As I've grown older, I've come to reflect more deeply on the value of experience. While I never truly believed experience held little worth, I must admit that in my youth, I undervalued its significance.
Looking back, I also undervalued education. In high school, I didn't face significant challenges in achieving passing grades. I was certainly no straight-A student; I merely mean that passing grades were attainable with minimal effort on my part. This lack of discipline and commitment to academic excellence left me ill-prepared for the rigors of college. I had developed little to no practice in effective study habits.
When I first started college, I harbored ambitions of earning excellent grades. However, old habits die hard, and without the foundation of disciplined study practices, I gradually slipped back into my previous patterns of minimal effort. After a few semesters of As and Bs, my grades began to decline, but at the time, this didn't cause me much concern. In my mind, the pursuit of learning took a backseat to the ultimate goal of earning a degree – that coveted piece of paper that would supposedly pave the way for a good job and a comfortable living. Arrogantly, I believed that I already possessed the necessary skills to succeed in my desired field of software development and game programming, having programmed since the age of six and already accumulated a few years of professional experience.
I foolishly assumed that merely checking the box of college education would be sufficient. Little did I know that my poor academic performance would ultimately lead to my dismissal from the institution when an opportunity arose to maintain their placement statistics. At the time, they likely viewed me as a student unlikely to excel in post-graduation job placement, and thus, they chose to cut their losses instead of giving me a second chance.
Now, with nearly 30 years of career experience, including an eventual graduation, then earning an MBA with a concentration in information technology management, and the upcoming completion of a doctorate in strategic leadership, I find myself reflecting on the true value of experience and education.
Over the next few weeks, I plan to craft a series of posts exploring my thoughts on this subject. While the bulk of my professional experience lies in the technology realm, I aim to incorporate perspectives from real-world projects, DIY endeavors, and hands-on crafting experiences, such as my recent guitar-building project.
I invite you, the reader, to share your thoughts on the value of education and experience as well. I've prepared a survey that you can fill out, as I'm considering turning this exploration into a formal paper for submission to an academic journal.
