Beyond the Certificate: What Education Really Gives

Many young people feel tired, even hopeless, because after spending years in school, they end up at home with their certificates and no job. I also feel this way sometimes because, to be honest, I have not practiced with my degree. I know the reality of our country, where even a first-class result may mean nothing if you don’t have the right connection.

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Looking back, I cannot say school has been useless. It shaped me in ways I did not even notice at first. Yes, the direct link between my certificate and my current life may be weak, but the training, exposure, and discipline I got from university still show in little things I do daily. For example, in how I write, how I express myself, and how I handle difficult situations. It may not be a job skill, but it is still a life skill.

But the truth is, the Nigerian university system has its own problems. Many students end up studying courses they did not dream about, simply because they had no choice. Admission is tough. If you miss your preferred course, you may be pushed into another department just to avoid staying at home for another year. That is why you find people studying courses they don’t like, and when they graduate, it is hard to make sense of it in the real world. Imagine someone who wanted to study computer science but was offered history. They will likely struggle to find passion in it.

Another issue is resources. Some courses are so expensive to practice. Think of medicine, engineering, or even some areas of art. If you don’t have money, tools, or access, you can hardly do anything meaningful with what you learned. This makes graduates feel stuck, and the certificate begins to look like a scam. But the truth is, school itself is not a scam. What is missing is the support system that should help graduates turn their knowledge into something practical.

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In the past week, I thought about the things I learned in school and asked myself if I had applied them. The answer was not straight. I cannot say I have used my university knowledge to get income directly, but I have applied the thinking skills and discipline it gave me. Even though I am not working in the field I studied, I still see value in the process of education.

So, is it still worth it? I would say yes. But we must also be real about the challenges. Education alone is not enough anymore. You need skills, exposure, creativity, and sometimes the boldness to start something on your own. A degree should be a foundation, not the final stop.

To those still in school, don’t see your degree as a waste. It may not hand you a job, but it will always add value to your life. At the same time, don’t depend only on it. Learn skills, try new things, and build yourself in different ways. The world has changed, and one path is no longer enough.

I believe school is never a scam. The real problem is frustration, lack of choice, and lack of resources. If these can be fixed, education will shine the way it is meant to. Until then, we keep learning in every way we can, because knowledge will always remain powerful.

This is my entry for this episode of Hivelearners community prompt of #hl-w182e02 which the topic is tagged STILL WORTH IT

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