Money Over Education?
In a recent interview with XXL.com, Rev Run admitted that he encouraged his daughter, Angela Simmons, to drop out of college to focus on getting “paper”.
Check out the excerpt below:
“Never, I don’t discourage nobody in my house. This is an entertainment house. My daughter Angela was in college, she was like, ‘Daddy, I don’t know what to do, I’m getting straight A’s in college, but Pastries is taking off.’ I’m like, ‘Peace college, go take your butt down to the sneaker office and go get that paper…that’s your college… We’ll get back to school’, Pastries is doing millions.”
Obviously, the whole Simmons family is doing their thing — but can any amount of cash replace the value of a good education?
Beyond the obvious reasons why an education is important, I believe that a school environment alone helps build character as a young person. You explore your interests, learn how to interact with people of different cultures and develop relationships.
Also, regardless of which career path you choose, a typical high school/college education forces you to open your mind to subjects you may never come across in your life otherwise, broadening your horizons.
Every individual is different, and wants different things out of life. But are street or business smarts enough?
Do you agree with Rev Run’s advice to his daughter?
Let us know how important you think education is!
I think that college is simply a means to an end. If you can get to that end (MONEY) without college, then I think it’s fine. Go back to school later, when you actually want to be there. You’ll have more fun, learn more, and get more out of it. Even though I got my degree before I started my career, I’ve taken more classes as an adult, so I’ve seen both sides of this coin.
I dont think he meant it like, screw education make that money. I think that he knows what its like to miss out on an opportunity. Pastries is a growing business and Angela is obviously a smart woman making straight As in college. School will ALWAYS be there and being the headstrong and smart woman she is, i think her father knows that she will always go back to finish school. I completely understand what he meant and i think she should focus on her business. And i agree with KWAPKING completely.
“Beyond the obvious reasons why an education is important, I believe that a school environment alone helps build character as a young person. You explore your interests, learn how to interact with people of different cultures and develop relationships.”
A business will also do that. She has to interact with different people to get the brand out there, meetings, traveling, etc. I think school is important but most people go to school to make more money in their chosen career. She obviously is making money and the business is taking off. You can always go back to school, no matter what age, no matter how many years later. When your business is doing well, you better make sure it continues on that path because there is no guarantee how long it will be around. I agree with Rev.
College is two-fold. Its a means to help you get in the door to your career and its a social experience where you can learn a lot. In Angela and Vanessa’s case they stood to gain more from skipping college than they will from running their own company with hands on experience. I value college but if you can make it to your passion without it then its hard to argue the value to that individual. Just like Rev Run says if its still important they will “get back to college”
Umm…Steve Jobs dropped out of college and so did Bill Gates to start their business careers….think of college relative to other opportunities…if LeBron James (talent) opts to play in the NBA, all other things being equal he has a four more years as a baller since more than likely he will retire or be in decline by age 35. No reason why he couldn’t attend summer school or go back later in life to get his degree…and you should be learning at all times, whether you are in a formal classroom or not!
While I won’t use the same words that Rev Run did, I do agree with his general point. If Angela’s goal is to start her own brand than go for it, but don’t totally abandon school because you don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. Think of an education/degree as an insurance policy. Once you have insurance you can more freely take calculated risks because you have something to fall back on. Without it you leave yourself exposed to catastrophic events or bad business decisions.
People go to college to get a better job and make more money, if you have that money coming in now, jump on it, businesses especially in fashion do not last forever, so get the money while u can, College is not going anywhere. Because eventually Pastries will become FUBU, then go to college, after u have made you money if you need to.
Ok I partially agree with Rev. Run’s advice on her daughter to drop out out, although she make good grades and her label Pastries is making a lot of millions but imagine if Pastries’ popularity begin experiencing a slow and painful decline?? where is she gonna go from there?? She can take online classes while managing Pastries, just like Shaq did when he was playing pro basketball. Now I heard that he’s taking his PH.D in art history. it means even though you’re making millions of dollars, you still never forget how education is very important.
Education is still really important, no matter what ppl say or how “hot” your career is, regardless. It serves as a fallback/insurance policy. street/business smarts are sometimes not enough. so go out there and get that degree. kids, if you think college education is not worth it if u made it w/o it, better think again……
by the way TheTruth, Fubu (or FB Legacy) is finally making a strong comeback to crush the opposition after seven years of absence to expand on the global scale. they maybe down here in the US, but certainly they’re not out. chuucchh!
Here’s the thing. I agree with rev run and what kwaping said. Keep in mind I have a military background and a bachelors in electronics and computers.
This world is picky now so college isn’t as much of a selling point as it used to be. It all depends on where you are at, at that moment and time. I wouldn’t really say my degree opened up doors. I’ll be real… I got f’n lucky lol. I probably could’ve got the job without the degree. Jobs are looking for experience more than schooling. They know they can demand more in this economy. My coworker got hired somewhere else, he stumbled into the computer career but stayed. It’s really about how well you can sell yourself to others.
I will say this. College did open my eyes, only because of some of the proffesors I had. It also gave me a chance to apply on a higher level and refine skills from the military. You get, what you get from it. Oh and I discovered I can be buzzed and still get an A on an impromptu presentation. In this case he’s right. There’s so many doors open for her. At this point college is more of a hobby than a defining or molding process.
Lookin at what it is today, you can have a Ph.D and still not have a job. As far as Angela, if she wanted to go back to school she could just finish where she left off. We go to school to better our selves, our knowledge, and our finances. If you already have the self dicipline to start your own milti-million dollar success, then school should be on your own time. Right now she could be employing people to work for her and her sister. She could teach teens how to be independent and eventually plan to work for themselves on their own schedule and make more than minimum wage.