Sheepskin

 

Sheepskin

 

It’s that time of year again — caps fly into the air, tassels are flipped, and families gather in bleachers and auditoriums to cheer for students crossing a stage into the next chapter of life. Across the country, thousands of young people are graduating high school and college, clutching diplomas and degrees that symbolize years of effort and, for many, enormous debt.

 

For decades in America, this moment — holding that piece of paper — has been treated like a passport to success. A college degree was supposed to guarantee stability, a good job, and upward mobility. That belief really took root after World War II, when the GI Bill opened the doors of higher education to returning servicemen and women. College became the gold standard — the mark of credibility and progress. A real door opener yes sir.

 

But something’s shifting. Ask any recent graduate staring down the barrel of student loan payments while struggling to find a job in their field. Tuition has skyrocketed. The job market has evolved. And far too many grads are leaving campus without the skills employers actually want — especially in areas like technology, data, and applied sciences. What’s more, some colleges have become known more for their party scenes than their ability to prepare students for the real world.

 

Meanwhile, trade schools and vocational programs are quietly redefining what education can look like. They teach practical, in-demand skills — from electrical work to medical technology to computer networking — at a fraction of the cost of a four-year degree. No dorm rooms. No lecture halls. Just focused training that leads straight to a job.

 

This doesn’t mean college is useless. But it does mean we need to rethink how we define success — and education itself.

 

I was reminded of that during a walk to City Hall one morning with Jack, a commercial architect in his 80s. Jack had “retired” after heart surgery, but the truth was, he still worked a few days a week because he loved what he did. That day, we were on our way to meet with city officials about some building plans. As we walked, I asked him casually, “So, Jack, where did you go to college?”

 

He smiled and said simply, “I didn’t.”

 

Jack never went to college. Yet here he was, reviewing blueprints, leading design projects, and consulting on multi-imillion-dollar developments. Over the years, he’d built a wildly successful career. He owned multiple homes, had a fleet of race cars at one point, ran flight schools, even owned skating arenas. He had his pilot’s license and his own plane — though he no longer takes to the skies except as a passenger.

 

“How’d you do all that?” I asked.

 

“I started working as a draftsman for an aircraft company right out of high school,” he said. “Eventually, I joined an architectural firm, borrowed books from the architects, studied on my own, and passed the licensing exam. No college required.”

 

Sure, a college degree can still open doors. But it’s no longer the only key. In fact, sometimes it’s not even the best one.

 

Success today looks different than it did 50 years ago. It’s not always about where you went to school or how many letters follow your name. It’s about what you can do, how quickly you can learn, and how well you can adapt.

 

So, as students toss their caps into the air this graduation season, it’s worth asking: What are they really celebrating? The piece of paper? Or the readiness to face a world that demands more than just credentials — a world that rewards ingenuity, grit, and real-world skills? I hope they have all three.

MEME:

Based on recent data, here's a table of ten bachelor's degrees that are least likely to lead to employment in the field of study within one year post-graduation, along with their respective underemployment rates:

Rank	Major	Underemployment Rate (%)	Unemployment Rate (%)	Median Early-Career Salary ($)	Median Mid-Career Salary ($)
1	Criminal Justice	71.5	2.8	41,000	70,000
2	Performing Arts	65.9	5.5	38,000	64,000
3	Art History	62.3	8.0	41,000	72,000
4	Leisure and Hospitality	57.6	4.1	39,700	67,000
5	Liberal Arts	56.7	7.9	38,000	65,000
6	Animal and Plant Sciences	56.3	1.6	41,000	70,000
7	Fine Arts	55.5	7.9	40,000	68,000
8	Miscellaneous Technologies	54.8	6.4	50,000	80,000
9	Business Management	53.6	3.2	50,000	78,000
10	History	53.5	7.5	40,000	70,000

 

• Criminal Justice majors have the highest underemployment rate, with over 71% working in jobs unrelated to their field of study.
• Performing Arts and Art History graduates also face significant challenges, with underemployment rates exceeding 60%.
• Business Management majors, despite a relatively lower underemployment rate, still experience over 50% working in unrelated fields.
• History majors, while passionate about their discipline, encounter over 50% underemployment.

These statistics underscore the importance of aligning one's degree with market demand and considering alternative pathways, such as vocational training or certifications, to enhance your changes of getting that job you want.