Is College Worth it?
Is that even the question we should be asking?
Quite recently my English class was given a prompt that was quite simple in its analysis and yet endless in its possibilities. The prompt was something like this.
Which of these ideas do you subscribe to?
College is completely worthwhile
College is generally worthwhile, but…
College is not completely worthwhile, but…
College is not worthwhile.
When first posed with the question my first response was to subscribe to number 3. My reasoning however, was quite narrow in its approach. I took it as a chance to explain the new creator economy. How college has become outdated and the cost itself of college is indicative of a place in history that we do not need to be a part of anymore. My thesis was narrow. It spoke about how the dream of college and the economic benefits that we have become so accustomed to have shrunk in our current world because of a more globalized and creative economy. The scope of that thesis was so narrow that halfway through writing the essay I realized I completely discounted the fact that our world would not have any doctors or engineers or architects or psychologists if not for college and the education it provides. But then, I came to this realization. And I didn’t put this in my paper because I didn’t have time to fully flesh out the idea behind this, but now, I think I have given this idea enough thought and enough attention to be able to explain it in a manner that is simple and cohesive.
Higher Education has been so instrumental in our countries and world development that to completely discount it would be atrocious and an abomination on my part. The benefits it provides in terms of the economic value and social aspect with things like medical doctors or practical things like engineers is something my thoughts should not discount. However, the main point I am going to make in this article is one from a place of creativity. I don’t mean that in a self-serving way either, it's only meant to provide the basis of what the argument is going to hold.
Take a look at this graphic for a moment.
40 years ago higher education was the pinnacle of accomplishment in our culture. The value we as a community placed on being a doctor in comparison to something like an actor was so far away from each other that I could put being a Youtuber on the graphic even though it wasn’t even a thing until 30 years later. That is how far away each of these things were from each other. I’m not saying that was wrong either; doctors and engineers are vital in our world. Without them sickness and disease run rampant. We have no houses to live in or buildings to share. We wouldn’t have the ability to drive across a system of roads and bridges to get from NYC to LA without them. College and higher education has allowed those things to prosper in a more connected world. As they should. I’m only trying to call attention to the gap between a creative economy and a bubbled higher education economy. Not in how much money they bring in, but the value we as a people put on those things.
Now take a look at this graphic for a moment.
The difference is subtle, but it’s important. Around 20 years ago we began to see computers becoming the new way of living. People began to search the internet and learn from the internet. I only put the phrase, “ computer genius” on the graphic because of the connotation associated with it. We began to see people like Mark Zuckerberg, or even Steve Jobs’ Apple start to resonate on a more global level. And then, the gap shrunk. Engineers and the internet generation began to cross over. They began to be enlightened by the same thoughts, the same dreams, and that is where we began to see a connection in the value we as a people placed on those things. The creative arts still lagged behind, but they grew closer because of the impact of a more globalized internet and connectivity to the creative freedom associated with the internet. The world was open to new possibilities because of how more open the creative economy was now.
And then… we see this.
The levels are still there. Doctors and engineers are still at the top of the totem pole. But, as you can clearly see, the gap is not so large that they don’t need to be talked about. The gap has shrunk. I’m not saying that the creative arts are ever going to overtake being a doctor or engineer. I’m simply saying the value we as a people put on those things has shrunk. It hasn’t diminished being a doctor, but it has heightened being a creative entrepreneur. And I cut out the phrase actor and musician from the final graphic for a simple reason. Actors and musicians have to be more than just that in order to survive in the creative economy today. Take, for example, Tai Verdes. He blew up his music career on tiktok being a funny guy who sang at work. Then, he caught on to the mainstream and has become an artist that gets radio play. He isn’t only a musician, he’s a content creator. I think that distinction is important to make here. The only reason the gap has shrunk is because our world has become more globalized than ever. It has stretched further than ever before. And that’s just down to the internet's importance. But, the creative economy has become so broad that in order to be a writer now you have to be able to be more than just a writer. In order to be a singer you have to be more than just a singer. And in order to be an actor you just have to be more.
I would like to hope the point I make here is clear enough. I entered this thought experiment behind the basis of an AP Language and Composition essay prompt. And I ended it by thinking about how the creative economy is becoming more broad and more valuable in our world’s eyes than ever before.
Doctors aren’t going away. And they shouldn’t, they’re quite important to how our world functions. But on the other hand, Mr. Beast doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Johnny Harris is becoming more mainstream than ever. And products like YouTube are so ever present in our lives that it has become second nature when pulling up a video to watch a 3 hour video essay on why Spider-Man Into the Spider Verse is the best Spider-man movie ever. It’s because it makes us think and it makes us dream. Two things that higher education has started to slack on. And that’s why, I think, higher education, while sometimes worthwhile, is lagging behind the growth of a new economy. A creative economy.
*I borrowed the phrases “creative economy” and “creator economy” from a Youtube channel named Colin and Samir. I recommend you checking it out if you want a bit more explanation on this new wave of creativity in our economy.
Titus Brown
