Why do we do what we do?

Eric,

I think it's a good idea to stick with and finish school, especially if you're well on your way. Not really as a back up for income or for a future way of life, but for another reason.

For some strange reason, people are impressed with schooling, or "degrees". Same with dogs. A mutt is no doubt just as good a dog, but having a dog with a pedigree means a lot to some people. They'll jump at the chance to get (i.e., "have a relationship with") a pedigreed dog when they wouldn't have anything to do with a "mere" mutt. Thing is, the dog doesn't give a hoot either way!

Here's the point: You may not care a whit about school, but I promise you others will. I know this is true. I have a degree in engineering. Means nothing to me. But there have been times in business dealings where I needed an ace in the hole --- and the engineering degree works just fine for that.

After informing someone at just the right point in the conversation, I get "Oh, you're an engineer??? I didn't know that . . .", and you see their mind going "click, click, whir, whir", "Hmm, this guy must must be OK. He's an engineeer!" Right then and there the demeanor changes and, in their eyes, I've suddenly become "someone".

Of course, that's a bunch of bull. I'm the same person I was before they knew about the degree, but THEY put a big value on the pedigree even though I don't . . . and even though engineering has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the current business situation! (I haven't worked as an engineer since 1972.)

So I have been able to use my schooling to my advantage on occasion --- even though, truth be known, I'm just a regular old dog.

Maybe you'll have the same experience somewhere down the road.

---- Hugh

P.S. Besides, going to school was "something to do" while I was trying to figure out what I REALLY wanted to do when I grew up!