Is college really necessary?

I am not a college graduate. I see no reason that I need to go to college. College used to be a way for the elite to set themselves apart from the rest of the workforce. Now, almost everyone has a college degree. And hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt with no real experience to show for their years of work.

From the day you start your freshman year of high school, students are told that they need to be thinking about which college they would like to go to and what they would like to major in and what they would like to do after college. Some people may have been able to answer this question, I was not one of those people. I went through high school unsure about what I wanted to do and what I wanted to major in. I was going to enroll in a state school, take out loans that wouldn't cover the scholarships I would receive, and go to school. I thought this was what people did. I thought this was the only way to make it in the world. Instead, my (then boyfriend, now husband) and I decided to move to Dallas (where he is from). We were both lucky that his parents do have a lot of connections and they were able to help us get jobs that we both love. And now, I've been working for the property management company for one of the largest buildings in Dallas. People are amazed I'm as young as I am. They are also astonished that I didn't go to college.

I've noticed that a lot of my friends that have gone to college are starting to begin their search for a job. The complaint I hear most from these friends is that all prospective employers are looking for someone with experience. Yet, none of these newly graduated people have experience. I've been at my current job for the past three years, gaining real work experience. Building my resume. Becoming a desirable employee. And, honestly, my resume is pretty awesome. And when you consider that the education you have is listed on the second page or at the bottom of your one-page resume, and the fact that the average employer only looks at a resume for roughly 5-10 seconds, most employers won't notice your education until you are actually called in for an interview. That is, if you're lucky enough to get called in for an interview with no experience to speak of.

I'm not saying college is bad or worthless. I'm saying people that feel you will get nowhere in life without a piece of paper are wrong. I know that education is important, but thinking you're not going to be as much of an asset or you're not as valuable of an employee is wrong.

And for the record, I am looking into going back to school. Just because I like to learn, not because I have to. And I think that is going to make all the difference.