Dropping Out of College - New Path to Success?
It’s puzzling how so many successful people almost seem to brag about dropping out of college. This post will explore the stories of those who could have stayed but chose to leave for various reasons.
In today’s world, education is often a key factor when applying for a high-paying job—or any job, for that matter. Unfortunately, it’s also quite pricey. Many people simply can’t afford to continue their studies because the cost is so high, and most of us don’t have a wealthy relative to foot the bill.
However, there are still young people who, for lack of a better term, are wearing rose-colored glasses. They dream of dropping out of college to dedicate time to creating a business, driven by the allure of a lifestyle that actually comes much later—after months, if not years, of hard work, sweat, and tears.
Here are some famous examples of college dropouts who went on to achieve significant success:
- Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard in 2005 to focus on his young but growing social media platform, Facebook.
- Brad Pitt left the University of Missouri two weeks before graduating with a journalism degree to pursue acting in Hollywood.
- Eva Mendes studied marketing at California State University, Northridge, but left after being discovered by a talent manager.
- Matt Damon left Harvard with only 12 credits remaining to pursue acting, later gaining fame with the film Good Will Hunting.
- Oprah Winfrey dropped out of Tennessee State University after receiving offers to work in broadcast journalism.
- Sofía Vergara was studying dentistry in Colombia but left to become a TV host.
- Ariel Winter from Modern Family enrolled at UCLA but eventually decided to take an indefinite hiatus to focus on her acting career.
- Jake Gyllenhaal attended Columbia University but dropped out after his sophomore year to pursue acting.
The list goes on and on.
Do you notice any similarities? Exactly! All these people had an opportunity presented to them. It’s rare to hear of someone telling their parents that the money spent on their education went down the drain because they decided to follow in the footsteps of now-famous people. But these dropouts had a plan in place. Some had supportive parents, others had job offers. Most of us work to make money, and if a lucrative opportunity comes knocking, it’s hard to say no.
That’s why they dropped out—because they had an offer or an idea that was too good to pass up. Unfortunately, social media often inflames our desires to imitate these success stories. But it’s crucial to remember that these individuals had either a well-formed idea or a job offer that offered financial security.
We all want to believe in these “fairytales.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a modeling agency or a producer offered you a magic shortcut? Yes! But if that’s not the case, there’s no shame in earning a degree in a field that interests you. It’s wonderful to make a living away from the headlines, enjoying a peaceful life with full control over when you’re in the spotlight and when you’re not.
Many people struggle to even read and would give anything for the chance to go to a university or take a course. It would be a waste of our precious resources not to take advantage of the opportunities we have.
However, despite all those safety factors, the decision is ultimately yours. Good luck!
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” — Dr. Seuss