Do You Really Need College? A Real Talk Reflection on Purpose, Paths & Possibility
Okay—I know how this sounds coming from someone with a background in education, but I’m going to say it anyway:
Do you really need college?
Let me ask that again:
Do you really need college?
For years, we’ve been conditioned to believe that college is the destination. Students move through the K–12 system on what many call the college pipeline—a system built to guide (and often push) students toward a four-year degree as if that’s the only measure of success. But here's the truth: college might not be your path. And that's okay.
🎯 Let’s Get Real
I went to college because it was the expectation. It was the plan my family had for me—and I followed it. Then I stayed for two more degrees. Looking back, it worked out. Business and higher education aligned with my purpose, but not always my process. I did things my own way, questioned everything, and honestly? Racked up a decent amount of debt doing it.
That’s not a failure—it’s just my story. But it’s not everyone's story. And it shouldn’t have to be.
🧠 What College Is—and What It’s Not
College is a space for learning, for growing, and yes—for networking and navigating society. But it’s not a magic portal to wealth, clarity, or success. Not automatically.
Some people thrive in academic spaces. Others feel boxed in by them. Some paths require a degree. Others don’t. And the real work is figuring out which path makes sense for you. That’s where we come in—helping you figure out your vision and choose the route that actually fits your values, learning style, and future.
Abundance is personal. So your path should be too.
✨ Ask Yourself: What Are You Really Chasing?
Before you sign up for four years, thousands of dollars, and a mountain of expectations—pause. This isn't about fear. This is about ownership. You deserve a life that actually feels like yours, not one you inherited by default.
So ask yourself:
What does my abundant future look like—not what I’ve been told it should look like?
What do I really want to do with my life—beyond what sounds impressive?
What skills will I need to thrive in the life I want?
What types of experiences light me up or push me to grow?
Am I choosing this path because I want it—or because I’m afraid of disappointing someone?
Is college the only—or best—way to get where I want to go?
Does the college structure actually work for the way I learn, process, or thrive?
Am I chasing credentials because I think they’ll give me confidence—or because I know who I am?
And the real one:
If I didn’t care what anyone thought, what would I be doing right now?
📚 Real Talk: The Truth About Degrees
You probably know people who went to college, graduated, and now do something completely unrelated to their degree. Maybe they got a business degree and now work in education. Maybe they majored in biology but ended up running a creative agency. Degrees can open doors—but they don’t always tell the full story. People grow. Priorities change. And sometimes, the degree ends up being a detour, not a destination.
Then there are folks who did go to college, are working in their field, but are surrounded by peers who never earned a degree—or any formal credential at all. I’ve seen folks doing incredibly successful work in social media, tech, coaching, and business who never stepped foot in a college classroom. Degrees aren’t the only proof of skill or ability.
And let’s not forget the people who never went to college and built something powerful anyway. Entrepreneurs, artists, innovators, and creators. They learned by doing. They taught themselves. They asked questions, took risks, and trusted their vision. They didn’t wait for a syllabus to validate their brilliance—they made their own map.
I’ve also seen people skip college, work their way up through apprenticeships, trade work, or community learning programs—and end up not only successful, but fulfilled. They carved out meaningful careers on their own terms, with joy and purpose that wasn’t tied to a diploma.
🌟 So, What’s the Point?
The point isn’t to bash college—or to glorify dropping out. But it’s also not to convince you to go.
It’s to remind you that your future doesn’t have to fit into a box to be valid. That your definition of success matters more than anyone else’s. That you are allowed to question the system you were handed and imagine something better. You don’t have to follow a traditional path to live an extraordinary life.
The point is to remind you that this is your life. And you get to choose.
And that choice, that’s not failure. That’s clarity.
✏️ Final Reflection: Don’t Default—Decide.
You owe it to yourself to pause and ask:
Is this the path I chose—or the one I was handed?
Because here’s the thing: every time you move forward without asking why, you risk losing parts of yourself in the process.
And eventually, the version of success you’re chasing might not even feel like your own.
At Abundant Stories, we believe in rewriting narratives. In walking away from scripts that don’t serve us. In choosing meaning over expectations—and alignment over approval.
So whether you go to college or not, whether you pivot, pause, or carve a completely different path—do it on purpose.
You don’t owe anyone the version of your life they imagined.
You owe yourself the truth.
And that starts with asking the right questions.
