Self Educated Street Cred

In reviewing the previous posts, I realized that I might have come off as being against formal higher education. That is not true. It is necessary especially in fields where there absolutely must be proven accreditation such as a physician. Also, not everybody is cut out of the same cloth and the vast majority of people find it beneficial for them to pursue traditional avenues of higher learning though college and university study as their foundation. I am just trying to get a little street cred for those of us who have written our own syllabus.

Six Degrees of Success-paration

I was wondering how many people out in the universe have spent a considerable amount of time and money to obtain a higher degree and really never use it; dreaming their big dreams while hunched over textbooks furiously highlighting important passages.

I have a close relative who went to college, received her BA, used it to work at low to medium level jobs and went onto obtain her Masters' (or was it Mrs.?) then retired from the workforce entirely, with advanced degree, in order to devote time and energy to new baby.

Some of us, on the other hand, started college, became employed in the profession to which they aspired in order to start really learning, quit school to devote all of their energies toward the successful climb upward self educating all the while.

So much of self education is about being down at the bottom of the trench learning from those above us, using their knowledge combined with the networking and research tools available literally at the touch of our fingers.....................

Self Educated Quote

Let's get clear about this: There is no job in this economy that requires an academic diploma for it's successful performance. None. Nada. Zippo.

Lewis J. Perelman, School's Out, 1992
Via Autodidactic Press website

Self Educated Diversions

If you look at self educated people such as yourself and others whom you consider to be self educated don't you find that we all seem to be fairly diverse in our knowledge? We are sometimes learning about several things at one time!

Right now, I am reading a book entitled "Say Everything" How Blogging Began, What it's Becoming And Why it Matters" by Scott Rosenberg. I read blogs but didn't know really anything about the history of them. I checked it out from the library so that I could gain more insight to the "blogosphere" which would in turn help me become a better blogger. I have read the first three chapters. There is more technical jargon that I don't fully understand, but I have become completely absorbed by it. I am actually receiving a deeper education than I was originally seeking and enjoying the process!

Has that been your experience? Do you find yourself learning several things simultaneously?

Self Educated Quote

"As a gardener, I am totally self taught. But, like any subject, if you become passionate about it, you read books, go to lectures and cull tips from other gardeners."

This quote came via Bunny Williams, nationally renowned interior designer, from her book "An Affair With A House"

University of Self Education Blog Commences!

Welcome to the University of Self Education:

Where Higher Learning

Doesn't Always Come From A Degree.

I am in the process of writing a book and starting this blog in order to create a groundswell of interest in effecting change and gaining recognition for the considerable amount of research and study through self education outside of an accredited institution for higher learning, i.e. colleges and universities.

I know that there are thousands if not millions that have made the choice not to take the traditional route of attending a four year institution and have become just as educated in their career field if not more so due to the considerable self motivation that is required for one to be both the teacher and the student. Yet, because we don't have a "college diploma" we are excluded from applying for jobs with companies whose policies require a degree even if it is not remotely related to the position being offered!

How many times have we had to check the box on a survey or application that reads "some college"? It's demeaning and infers to those taking that survey or application that the intelligence level might not be what is expected. Are we less successful or educated than those who can check the four year, or advanced degree boxes?

If you feel like I am talking about you, please respond with your own experiences. I would like to hear from you. Let's start a revolution; a self education revolution!