what's in a degree?
**mood: excited to get outta here.
**noise: someones playing matchbox 20 i think
i keep finding it amazing how much gusto folks put behind a college degree. i think some degrees are needed in this world. i'd like to know the surgeon or OB/GYN i'm seeing has a degree, but does it really matter if a dietitian or librarian, or even a financial adviser has a degree? We look at the letters behind someones name and it gives us a sense of comfort. to think that this person went through a trained program means they really know how to do their job. right?
what about those of us who haven't gone through a trained college yet work well in the positions we have? if a person is self and experience taught, isn't that enough? does a person need a masters degree to be qualified for a position?
i seem to keep hearing from folks 'i deserve this because i have a masters degree', 'i deserve to flex my hours because i've gone through 6 years of schooling.' (well now, i went through 6 years of schooling too...i only have a BS, but i put in my 6 years!) i was at a training yesterday sitting next to a dietitian and she asked what i did. i told her that i teach diet and exercise and basic disease maintenance. andher response was 'how do you do that?' i wanted to go off. but i didn't. what can i say. i know a lot about health. i've been health conscious for a long time. i'm self taught and since i've gotten this job, i've learned more. i don't need a masters degree to teach folks how to properly eat and exercise.
so here's my story. i graduated from a 4 year college in 6 years. i had fun and also tried 2 curriculum's. i was in pre-nursing for almost 2 years when i decided that it wasn't for me. i then went into environmental health with an emphasis in general health. my major was in water supply systems, sewage systems, public campground sanitation and restaurant sanitation. my first job was in restaurant, school and pool inspections in washington st. for 3 years. i moved back to mi and became a chemical and industrial safety specialist for a hospital. granted i had a bit of training on this in school but not much. i was super green and had to learn a lot. but i learned it. after 3 years i became a emergency preparedness coordinator. i had no idea what i was getting myself into. it sucked. it was the most stressful job i've ever had and being a very nonchalant type of person, planning was quite alien to me. although i did a great job. then almost 8 months ago, i had the chance to take this job. again, i didn't have any training for it, but I was self taught and i love to teach. so they gave me a chance and i've completely revamped the program. so where does that leave me?
i have a degree but it's not for the job i currently have. does that make me inadequate for the job i'm in. would a computer tech with no schooling but who self taught them self to be a computer master be any less worthy? why do we put so much emphasis on a degree? what does it really give us? believe me, i'm not knocking schooling. i'm glad i went to college. i learned and grew an incredible amount, but i refuse to let my schooling hold me back. if i want a job, i'm going to go for it. and if i get it and do my job well, it shouldn't matter if i have credentials behind my name.
the only thing that should matter in the work place is ethics, respecting your workmates and doing the bast you can do. why isn't that enough?
**noise: someones playing matchbox 20 i think
i keep finding it amazing how much gusto folks put behind a college degree. i think some degrees are needed in this world. i'd like to know the surgeon or OB/GYN i'm seeing has a degree, but does it really matter if a dietitian or librarian, or even a financial adviser has a degree? We look at the letters behind someones name and it gives us a sense of comfort. to think that this person went through a trained program means they really know how to do their job. right?
what about those of us who haven't gone through a trained college yet work well in the positions we have? if a person is self and experience taught, isn't that enough? does a person need a masters degree to be qualified for a position?
i seem to keep hearing from folks 'i deserve this because i have a masters degree', 'i deserve to flex my hours because i've gone through 6 years of schooling.' (well now, i went through 6 years of schooling too...i only have a BS, but i put in my 6 years!) i was at a training yesterday sitting next to a dietitian and she asked what i did. i told her that i teach diet and exercise and basic disease maintenance. andher response was 'how do you do that?' i wanted to go off. but i didn't. what can i say. i know a lot about health. i've been health conscious for a long time. i'm self taught and since i've gotten this job, i've learned more. i don't need a masters degree to teach folks how to properly eat and exercise.
so here's my story. i graduated from a 4 year college in 6 years. i had fun and also tried 2 curriculum's. i was in pre-nursing for almost 2 years when i decided that it wasn't for me. i then went into environmental health with an emphasis in general health. my major was in water supply systems, sewage systems, public campground sanitation and restaurant sanitation. my first job was in restaurant, school and pool inspections in washington st. for 3 years. i moved back to mi and became a chemical and industrial safety specialist for a hospital. granted i had a bit of training on this in school but not much. i was super green and had to learn a lot. but i learned it. after 3 years i became a emergency preparedness coordinator. i had no idea what i was getting myself into. it sucked. it was the most stressful job i've ever had and being a very nonchalant type of person, planning was quite alien to me. although i did a great job. then almost 8 months ago, i had the chance to take this job. again, i didn't have any training for it, but I was self taught and i love to teach. so they gave me a chance and i've completely revamped the program. so where does that leave me?
i have a degree but it's not for the job i currently have. does that make me inadequate for the job i'm in. would a computer tech with no schooling but who self taught them self to be a computer master be any less worthy? why do we put so much emphasis on a degree? what does it really give us? believe me, i'm not knocking schooling. i'm glad i went to college. i learned and grew an incredible amount, but i refuse to let my schooling hold me back. if i want a job, i'm going to go for it. and if i get it and do my job well, it shouldn't matter if i have credentials behind my name.
the only thing that should matter in the work place is ethics, respecting your workmates and doing the bast you can do. why isn't that enough?
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