BY now, everybody has probably seen the online discourse about whether a degree is necessary for a successful life. While some self-made influencer-entrepreneurs push a narrative of how the knowledge obtained in the academe isn’t necessary for practice, I’d like to deviate from that take and tackle the nuances of its essentiality — why one should get a degree for the sake of being “educated.”

        No matter what field you are in, the concept of “Diskarte o Diploma?” should never be a question of “either or” but a pursuit that goes hand in hand. In an online world with the young and impressionable, we seem to forget how an “alternative” that is painted out to be a lucrative pursuit can be influential and damaging. It discredits the various facets of education that go beyond knowledge and concepts to an innate influence on better well-rounded thinking, habits, and self-actualization.

        Before anything else, I’d like to acknowledge that this take does reflect a level of my privilege. But as I digress from the obvious vitality of a degree’s purpose — a future profitable occupation, I hope to impart a sense of longing for education and to promote the notion that it is necessary and a right.

        For many of us, school has been the avenue that helped us realize our most beloved pursuits. While many whine about how irrelevant our GE subjects are, one can’t deny their use,  from daily maths to the importance of proper grammar in emails. We might not have realized it then but these life skills, among others, shaped the individuals we are today. Just like how I was as a young STEM student who discovered the fascinating study of the mind from a “nakakatamad” subject such as Personal Development, it is through education we can take passions to a further level by expanding our knowledge on topics and practices we are passionate about — obtaining an intrinsic rather than an external or sometimes superficial reward.

        Choosing a degree and pursuing it ardently is something that is already to be proud of. Sadly, within our culture, “status” reigns supreme like an overbearing tita at a Christmas reunion. From bodies to relationship status, our degree is no exception to being subjected to ridicule by family, friends, and even acquaintances. Many are discouraged from taking on degrees they care about due to belittlement. While some remarks are constructive, one can’t help but feel insecure about their passions being badgered by its unprofitability and low social acclaim — I know I have.

        In the ranks of the most undervalued degrees in the country, we, Psychology students are definitely up there. I can’t tell you how many nonchalant, “Oh.” responses I’ve received from sharing my degree followed by comments about its lack of difficulty and earning capacity. Even if there is some truth in those sentiments, as many non-stereotypically respected degrees share, it shouldn’t be a pass for people to discourage and discredit the novelty of these pursuits and the essentiality they have in our society. It is through these stigmas in our country that many fields are struggling to thrive to their fullest potential — I mean just imagine a Philippines that values mental health workers. 

        In closing my claim, I’d like to acknowledge something beyond our choice to pursue a degree, which is whether it is accessible for us to even study. I can digress from the monetary aspects of education as much as I can, but in the Philippines, it's simply not possible. For individuals who have the capacity to study, we must remember that through being in school, we are provided a ticket to more possibilities. We must utilize this privilege to our best extent and advocate for more accessibility. So many individuals full of potential are left behind due to their lack of resources. Knowing the influences education has in our lives is acknowledging every single individual should have the right to experience it.