That's some great perspective! As a rule, I don't like to generalize, so my numbers are loosely based on the cost of a university degree at one of the top schools in my country and province.

It sounds like you've been serious about keeping your costs down and balancing the cost vs post degree rewards. Way to take charge of your own desires to learn and pursue what matters to you!

I'm sure many would look at my educational experience like a leisure ride because I didn't get a degree, but I took programs that challenged my intellect and personal abilities and fuel my passions to this day. For a hot minute, I felt burnt by the fact I'd made choices that left me with debt and without a degree. It didn't take long to realize that a piece of paper would have made little difference in my journey and I'm grateful for the lessons.

Two trades and a multitude of work experience, combined with my cherry picked education has given me everything that I need to self educate, problem solve and to be the architect of my own life.

I'm not completely against the idea of pursuing formal education in the future, but it'll likely be for the pursuit of knowledge, skills and relationships rather than to attain an accreditation. To ask someone for permission to achieve or to acknowledge the discretion of others as a valid way to allow my growth or potential to be determined is no longer a consideration.

I'm extremely happy that my dreams don't require me to attain specific accreditation to pursue them with passion, purpose and posterity.

Education though- I will happily pursue education to the very last moment I can muster the thought "what if?" and follow it through with the multitude of possible solutions.

Thanks so much for your thoughts. It's really great to hear from someone who's experience differs so much from my own.