someone the highest skill weapons and quests right out of the tutorial.

[@Gator159]

@@nomadicstrength sometimes the toughest trials in life is best to Go through sober. Have a clear head for better perspective to look back on years later.

[@jozzieokes3422]

I'm pursuing my passion which is sports coaching in soccer specifically. I'm keen and know what I want!

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

That’s incredible. I’m slowly getting into finally coaching basketball.

[@jozzieokes3422]

@ClassicHaloCommentary that's awesome man. Good luck!!!

[@nomadicstrength]

That's fuckin dope

[@Стрелок-ш7с]

I have a masters degree, that being said I am glad there are more educators and those that are 'educated' pushing this out there that you don't need to go to college to be successful

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

It’s one option for sure, but there are many.

[@destroythewoke4045]

An 18 year old doesn't know what they want to do with their life.

[@olympian3]

I’m a very very quick learner but i never had the focus to study in my twenties. I do commercial mowing in the summers and I do better for myself than many sales people or office workers do, I can listen to music etc with my noise protection headphones. I live in canada so I have a tough time affording a place to live but everybody does here. And i collect unemployment in the winter. Yall in the states have it a lot easier with housing though for sure.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

That’s not bad at all.

[@Marandal]

Wow Halo looks soo crisp and clean when comparing to modern games. I just love how Not--Busy it is 😍

[@karkanrey1463]

So glad I went straight to the military out of high school. My college is not only completely paid for, but I am making money while going to college.

[@skettinbutter3635]

Master chief joined the spartan program to help with student loans

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

I wish I could enter the program. My bench press would fly up lol.

[@biggooba6706]

College is where they teach you to be a drone like other millions of people so the actual real bosses profit off you are a rate of 10,000X

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

It’s sad, but it’s kind of true in a way.

[@TrainingVideosChannel4]

I just took a few classes part time while focusing on work to get my degree. I never understood why you either make it your entire life into a dorm or you dont go at all dichotomy.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

Exactly. You did it a smart way for sure

[@GibbonFan]

As an 18 year old who's in college and knows exactly what I want it do with my life, I feel like a lot of my peers don't take it seriously at all. It's like they just view college as more school like highschool instead of having an actual career focus and its honestly sad to see because it's like they're just wasting their time and money on something they thought was a necessary life step.

[@jaredbryant8297]

I also find that people over complicate what makes a successful business And underestimate the importance of organization and TAXES!!! A successful business doesn’t always look how you think it looks But it’s more time intensive than you think

[@bl1ss06]

I remember when I was a kid I always wanted to be a fireman. Now 18 years old I'm going to college to get a degree that probably won't get me anywhere. I have no idea where I'm going or what my purpose is, I'm just trying not to mess up. But I honestly feel confused and kind of uncomfortable knowing that it wasn't my decision to go to college, but an ill-timed suggestion made by the only people close to you, thinking they just found the answer to your indecision. I couldn't think clearly back then, but only now do I realize it.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

I hope everything works out in your favor. Never too late to chase your dream.

[@Garbigo123]

i thought about getting into trades but the health risks made me reconsider. I am in a very lucky position where I don't have to worry about debt or loans. it's my dream to create something, whether it be a video game, show, etc. the issue is that those jobs are too financially instable. i decided that I would instead to study for a career in human resources because I think I would be good at that. is it what I want to do? no. but does it pay the bills? yes. you also have to consider whats gonna happen in the future. with the way things are going now, I think its a good idea to have a job that can pay for your needs. maybe I can start a comic when I'm in my career. maybe it can get popular enough where it can be adapted into a show, but that's hit or miss

[@LNR65]

I have a Master’s degree and I’m more a loser now in my life than ever before.

[@DaveMarx-te2rs]

First of all - define success.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

Affording the lifestyle you personally want to live with job satisfaction.

[@skybuprofen9834]

I chose the military after my time in high school. As everyone else I knew was preparing to shoulder immense debt and go to some giant school that would screw them over for decades of their future, they looked down on me. Me, who knew what I was about, knew I'd have a stable job and very little, if any, debt. I grew up in a wealthier area, so naturally I went to a high school that was basically a recruiting center for higher education nearby. Felt like being in the middle of a pyramid scheme. I was almost outcast, treated as somehow lesser. I wasn't putting in college applications my senior year, and people laughed at me for it. Someone I knew rather closely at the time even said, within earshot, behind my back, that I had "no future". Well, now I have a job, a steady income, and a life that's more or less, financially, at least, workable. Most of the people I knew back in high school, some people older than me, are still searching for jobs or even still going through various kinds of very expensive school, shouldering some serious debt to start out their professional lives. The guy who told me I didn't have a future joined the Army a year after I did. Crazy how that works out. College is A path, not THE path.

[@Michael.Hunt.14-52]

Wooot

[@squeegeemcgee3917]

Feels like my degree is absolutely worthless for each job I've acquired that required said degree.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

Most people feel that way. I know I do lol

[@squeegeemcgee3917]

@@ClassicHaloCommentary Seems like the vast majority of work can get by with a short training program. College degrees just get you into grad school it seems.

[@BrassTheBarbarian]

I regret going to college.

[@ZWorksIndie]

I was indoctrinated into this college mindset as well. I'm actually extremely mad at my parents for being so god damn foolish that they didn't push me to go into a trade school or to get certifications, when they themselves, did not graduate college. "If you work hard, and go to COLLEGE, you can be anything you want to be!" I dropped out of college after failing to get a useless studio art degree because I hated learning subjects that had nothing to do with it. A decade later, I am a self taught professional digital artist. I might be broke but as long as I have access to photoshop I will always have a job selling commissions on my own. I also studied programming on my own accord, and using those skills to turn my visual art talents into an indie video game business. Maybe with these skills I will finally be able to afford to be the person I wanted to be since I was a kid, and not just another drone that answers to the terrible management that got me to stop working for corporate america in the first place.

[@Tamed_Delirium]

I wholeheartedly agree with this video, thank you. College has always presented to me as the one and ONLY path to go through life, if i didnt i will be a failure. Here i am years later just fine lol. I just had no idea what i wanted to do and didnt want to go and waste my time or money. It felt so forced on me, why would I willingly want to do that because of that? Same thing happened with to me with religion its just unfortunate.

[@Julianrocker200]

I used to think I was such an idiot, watching all my friends go to college and do something with their lives. I ended up joining the Air Force and realized you can do more with your life than just doing school, my best friend made me realize that I was technically the first out of my group to have a “career” and stable income. To add onto that I get a free education if I so choose while I’m in or afterwards. Military definitely has its downsides and sometimes I wish I could work somewhere else 😂 but I also love the journey even the hard parts, got sent to Arizona and ended up loving it so much I didn’t want to leave, deployed to Qatar and it was tough and a lot of work but I learned a lot, finally now I’m in Japan and looking forward to make new friends and have new opportunities. There is more to life than meets the eyes friends! “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” ‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭

[@karkanrey1463]

There’s nothing dumber than a plumber.

[@jacobkoster3808]

I really wish people would stop saying that you make a lot of money in the trades. Like yeah the requirements to get a job in the trades is a lot less than some other jobs. But I’m a welder and I’m making $22 an hour. my friend who works in fast food is making $17 an hour. It’s not that big of a pay check. I’ve hardly ever seen any job that will pay you above $25 an hour. Keep in mind this is in a rather expensive state to live in. With overtime you kinda make up for it in some jobs. Overall though trades do not pay as much as people think they do.

[@ianhall6614]

It depends on where you get a job. I know two guys who got certified and immediately got journeyman level positions at a refinery making $50+ an hour as their first welding job. If I were you I’d be beating feet hunting for a higher paying shop, especially if you think you do high quality work.

[@ZWorksIndie]

This is the case for pretty much every high skill job. It is rare for anyone to make large amounts of money outside of a senior position or starting their own business. $22 in my area is pretty good starting point. I calculated for myself that I'd need $25 per hour at 40 per week (no overtime mind you) to be able to live somewhat comfortably on my own. What's nice about that kind of skill is that you can actually very easily create your own business with some ingenuity. You just gotta make sure you're good at your craft, have somewhat decent customer service/business skills, and are decent with money.

[@zezkyar]

nice for breakfast

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

💪🏻

[@Calamity_Leo]

College kicked me out, my revenge was now I don't need them nor their degrees. Wasn't politically correct, so got kicked.

[@isaacfaith9369]

Hell I don’t know what I’m doing at 28 years old. The black pill is real. My father has always pushed me to get a degree from University so I gave in and applied for an IT-line this year and I absolutely fucken hate my life and it’s just been half a semester. I messed up really badly the dept is piling up and I’m depressed for the first time in my life.

[@TheMonkeyThatDoesYourJobBetter]

Definitely go for something practical. Academic jobs pay way less than trades do. Plus you’re almost ALWAYS guaranteed a job.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

That’s the truth

[@skully_bonez]

I never really knew what I wanted to pursue in my life when I was in school, and although I consider myself an artist, these days they don't really get much respect and receive little pay, so becoming anything like a graphic designer was out of the question for me. I decided to take a gap year atm and after doing some research and reflecting, I decided I wanna become a welder. This is mostly because I just do better at doing stuff with my hands and learning visually rather than having to always sit around and use 100% of my mental capacity to read shit I dont care about anymore. Plus, I'm just so tired of academia at this point and I just want a simple life and a job, even if it'll require lotsa hard work, I'm okay with that. Maybe one day I'll change my career, who knows. I think it's best to let kids understand that things can change and that life should be about LIVING and wanting to do whatever YOURE comfortable with and exploring many options. Plus, I think gap years for kids who dont know what to do can provide them opportunities to increase their skills or figure out somethings for themselves, like volunteering and whatnot.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

That’s a great career. Best of luck with it

[@skully_bonez]

@@ClassicHaloCommentarythanks!

[@enriquenavarro7684]

Live its easy when you are on one firsst world country

[@tapauldoua]

How much money in and out. How much operational self can you output within the strictest of reasonable expectations. The more the better but in time. Start with your baseline and casually upgrade it as you go along you will get more fortitude and keep adding to that which you've cultivated. And he is right here about openings and logically if there are people more competitive than yourself they will take who ever that is and not you tough luck son. Get tough and stop crying. The lion eats the gazelle. Because we are human we are not subject to primal forces? you cannot be more stupid if you think this is the case. Forces are constantly pressed upon us. Just make sure you can make the matter fit in the right place and at the right time. Preparation and caution towards what unknowns will this or that situation bring. Reducing the height in which you are expected to succeed and to leave yourself time to see where are your minor failures maybe eventually leaving you at a potential unforeseen risk of being out performed although likely it will not be so opaquely disclosed to you on the spot but read in-between the lines in conversations had in regards to those things which you output. Remember to keep a focus on the whole benefit of all things and to know there must be some greater purpose to all of this no matter how costly in some sense it must be to remain involved with any company or trade. Look at things severally for all the likely positives that they may include and take them rain or shine to reap in yourself the best of all health, wealth and perseverance in those things worth doing especially well no matter how small or insubstantial they may appear if they are true and correct for pursuit, and maybe later in due deliberation your sight will change and offer to your later self some more contrast in your next movements there after. You fail only in the most relative way possible. Try to relatively move towards an averagely better situation reason permitting and so forth. Good luck

[@ShadowLancer128]

you mean employers aren't really looking for job candidates with fancy degrees and are really looking for people with directly transferable skills so they can take over a gigantic shit heap of a job station so they can go back to having one person doing the work of 6 people?

[@wiiinnnttteeerrr]

Step 1 to being successful: have rich parents. You're fucked otherwise.

[@ClassicHaloCommentary]

That does help lol