5 Things More Valuable than a College Degree

Graduating from secondary school comes with a mixture of excitement and anxiety for the next phase of your life. The most popular course of action is to pursue a college degree because it is universally believed to be the best.

More than 2.1 million people were enrolled as students in Nigerian universities in 2021. This demonstrates that more secondary school graduates favour attending college over other options.

In actuality, there are numerous alternatives to college and a particular job path. While going to university right after high school is a fantastic choice for many, it is not the best option for everyone.

Starting a business online

The internet era has given rise to various worthwhile alternatives to college, many of which can give you better chances than the conventional straight-to-college trend.

Here are 5 things more valuable than a college degree.

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1. Use your passion to earn money

You can use your interests, such as clothing, sewing, or baking chocolate chip cookies.

Many secondary school pupils are unaware of the abilities their hobbies have given them to become financially independent. You may find a way to earn money doing what you like to do, whether it’s through Jumia or Etsy.

2. Be Innovative

A full-time profession in graphic design, photography, or sketching can be easily attained via talent. Although there are many benefits to attending college art programs, you may learn the majority of your artistic abilities for little to no expense online. In the digital age, you can showcase your skills on social media and apply for jobs. Every business needs top-notch content. People will be more interested in your work than your degree if you can demonstrate that you can create it.

Bethlehem Alemu was a businesswoman who flourished despite her circumstances. She was living in the impoverished Ethiopian settlement of Zenabework, which is a suburb of Addis Ababa.

SoleRebels, her company, is one of the most well-known and rapidly expanding African footwear brands in the world. Over 50 nations around the world have purchased her line of recycled-material shoes, including the USA, Canada, Japan, and Switzerland. Her company now brings in more than $1 million annually.

 3. Launch a Business

An authentic business can sound intimidating to start. It’s not true that you need a flawless notion or to comprehend intricate bookkeeping.

Even little companies like renting bicycles or selling decorative balloons might generate enough revenue to support a family. With a small initial capital, you can launch a fast food business, such as a shawarma place, and begin making money while gaining expertise.

Adii Pienaar is a co-founder of WooThemes, a South African IT business that was recently purchased for $30 million by Automattic, a US-based online internet behemoth.

He founded WooThemes in 2008 when he was just 23 years old and enrolled in college. Adii continued to put a lot of effort into WooThemes while working part-time as an online consultant and freelancer, using his earnings and savings at the time to fund the company.

Bootstrapping is the term used to describe the practice of beginning a business with no money, or at the absolute least, very little money.

It is the skill of making personal sacrifices, using limited financial resources and one’s own savings to support a startup company.

Adii Pienaar is still a serial entrepreneur and continues to work on a number of exciting startup initiatives despite his great success with WooThemes.

4. Grow an Audience

You can make money from it by building a sizable audience. Social media, websites, blogs, email lists, and even things like e-books and podcasts are all examples of this.

If you can produce engaging material, you might be able to make it your full-time profession. There are many alternatives to college available in the digital age.

Nowadays, many young people use Instagram and TikTok to showcase their talents.

Consider Elsa Majimbo, who amassed a sizable Instagram following throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. She was just featured in Forbes’ edition of the 30 Under 30.

5. Write a Book

Many high school students believe they lack the expertise necessary to write a book, yet each person has a different viewpoint. If you have writing talent, you might want to think about pursuing a career in writing that doesn’t require education.

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