My story is often celebrated, but it was shaped by luck. No young person’s future should depend on chance. Their pathways deserve support.
By my senior year of high school, a project I built reached places I never imagined. Steve Jobs took notice. It was later archived by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and featured in The New York Times. Almost overnight, I was called a “prodigy.”
In my early 20s, I became an executive while many of my peers were still finishing college. By 28, I started a successful business.
I did all of this without going to college.
Today, my story is often used as evidence that higher education may no longer be necessary. In an era of rising tuition and growing student debt, it fits neatly into a broader narrative that college has become an outdated or overpriced path to success.
But there is a problem with using stories like mine to guide public thinking: They are the exception. Statistically, they are outliers, not a reliable plan.
College remains relevant
Over the past decade, Americans have grown more skeptical about the value of a college degree. Rising tuition, student debt, and highly visible success stories of those who skipped college have fueled doubt. For many families, college is the largest financial investment they will make aside from buying a home. It is reasonable to ask whether the return is still worth it.
But when the debate moves from opinion to evidence, a different story emerges.
Decades of research show that earning a college degree is linked to higher earnings, greater wealth, better health, and a lower risk of poverty. A bachelor’s degree is associated with roughly $1.2 million in additional lifetime earnings compared with a high school diploma, along with significantly lower unemployment.
Even with modest wage gains for nondegree workers, large gaps in income, wealth, and poverty persist, showing that education beyond high school still matters.
Accessible options
Even as artificial intelligence reshapes the workforce, this trend continues. Jobs increasingly require higher levels of skill and education. By 2031, a growing share of roles will require education beyond high school.
This does not mean every student needs a four-year degree. Skilled trades, certifications, and other pathways can lead to strong careers. But these paths also require rigorous training and sustained effort.
The real issue is not “college versus no college.” The real question is how we help students make informed choices, build durable skills, and feel supported, so they can pursue meaningful pathways, evaluate outcomes, and graduate prepared without overwhelming debt. When those conditions are in place, the value of education becomes far more predictable.
Staying the course
My career path worked out. But it depended on a rare mix of timing, opportunity, and luck. Public policy cannot rely on outliers. It must focus on what works for the majority of students, and the evidence remains clear: Education beyond high school remains one of the most reliable pathways to upward mobility. Public opinion may be shifting, but the underlying economics have not.
We must meet this moment with clarity and care, ensuring every student has the guidance, support, and opportunity to step forward with confidence.
