You don't have to have a degree of any type to be able to achieve success and a well paying career in IT. If you've heard that, it is factually incorrect.

Is college the right option for some people in some careers? Absolutely.

Does it help to have a degree? A solid "Maybe", depending on the circumstances. But also maybe not.

Can you earn a good living in IT without any college education? Abso-frickin-lutely.

As I enter my 25th year in the industry, I've made it a personal goal of mine to help those, like me, that never had any college. What I can tell you is that your attitude, drive, teachability and your work ethic will go a LONG way to getting you where you want to be. The rest is your ability to network and sell yourself.

Remember: employers are selfish. If progressive, forward-thinking employers they think you can do the job, they aren't going to let an HR rule hold them back from hiring the person they want.

We HAVE to turn around this thinking that High School age kids are a failure if they haven't mapped out their college pathway when they are 16. The ROI just isn't there in a lot of cases, but often times the only people in front of high school graduates "guiding them" are those that have chosen a college pathway.

Stop perpetuating a false narrative because it feels right. This isn't 1980 anymore.