Just shy of 6 months since I graduated from the University of North Texas (holy shit, just typing that out made me realize time is flying by) and moved down to Austin where I got my first “big boy job,” and started my life and career in the “real world.”

Fortunately for me, the “real world” has treated me pretty well so far. I was able to snag a job in the field that I like pretty quick (cue the old adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know). I have heard war stories from friends and acquaintances who have been graduated for a few years now who have been steady grinding trying to find an internship or entry level job that puts their degree to use. With that being said, I feel very fortunate to be where I am at.

My significant other just recently graduated from UNT. My little brother just wrapped up high school and is about to embark on his journey into “higher education.” And I just made a spreadsheet, calculated absurd interest rates, and began my repayment on my student loans. In the mix of things, I can’t help but think, is this piece of paper with fancy calligraphy (that I still need to get framed, by the way)  really worth $34,570?  Here are my thoughts and reflections on my last five years at a public university.

Just about every summer from the time I was 16 up until the summer that I left for London, I spent my time traveling the country with a self-made Rastafarian who also happened to be my mentor. He has a different perspective on life that you and I might share, so I enjoyed hearing what he has to say. He was excited and encouraging when I told him my plans of attending college, but he would also bust my chops about it periodically. “College is nothing but parrots, Trip!” Inoch would say. “Professors just teach you to remember things and you say them back for presentations or tests, then forget about it. College doesn’t teach you how to make money.”

To an extent, I could totally agree with him. I knew or could see so many of my peers crammed into “Club Willis” cramming during finals week (myself included) just to keep their heads afloat after a semester of partying, many long nights on Fry St., submitting mediocre work and borderline passing their exams. And these are our leaders and professionals of tomorrow, right?

On the flipside of that, when I was accepted to the Mayborn School and really started getting involved with my classes and clubs such as SWOOP & AdClub, I could begin to see the value of my education. The students and work I surrounded myself with were so inspiring and engaging and intellectual and I just knew and could see that some of these students are going to be the future rockstars in the advertising business.

My professors came from various prominent agencies from across the country, worked on high-profile campaigns, and were very passionate on what they taught. And the flame from their passion caused a spark in me. I wanted to attend agency visits. I was glued to the headlines of AdWeek constantly seeing what was the latest in the ad world, and became an AAF member and attended luncheons with DFW ad and marketing professionals. IT WAS AWESOME.

Now, who’s to say I couldn’t have had those same experiences and opportunities without college and the price tag? I could have taken the old school route and self-trained myself through heavy reading of ad or marketing books. Surely YouTube university could have taught me something relevant or I could have taken online classes. I could have even worked as an apprentice and shadowed a copywriter. Who knows? At least I wouldn’t be in debt, right?

If you were like me at a younger age, I’m sure you were told to go to college so that you can learn the skills to get you a better job in order to provide a better life for yourself. Looking back on it, I feel that from my “college experience” the real value of my degree came more so from the life experiences as opposed to actual course material. Like, how to deal with a messy roommate, how to work with different personalities and work in group projects (god damn group projects), learning to make a meal that would rival something off an Anthony Bourdain show with just a loaf of bread, ramen noodles and chicken, how to confidently speak in front of groups (I still suck at it), and DEFINITELY time management (I’m still pretty bad at that too, but I learned!).

Don’t get me wrong, Peter Nobel’s campaigns class kicked my ass in the best possible way and it is now ingrained in me the process of running a successful campaign and “romancing the room” when giving a presentation. Dr. B’s passionate flame was the biggest spark in my personal passion for advertising and she made me want to be a better student. And Ford had no problem letting me know my work was shit and that I could do better. And for those people, I am eternally grateful.

But were those life experiences worth the almost $35,000 price tag? In my humble opinion, absolutely! College isn’t for everyone and I understand that. Steve Jobs put a dent in the universe and he did it after taking LSD and dropping out of college. My end goal is to start Trip’s Skate Shop. I could have totally been scraping through a 9-5 without a college degree and saved money to start the (future) world’s most kick-ass skate shop and restaurant. But I am confident in saying that the things I learned at UNT, the people I have met, and the life lessons that I made it through have all prepared me for something greater.

Final words: If I could do it all over again, I totally would and I wouldn’t change a thing. OK, maybe a little less alcohol and some more coffee during freshman year, but other than that, not a thing!