Earning My Degree

The hardest goal I ever set for myself was earning my degree. I attended DeVry, as did most of my High School Peers, for a management degree. I completed my Bachelor of Science Degree in Telecommunications Management in two and a half years. This was a four-year program in a cutting-edge field. It focused more on theory than practical application. This happened because it predated many of the standard LAN (Local Area Network) NOS (Network Operating Systems). Today, we take these systems for granted.

I graduated Cum laude with a 3.59 GPA while working. Sometimes I was working full time. Sometimes I was working part-time. When I was finished, I faced the Bush recession of 1990. I had a $40,000 debut load, a wife, and two sons. It wasn’t until late 1994 that I did get a job in my field. Those jobs ended in late 2000 making the degree virtually useless.

In the late 1990s, there was a massive surge in internet-related companies and investments. This was fueled by the belief that the internet would revolutionize industries and create enormous wealth. However, many of these companies were overvalued and lacked sustainable business models.  

When the bubble burst in late 2000, many of these companies collapsed, leading to layoffs and a significant reduction in technical jobs. ¹ This event is often referred to as the “dot-com crash.”  

While the dot-com crash had a significant impact on the tech industry, it also paved the way for more sustainable and innovative companies. ¹ The industry has since recovered and continues to grow. ²

Was the degree worth it? I don’t know. All I can tell you is that, “I did it: I earned my degree.”

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