Can we succeed without a good education?

**homesteadmamma** · 02-19-2004, 01:18 PM

Thoughts on this?

**graci42** · 02-19-2004, 01:27 PM

That depends on what your idea of success is...

If you mean career....difficult, but it can be done.

If you mean family....all that takes is a lot of love and patients....sometimes a straight jacket helps, too.

As for a formal education...I'm more or less self educated ... most people are. I feel that I'm successful because I am happy.

**canadian gardener** · 02-19-2004, 01:27 PM

Yes but it takes a lot more effort, hard work and ingenuity to succeed. I think giving yourself your own education, and building a career are hard work but worthwhile. But again, self educated or college educated are still education.

It's not that university degrees make life easy, they don't, and they are hard work too, but it's like the tools are there for you to pick up then. You don't have to hunt them down. a bit of a head start on learning. Having a diploma or degree helps get you in the door to jobs often, but it's not that that keeps you in the job.

that depends on wisdom and experience.

Depends on the person a lot. Ultimately with or without an education, those who work hard and don't have too many setbacks will come out on top but not having an education if one can afford it, is certainly an avoidable setback.

And that gets down to what is an education.

It isn't always a degree or high school graduation certificates.

A lot of the time it's experiance married to wisdom. It's more about keeping a teachable attitude in life, staying excited about learning and exploring and finding new ways to do stuff better. Being a lifelong learner thru all kinds of ways, not just books or a degree. That is an educated person.

**guest2** · 02-19-2004, 01:30 PM

I agree with Graci and Margery!!!! Well said ladies!!!!

**duckduckgoose007** · 02-19-2004, 02:38 PM

When I was young, sure many kids went from high school to college. Many more could not afford it or did not want it. They thought it was not neccesary. Today it is almost mandatory a young person has a college degree. Years ago if you had enough grit to just get out there & work hard, you could excell. Today the number of degrees means you are much more able to get a job. Times change, as they should. I am sure it is a challange for the young people today.

I would have a hard time doing the younger Grandchildren's school work today.

I have no idea how you Home-School Mom's do it!!!!!

**Katybird** · 02-19-2004, 02:48 PM

I think it is much harder to succeed without a strong educational background. A good education gives a strong and stable foundation to build on and makes life much better and easier.

**Guest1** · 02-19-2004, 02:52 PM

Having a bunch of initials after your name doesn't make you any smarter....what a shame the more the initials the more upper-level management thinks you know!

I did more with my lack of education - as far as real life, getting down to the nitty gritty of what work was.....then, give me some piece of paper that says someone thinks I "know something" and I could get almost any job and be employed, although I wasn't really working.....

rambling.....sorry......

I know there's a big difference between "succeeding" and "surviving".....

**canadian gardener** · 02-19-2004, 05:49 PM

You are an educated successful person Debbie, with or without initials which brings something into focus.

Self educated is often smarter than someone who sits in a class for some hours every day for 4 years absorbing only what they need to to pass with decent grades.

The self educated person and the university grad who went after the pursuit of knowledge like a fish after bait are both lifelong learners who use their education (no matter where they got it) to make life better for themselves, their family and those around them.

Thumbs up for people who go after knowledge and wisdom in order to benefit themselves and those around them.

**guest2** · 02-19-2004, 07:22 PM

I have been blessed with many, many great role models in my life of successful people. My Dad never graduated from college (due to my arrival in the world

) but is one of the most highly educated men I know. He worked his way up from bellboy at a hotel to managing one of the most beautiful resorts in the world. He is extremely well read, hard working and learned everything from the ground up. He can motivate and lead people and can make anyone feel at ease. He has been on many different boards (still is), president of many professional and business associations, and even teaches college classes in business in hotel management.

My Grandbunny (cute name huh?

) was one of the most intelligent women I have ever been blessed to know. She had 3 young boys when she walked awy from an abusive marriage and raised them herself. She also was interested in everyone and everything. If she wanted to learn something, she taught herself. She had her own business, was a published author, a good musician, knew her bible inside and out, taught herself to make beautiful jewelry (I have one of the pieces she made), was a gourmet cook and was strong enough to walk away from a second marriage when my grandfather became an alcoholic. He later stopped drinking and they became good friends. I don't remember anyone saying she had a college degree.

I think one of my favorite examples of being a success in life though is CJ's son Micheal. He has come so far and gone beyond what expectations were originally set for him. He has overcome many obstacles and I know that is in good part to all the love, support and training that CJ and her wonderful husband have done and from Micheal's own determination.

**captclearance** · 02-19-2004, 08:28 PM

Lincoln had very little formal education and was the 16th president of the USA.......
I do believe that along the road to a PHD that a person would become very knowledgeable.
I think if there ever comes a day that we are not measured by abilities and scorned for our disabilities, seen for the person we are and not the color of our skin, not measured by our wealth, gender, religion, etc..... Surely we will be measured by our knowledge...... Maybe not the degree of education, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER !!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a fact that one of the factors in determinating REAL GENIUS is the level of empathy a person possesses, that isn't something taught in books but learned from a loving mentor and along the path of life.....

**lucy979** · 02-20-2004, 12:17 AM

I feel I am succesful just not in the workplace. I work hard everyday and read almost anything I can get my hands on. DD and I are always learning someting new from the library. I just don't have that paper that says 'I'm smart'. KWIM

If I wanted to work outside the home though it would be hard to get a good job without that paper. That is why I plan on staying home forever!! LOL

**PrairieRose** · 02-20-2004, 10:04 AM

Neither dh or myself have a degree. We have enjoyed success as entrepreneurs in the workplace with a lot of hard work and determination. I have to honestly say that I think the biggest thing that anyone gets out of a degree is the ability to stick with something until it's finished......I don't really think that most degrees teach you the life lessons that you need to succeed, other than patience and to some point-sacrifice.