I am a college drop out. I never finished college and I dropped out mid semester and have basically no education to show for it.
I’m incredibly jealous daily of my friends and coworkers who have degrees, training, internships, and experience because I had to teach myself EVERYTHING.
But slowly and surely, I’m finding merit in my own journey.
For a very long time, I let society place a value on me that wasn’t accurate. I felt like because my level of education was only ‘some college,’ I was destined to work for slightly above minimum wage doing jobs that didn’t take any real brainwork.
I was so wrong.
A few years ago, stuck in a dead-end front desk job that barely paid me $12/hr, I had had it. I felt like I was worth more, but my resume and my experience didn’t tell that story. I longed for the feeling of having pride in what I did, using skills I thought I could develop and grow, and being a part of something I could take pride and ownership in.
The best thing I ever did for myself was grow confidence in my own abilities.
I had them. I was smart, brave, and fearless. I was ready to make a difference for myself and my family.
I launched my own small business: a social media management firm. I focused in on something that I felt like I could do well and added some research.
I taught myself skills that people went to college to get.
The confidence came in waves as I acquired a new skill, gained a new customer, and forged ahead.
For a while in the beginning, I assumed that people wanted me to have a degree, so I would preface every conversation, every suggestion with an apology or an aside. I didn’t realize how detrimental this was to my own psyche and my business. People didn’t care where I had gotten my knowledge from. The truth of the matter was, I had the knowledge and people liked my work.
I stopped apologizing. I stopped making excuses. I just started making money.
I never looked back. Sure, I could still pursue an education, but sorry, not sorry, I’m too busy running a thriving business.
The bottom line here is that no matter your education level, you can succeed.
Believe in yourself because I believe in you and I believe in me – and we are strong as hell.
