I went to work directly out of high school, sure I'm not the smartest, but hey... My sister went to college for 12 years, and, get this, she had a job working for Peter Jennings, a Masters degree, and lived at home. Big Deal You Say? Ah...
I worked straight out of HS, and was making $36,000 a year when she finished her "schooling". What did she make I hear you so beggingly asking? Well..... $ 18,000 two years after graduation.
Half of what I was earning, and I had years of experience to boot. I then went on to AT&T, then after a few promotions and good benefits, got LAID-OFF. Yes, I am an AT&T statistic, a "downsize", a laid off employee that they used for years.
So, then I got a job at EDS. Totally shifted gears, and became a computer security analyst. I have several very inportant clients that I support, have all the training I could ever ask for, and even more, and the pay now...? Let's just say I still make more than my sister, (though she changed jobs and is in advertising now), but I'm damn glad I did what I did, and I'm glad that I saved my parents all that money.
At one point, we thougth my sis was going to go to college foerever, make a career of it... It was pretty funny, a good 'ole family joke that still continues to this day.
(hey, maybe she'll work at Wal-Mart next)