Steem4nigeria Accelerator Contest Week 61: Is formal education the only path to financial freedom?

---

Must you have a degree before you have a well-paying job? Explain with experiences if any

Source

No, I don't necessarily need a degree to have a well-paying job, in this modern world that we are. The degree can only open doors for me in certain fields. Nowadays industries are after skills and experience rather than looking at degrees today we now have some paying jobs that don't look at degrees some of these jobs are in the area of;

Technology: When it comes to technology software development, which has to do with coding earns people millions more than what those who are using the degrees to work are earning. A company like Apple and Google reduced their requirements for degrees to focus more on practical skills.

Trade Job: Abroad electricians, mechanics, plumbers, etc earn more money without using a degree.

Entrepreneurship: Many successful people in our society have no degree and most of their staff are degree holders. A good example is people like; Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates who began their companies without completing their degrees.

*Freelancing/Gig Economy:" People who are good in writing, graphic design, and others are earning millions from doing freelancer work which requires no degree.

To me, a degree creates more opportunities for us and it is not the only way for me to become successful in life. Having a degree is good as I will get to network and collaborate with a lot of people.

---

Is the contest title trying to condemn education?

No, the contest title is not in any way trying to condemn education. The contest is only trying to let us know that even without having a degree in life we can still make it in life and also it is trying to make us not rely more on our degree as we are not the only one that has a degree. Instead of relaxing that we have gotten a degree and waiting for the government to create jobs so we can be employed we can start from somewhere and do something is what the contest title is telling us.

---

Is it dangerous to have the view that you can only make money after schooling?

Yes, it is very dangerous to have the view that we can only make money after schooling. This is the more reason we now have many unemployed graduates roaming about in our society and the more reason why entrepreneurship education is added to our society curriculum for people to learn skills and trade.

The truth is as a student or intended one to be, if your mindset of going to school is to finish and begin working to be getting paid you may end up being frustrated. It is good to start making people before graduating so you have the proper knowledge of how you can channel your money.

---

How has Steemit proven that you must not finish school before you start making money?

This is all about who knows how to do something very well, someone who knows the platform, and not someone with a degree. Steemit has proven that in many ways when opening applications for community curators and others there is nothing like academic qualifications which means no matter your level you can apply as long as you have the required Steem power. In Steemit users are still in secondary school and they are doing so well that Steemit has bridged such a gap.

---

I am inviting my friends; @dave-hanny, @ruthjoe, and @vickyson to also join me.