The photo is so old now that it might as well be done in sepia tones. It shows me dressed in the gown of a graduate. I, of course, still had my signature waxed and twirling mustachios and wore a secretive grin. It was taken following the observances for commencement at Boston University in June of 1975. In the fall of that year, I would commence graduate work for several more years.
Was it all expensive? Simply put, despite scholarships, fellowships, and occasional small grants, I wouldn’t pay it off until 1997. Over twenty years later.
These days, when the value of college and university education seems to be widely questioned, the query is often, “Was it worth it?” I wonder how to answer that. At the end of 1970, when I finally embarked on a new course in life, the question that was posed was, “Can you afford not to invest in yourself?” Because that was precisely what I was doing, investing in myself.
Put your bets down!
If you’ve read some of my other stuff, you might know about my years as a Pious Itinerant ( road bum) and folksinger. At the point I decided to be very speculative and make an investment in an education the odds were long that I’d see thirty going the way I had been. How risky was it? Well, how would you like to dump your lifetime savings into a cryptocurrency scam I have going? Yep, it was that risky.
“Friends” and my girlfriend were certain that it would be a phase that Wes ( that’s me!!!!) would grow bored with. They assumed, and told me as much, that I’d be back to my usual routine soon enough. I wish I had them take bets. I’d be rich!
So, the question was, was it worthwhile? These days, that question gets framed most often as an economic one. That’s a shame, because if you take full advantage of an education, it opens new worlds, interests, and opportunities. The terminal degree you receive on graduation day is only the beginning. It is up to you to make more of it.
But was it worth it? Absolutely. To answer the economic question, the opportunities to earn opened up for me. But beyond that, the vistas of ongoing investigation opened. I discovered new interests, perspectives, and amusements.
So, yeah, it was the most expensive personal item, but I’m not sure that I could have afforded not to make that investment.
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When I think about this question — having spent the first 62 years of my life involved in the “education industry” — worth it? That’s like my next door neighbor who thinks patriotism is 50 US flags on his lawn every national holiday. People like to quantify things but many of the most important things in life can’t be quantified. Worth it? I think if someone asked me that now? I’d laugh and oblige them by saying, “I spent 4 nights in the hospital and got six weeks of after care and paid nothing. You fucking tell me.” Because — in a financial sense — that what it boiled down to in terms they could understand.
P.S. Usually when someone asks me this, I don’t answer.
Usually, I don’t either. But recently, the media has been full of reports questioning the value of education. So I saw an opportunity to cast it in a different light.
❤️
I usually don’t argue with them about it, but somewhere in the conversation, I throw in that I am an unrepentant high school dropout. I love the reaction I get.
Amen
I have to agree on that Lou