The emphasis on high test scores by formal education is poisionace for real-life development.

Like many here, I can resonate with your story, perhaps from another corner than most.

At the age of 13, I spent two years of my life at a University hospital. A serious disease (AML) taught me this lesson early in life. I'm forever grateful for that!

I never even finished high school. I knew I was toast for school and had to focus all my attention on starting working early in life from the moment I was "cured." I knew that this was the trade for skipping school.

Today:
I spot "Kids" of approx 24-26 years old who hold Bachelor and Master diplomas and are hypnotised to be "Masters in life" because of their high score achievements.

Note:
Surely some of them are smart and hold certain skill sets which will only unfold later in their lives. But for me, most don't appear to be stress-resistant against any threats or unexpected situations, both professionally and in their private life.

The reality:
Many of them need to be nurtured and kept under adult guard by us "kids with low paper degrees." Because, willing to admit it or not, this is the perception of most.


Me 20 years later:

What I noticed the other day when checking my certificates...

Holding 27 certificates which I acquired purely for my main profession over the last decade. Of those 27 certificates, I need exactly none "0" to perform optimally at my given Job. All my experience was gained from going out in the world and learning on the spot.

Besides that, I hold a couple more diplomas which I acquired through personal interest as a side thing. Those could be more valuable if I would make them a full-time profession.


I'm 35, have the best wife in the world and have four wonderful kids.
Still, I'm never in a seat. My approach through life stays the same, I strive to develop myself for my family, and because I enjoy the process of struggle, I don't know how it would be without that...

That would be how it felt when I was an A student, I guess...

I'm not suggesting anyone should take my example of me because this path and can still be stressful. I merely wanted to sketch my view added to your wonderful article from another angle.

Many people with high qualifications do extremely well in life, still when we become a bit older, our perspective changes, and there are still many possibilities to develop yourself in life.

Perhaps done in a way with more focus on your true interests and with a backpack full of life experience already.

I found that living life early, testing and exploring provides a better foundation to upgrade yourself with theory then, but that's just me.

Ayo, thanks for your writing!