It is my belief that success and someone’s level of education have no correlation. This is not to say that success is random, or that a person does not need intelligence or common sense to be successful, but rather success comes from hard work, confidence, and passion.
While I am a big advocate for education, you cannot gauge someone’s current success or how successful they will be based on their GPA. There are so many people that dropped out of college, or even high school, who have found success doing what they love.
1. Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin dropped out of high school and became a mother at the age of 15. Since then, she has won multiple Grammy awards, became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and was dubbed the Queen of Soul.
2. Henry Ford
When Henry Ford dropped out of school at 16, he probably never dreamed his legacy would be what it is. If the founder of Ford Motor Company were still alive today, he would be worth $199 billion.
3. Steve Jobs
When Steve Jobs dropped out of college after one semester, and just started dropping in on classes that interested him, he stumbled upon a calligraphy course that would inspire the typography for the very first Macintosh. His decision to drop out ultimately led to the creation of Apple.
4. Walt Disney
Walt Disney was 16 when he dropped out of school, and six years later, Walt Disney Productions was created. He received more Academy Awards and nominations than any person in history, and he remains one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry.
5. Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen dropped out of the University of New Orleans and worked tirelessly for nearly a decade before finally getting a real break. She is now a wildly popular talk show host, comedian, and animal rights activist.
David Ogilvy once said, “There appears to be no correlation between leadership and academic achievement. I was relieved to learn this, because I have no college degree. The motivation which makes a man a good student is not the kind of motivation which makes him a good leader.”
You may think, “But they’re famous, and they’re not like everyone else,” but I can assure you that you’re wrong. Everyone who has achieved success is just like you and I. They’re people. The only difference between them and everyone else is their drive and their passion. They refused to settle for mediocrity.
This is not me saying that education is ridiculous and everyone should just drop out of school and pursue their wildest dreams. What I am saying is that school isn’t for everyone. There are people who genuinely enjoy getting an education, and there are people who feel they are wasting their time, and that college cannot truly help them achieve their goals.
Either way, your level of education or the number of zeros on the end of your paycheck does not define your success. You define success for yourself. No matter if you’re a high school dropout, a college grad, or a GED recipient, I hope you’re chasing your dreams and striving to be the best you can be.
