What is the point of school?

[Ace_King]

I'll be 21 in two weeks. When I graduated highschool (I was 17 at the time), I didn't want to jump into college but my parent's told me in order for me to stay at the house I have to go to college. (Hispanic family, yeah they are tough) I went to community college did a couple of credits, and dropped out when I was 18. I honestly didn't know what I wanted to major and I was failing classes. Didn't go to school for about a year. Got kicked out the house. I was on my own. Joined a temp agency found a job for data entry and moved my way up into the medical billing/coding department which took me two years . Moved in with my girlfriend. At 20 I discovered ALEKS, SL, PF etc so I started my journey there to go back to school. However all my friends asked me why I was going this route? When all my friends we're fresh our of high school going to University of Florida or University of Miami etc. I told them I rather get experience than a degree. In my opinion you learn what you need to know on the job, a degree is simply for personal enrichment. A degree is to get your foot in the door. Like everyone says, you need to sell yourself in the interview not your degree. I did tell majority of my friends that I am in school, they just didn't understand the whole concept of testing out and ACE credits etc. I am only 20, have my own place my own car and did it without any help. Paying for school out of pocket, but it's cheap so I don't mind. If I went to a brick and motor school, forget about it. My co workers are pretty impressed that I am gaining experience and going to school. Once I finish my BA, I'll have more experience than a kid who just graduated with his/her degree. In top of that, I'll probably be half way done with my Master's, with 3-4 years experience. I think I did okay =]