To Those Who Feel that University is a Waste of Time

Ten years ago, I wanted a university degree so badly. I thought that going to university and graduating was a stepping stone to success. 

I bought into the hype for quite a long time. I attended school, trying to enroll in a degree program. I worked part-time jobs on the side to support myself, just for some extra expenses for schooling or books. 

I remember how excited I felt when I received my first perfect score on a midterm. I was jumping up and down with joy, thinking that all my hard work would eventually pay off. But little did I know, studies were only one part of the picture. 

Since I was enrolled in a business degree program, professors and peers around me would always emphasize the importance of networking.

Need a job? Go to a campus group and network with professionals. Need a reference? Meet your professors during office hours and bother them with questions. Many students actually bought into it. They would attend every job fair on campus and snag every business card available. 

At one point, I was in this position as well. Every summer or co-op season that came around, I constantly tried to obtain an internship. I started working, despite the fact that I had to send out hundreds of resumes and applications. But by the time I worked my second internship, I realized I might have become disillusioned. 

I sat by the desk with my coffee, grinding on emails and Excel spreadsheets. My mind was numb, and I was feeling tired. I thought to myself, ” Is this it?“

I did all this networking, only to land a job that was mainly paperwork. It was like walking on eggshells every day. You have to do the right thing; you can’t outshine the person who hired you, or else you’ll be targeted. But the most difficult part was hiding my misery behind forced smiles. 

After some self-reflection, I realized that the jobs that made me truly happy were my part-time jobs, which I worked outside of school. Instead of sitting at a desk, I taught children dance, visual arts, and sports. After a leap of faith, I decided to continue my career by pursuing jobs I was passionate about, simply because I could not bear to work in a corporate job. 

However, I realized that if I pursued my passions, my education and hard work would probably be wasted. Because after all, you don’t need a degree to become a dance or art instructor. 

On the other hand, I also realized that pursuing passions in general takes a lot of courage and sacrifice. Instead of being committed to a standard 9-to-5, my jobs are mainly centred on evening and weekend shifts. And instead of getting a Registered Retirement Savings Plan or a pension, my job rarely provides benefits to employees. 

But at the same time, I don’t think I would have discovered what I was truly passionate about until after I decided to go to university. 

University isn’t the destination, but the place that opens doors for interests and career options. Even if you dislike your program, you may learn more about yourself and your own preferences. Those strong feelings can lead to side projects or gigs, which may in turn lead to new opportunities. 

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