Is a degree important? This is what I think
A degree is like a stepping stone — it can help you open some doors more easily, but how to proceed once inside depends on your real abilities.
In the short term, a degree is important:
Like an "admission ticket", many jobs (especially in large companies and government) directly screen candidates based on their degrees.
It saves time; HR is more likely to give you an interview opportunity when they see a high degree.
In certain industries (like doctors and lawyers), you can't even enter the field without a degree.
In the long term, abilities are more important:
After working for 3-5 years, people care more about what you have done rather than where you graduated from.
In entrepreneurship, freelancing, and other fields, a degree is almost useless; results speak for themselves.
The ability to continue learning is worth more than a diploma, for example, programmers compete on skills, writers compete on their works.
Key points:
When your degree is not enough: you can make up for it with skills, experience, and connections (like self-learning programming + project experience).
Don't be complacent just because you have a degree: people who graduated from prestigious schools but lack skills will still be eliminated.
In special circumstances: if you are facing financial difficulties, earning money might be more urgent than studying.
To put it simply:
A degree can make it easier for you to start, but life is a marathon, and ultimately it comes down to whether you can solve real problems. If you've already missed out on a degree, work twice as hard in other areas; if you are currently studying, try to get a good degree, but don’t think it will secure your future.
(Just like playing a game: a degree is the initial equipment; having good equipment makes for a smooth start, but completing the game still depends on your skills.)
