Education? Just Challenge Yourself ... (not 'the system')

I almost feel the 'anti-college' movement goes 'too far the other way.'

Now I understand the disgust with traditional education, although I don't understand the 'backlash' against STEM, especially when entire cultures consider STEM 'not optional.' **

**SIDE NOTE: Some cultures have everyone advance to almost a pre-engineering/physics level math/science core ... in mere secondary school.

I currently work in technology, which doesn't require a college degree. I've consistently argued with HR against requiring a college degree in various positions I've tried to fill. The 'well rounded' argument doesn't sit well with me, especially considering how I feel about 'holier than thou' HR individuals with BS, let alone BA, degrees.

Because, at the same time, I have a traditional engineering degree, Electrical Engineering (EE) with a Computer (i.e., Integrated Circuit -- e.g., Semiconductor, Materials, Layout, etc...) focus. Not Computer Science (CS), not Management Information Systems (MIS), etc... but EE. Why did I do that if I was going to end up in Technology Application?

It's simple ... I wanted to understand how it all works ... at the lowest level. Not just 'digital gates' like CS, not 'basic system design' like MIS. I wanted to know how electrons flowed, how relativity mattered, etc... at the, still very much, 'analog' level. Even digital is still very much analog, with physics working on it.

Does that help me in my career? Rarely. But I also won't deny, when some things are spoken, I can follow. And my maker knows when some PhD or fiscal 'wiz' starts talking statistical methods, not only does my 100% calculus-based STEM -- including everything economics to statistics -- 'kick in' and I can follow them, but my early career in aerospace and even semiconductor can easily follow even many of the phrases and, sometimes, acronyms that haven't changed with time.

I don't like to be in a room where I cannot understand most of what is going on, even if it takes me 10x longer than people who do it every day. I have the background and tools to understand everything from linear feedback in advanced risk analysis (had it in several classes, from circuits to discrete state, all with calculus) to the triple integral calculus to follow 6DoF (6 degrees of freedom simulation - 7 dimension Fortran or C with X, Y, Z, pitch, roll, yaw ... over time).

Yes, I still run into methods in code when it comes to debugging applications, from risk and other simulations to R and SAS Institute software where ever I go.

It's nice to be in any company, and immediately pick up on anything they do. That's why I studied traditional engineering. I might have graduated 'Summa Damn Lucky,' but I did. I learned it all. The product of a merely, total, $10,000 education (would run about $25,000 today) from a public university -- although I wouldn't have the grades to enter UCF today directly as a Freshman, I'll admit.

But I don't expect everyone to have one ... I just expect people to 'challenge themselves' when they are young, before they start their careers, as much as during their careers. It's up to them to figure that out for themselves.

I knew ever since my father exposed me to trigonometry at an early age. I owe my parents quite a lot, while I also owe myself for 'not screwing up' my opportunities either.