It was after I watched The Social Network, a biographical film based on Mark Zuckerberg, that I felt the sudden urge to drop out of my high school. Of course, I didn’t. The movie revolves around a Harvard undergrad who works on a new concept that eventually turns into the now global social network—Facebook. It so happens that Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of college at age 20 to do something that his college could have never taught him to do.

After a little research, I found out that many other popular entrepreneurs had also dropped out of college right around the same age. Some examples are Michael Dell, founder of Dell; Steve Jobs, Apple Founder; Julian Assange, Wikileaks founder; and even Bill Gates, Microsoft founder.

The big question then is, how important is the college education? So many people have become billionaires without ever receiving a college degree. So many people are leading a decent life without it. Why then is it important to get through the college and have a degree in one’s name?

However, I can imagine your reaction while reading this—you must be wondering what has gone into me. I know this sounds bizarre and abnormal. The commonly held notion is that a normal student like me should only aspire to finish college, find a job, and make sure they cling to it. The commonly held notion is also that one should not get out of comfort zone, take risks and start something of their own, but rather find a safe and proper 9-5 job. Entrepreneurial vision is deemed as ‘dreamy-floaty’.

I am always occupied with these thoughts. And I am always willing to discuss it with someone, anyone. There have been so many moments when I have seriously considered never pursuing college, in fact, even dropping out of high school. I have confessed to my friends that I am not built for it. There have been times when I have also discussed the possibility with my siblings. But, I would not dare talk about this to my parents.

It will be downright ridiculous to stop studying altogether. I cannot ignore the repercussions of me not pursuing college education, the impacts it will have over my Guardians, over my friends, and most importantly over my future.

What if the business venture I establish, deliberately fails? What if I am never competent enough to thrive in the market? What If I can’t even establish any business due to lack of capital? Shall I go back to college then? What am I going to tell to my friends, my teacher and most importantly, my parents when I fail, when they had already warned me that I would?

These thoughts also equally occupy me. They haunt me in the night like a nightmare. They give me cold feet and they persuade me to continue school.

It is also true that the successful entrepreneurs who dropped out of college and built a multi-million dollar company were not ‘just another average student’. They were passionate, they were driven and they had an idea that sold. Yet, they do inspire and excite me, and make me wonder about the possibility of a life where I can do without a college degree. They push me and give me courage to maybe just take the risk.

I mean, can I not start a new business if the old one fails? If I don’t have enough capital on my own, can’t I just ask my relatives for help or approach an investor? Even if nobody recognises me and I don’t make overnight success, can I not keep trying? 

Let’s see where life takes me. But, as of now, I can’t get my head around why college education is given so much importance when all one needs is a good idea and enough determination to turn it into action.

Sherpa is an A-levels student at Saipal Academy