A junior classmate has ever told me that he wants to have those college graduates working under him in the future. He would like to prove that he, as a student dropping out of high school, is better off than those who undergo further education.
It has long been an in-depth debate whether people should continue higher education beyond senior schools in terms of such a high opportunity cost nowadays. People leaving secondary schools at the halfway to enter labour market no doubt have a richer social experience. With so much time dealing with different kinds of people, they are sophisticated in many aspects, like how to make "friends" rapidly with people even if they have never met before. According to various reports about employment of undergraduates, the salary earned is so insufficient that they may find it too demanding to afford cars, houses and the marriage. On the contrary, people working earlier are not only able to give money back to parents today, but can enjoy great individual freedom as well.
Being bothered about it, I asked my father why I should keep studying while people of my age have started to live their own lives. He told me although I went to school at the cost of investing this precious time and considerable money into enriching work experience and developing my own social network, I still can regain it quickly after finishing school. He also enlightened that people going into society earlier instead of acquiring more specialized knowledge are likely to find it challenging to handle many problems someday, due to the lack of professional knowledge which cannot learn effortlessly without schooling.
It is just like a bet, in which two completely different choices struggle to prove itself much better. I think no matter which way we opt for, the only feasible path leading to success is hard working. Only in this way, can both of us demonstrate the road chosen is worthwhile and correct. Keeping it in mind, I force myself more strictly than they require themselves, only in the hope of winning this bet a few years latter.