“And what is a student? Is it a boy or girl who goes to school and reads a few books in order to pass some examination? Or is only he a student who is learning all the time and for whom there is no end to learning? Surely, the person who merely reads up on a subject, passes an examination, and then drops it, is not a student. The real student is studying, learning, inquiring, exploring, not just until he is twenty or twenty five, but throughout life.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti, excerpt from Think on These Things
I think this quote was one of the main catalysts that pushed me away from my pre-programmed, predisposed, pre-brainwashed path of traditional education into a path of self-education.
When I was in college I was extremely frustrated. I knew that I didn’t want to be there. I really hated it. I was constantly asking myself, “What is next? Why am I in college? Why am I here?? WHY AM I HERE!!!!????”
It wasn’t until I was introduced to an author named Robert Kiyosaki that my mindset really began to change.
One day a friend of mine gave me a book called Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Mr. Kiyosaki and I started to read it. From the first page I could not put it down! What a paradigm shift! I went from the mindset of “cram, cram, cram, there’s a test tomorrow” to ”I am reading something that is truly changing my life, and I don’t want to put it down!”
I must say, it was a liberating experience to read the words that were written in that book. Reading that many successful people such as Bill Gates, Henry Ford, and Steve Jobs were all COLLEGE DROPOUTS! Some of them only had as high as a gradeschool education. “How is that even possible?” I began to ask myself.
How does a person without a college degree become successful in life? That was a complete 180 turn what I had been told my entire life. You know how it goes. “Go to school, get good grades, and go GET A GOOD JOB!” I don’t know about you, but that plan was never very attractive to me. I didn’t want to go to school, I didn’t want to study hard on subjects that I hated, and I sure as heck did not want to go get a GOOD JOB afterwards working for the man for 40+ years.
I think most people desire something more than these things. I see so many people in school or at a deadend job that are completely bored. I see people that are reaching out for something more, something with more excitement! The words that Mr. Kiyosaki spoke set me down a path of personal development and self-education that in my opinion is worth more than hundreds of thousands of dollars that a traditional education would have ever given me. as in the words of Jim Rohn, “Traditional education will make you a living, SELF-EDUCATION will make you a FORTUNE!”
I encourage all of you to reach inside of yourself and find something that excites the heck out of you. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. If you hate college and you know that there’s nothing of real value being represented to you by going there, WHY ON EARTH ARE YOU GOING? If you hate your job with a passion and you know that there’s something else out there that you would love to be doing, WHY DO YOU KEEP SHOWING UP??? If you are in a relationship with someone that is destroying your life, WHY ARE YOU STILL WITH THEM???
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…
I am a proud college dropout who has chosen a path of self-education. I don’t value college degrees, I value real education. I am happily single and will stay that way until I find someone who truly is good for me. I will engage only in the activities and pursuits that will truly benefit me and those around me. I will do my best to better myself so that those around me will be influenced to do the same.
I will not go to college just because someone says I should. I will not be in a relationship with someone just because someone else says I should. I will not CHOOSE A PROFESSION based upon someone elses opinion of me and what they think I can or can’t achieve.
I will not settle for mediocrity or the status quo.
I will reach for the life of greatness that God has intended for me and encourage others to do the same! 
Thanks for reading.
- Jamie
