Grad School?

I recently had a dream I was accepted into grad school. When I woke up I thought, well, that was weird. When I graduated from college with a Bachelor’s degree in English I thought my education was complete. While working through undergrad I felt something nudging at me about grad school, and thought, it’s taken me almost eight years to finish a Bachelor’s degree, why would I go to grad school? A number of my peers were already planning to attend grad school after undergrad and I was encouraged to do the same. The only thing was, I saw no need for a Master’s degree. I perceived an additional degree as more of a decoration. Especially because at the time, I wasn’t certain what I’d get a Master's in, along with people claiming a Master’s degree would be a good look. One day, a respected colleague pulled me aside for a talk about this. She asked, “Have you thought about grad school?” “Yes,” I replied. “But not right now. I just graduated this past spring." She looked at me with a smile and said, “You can take a year off before you start. I wouldn’t say this to you if I didn’t believe you could do it, but you should consider doing your Master’s.” When she said that, it did something to me. It’s amazing how someone who barely knows you can see your potential even when you don’t sometimes. Still, I’m not completely convinced that a Master’s is necessary for me. I’m blessed and incredibly grateful to have a college degree, but I’m definitely not the type to boast and brag about it, or crave an additional degree because it would look or sound good to others.  I’ve met plenty of degree snobs that are highly intelligent, but severely lacking in the area of common sense. You can have as many degrees as you want, but if you’re not street smart, too, or pursuing a degree or additional degrees for the right reasons, you may find yourself facing challenges your academics never prepared you for. I’ve also met humble college graduates, who rarely, if ever, bring up the fact that they have a degree or multiple degrees. Humble college graduates have an understanding that a degree does not define who they are as a person, but is merely a reflection of their hard work and intellectual capabilities. I’ve found that many people who have a warped perception and level of arrogance about having a college degree are often not as smart as they think, and typically not liked by a lot of people. Because while being highly educated is nice and can set you apart in positive ways,  it’s important to remember that a degree doesn’t make you better or more qualified than anyone else in this life, especially if you’re a bragger and an arrogant, education snob.  It’s scary that a lot of people don’t get that. Not everyone has to go to college, or even grad school, but I believe it’s great having those kinds of options and opportunities. After all, no one can ever take your education away from you.