LIVE FAST. DIE YOUNG.

Back in high school when I was around 15 years old, I used to have conversations with my mom about my studies and I hated it when she would tell me that I would equate to nothing if I don’t have a college degree,  that people will look down on me. Is that really still society’s notion at this day and age? 

A particular conversation began when I showed her a professional camera I wanted. I told her it was my goal to buy that camera within this year (I used to do some graphic design on the sides for extra cash). She answered me saying that I shouldn’t have goals like that since I’m still in school, that my goal should be to have good grades.

A little background - I’ve always been inclined towards art, graphic design and photography to be exact.
I hope I’m not being too proud in saying that I have some talent. I mean I have a gift, a great sense of passion.
And I believe that if I was lucky enough to have this, I should enhance that talent to its full potential.

I’m not book smart; I don’t particularly enjoy studying math, biology or physics. I never won best research paper, I was never sent to those inter high school quiz bees. I did win foundation day t-shirt design contests though, and on-the-spot poster making contests.

I LOVE DESIGN. And I believe I can say that it loves me back. Why should I force myself into math or science? If in that field I would just be another face that passes by, another below average?

Every year we have college graduates that have no idea where they’d end up; dreams are broken for the pursuit of general knowledge. Passions die down. Talents are lost. And these young people end up working at Mcdonald’s. Seriously, am I the only one who personally knows some several college graduates working at fast food chains, serving up burgers?

Maybe, I don’t want to find a good job. I don’t want to have a college degree just for the sake that I have one.

I want to do what I love doing and earn a little bit from there.

My mom says she believes I can still succeed in what I want to do. It’s just that she believes people will still ask “so what degree did you finish?”

What if I answer them I don’t have one? Will they laugh? Will they thumb me down?

Yeah, maybe if I end up a bum, watching TV all day and still depend on my parents for financial support.
But what if I practiced? What if I invested my time and money in something that I’m passionate about while I’m still young? What if I become the next Zuckerberg of multimedia?

It’s not impossible right?

What if I follow my own dream?  What if I’m actually happy with what I do?  Would they ask “I don’t care if you’re rich and happy, what degree did you finish?”

“I never finished college”

Would they still laugh?

I’m not saying education is wrong. I know we need it so we’re not bumbling ignorants but I just don’t think it should define my future, or anyone else’s for that matter. It cannot define me.

There are many roads to success, not just by graduating and finding a good job. I’ve seen a lot of people who tried that road and failed. I am given an opportunity to take a different path. It has its risks, but what doesn’t?

More importantly, if I should starve, I can see myself happily starving there. I’d rather take risks than live my entire life following a dream that’s not mine, living an unfulfilled life and working just to survive. 

Because I know I’m not manager material, I don’t want to wait tables, I don’t want to be in a laboratory all day trying to discover the cure for aids, I don’t want to be a lawyer or a nurse.

It’s just not me. And if I continue on this road and I end up bored & unsatisfied with my life or my job because I let my teachers, my peers or my mom decide on how I should live my life, then I believe I would very well deserve that sad life.

Oh by the way, I’m 21 now. I never did finish college though I tried it for a year or two while freelancing. Now I work as the senior graphic artist for a premier business club, solely responsible for the club’s branding, marketing and event collaterals. I paint with watercolour on the side, a bit of food photography too and I still design shirts.  And guess what? Every now and then I do starve and I do have to figure out creative ways on how to pay the rent. But I’m happily figuring it all out. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.