At a little league baseball game, the question came up again. Someone leaned over and asked a parent, “Where’s your son going to college?” The tone carried expectation, as if there could only be one right answer. But the truth was simple: he wasn’t going to college. And that was fine.
For years, society has celebrated one version of success—the cap and gown, the diploma, the applause of graduation ceremonies. Parents beam with pride, neighbors nod in approval, and social media feeds fill with photos of tassels swinging in the summer air. But what about the other paths—the ones less photographed but equally vital?
This family had both stories written into their home. The daughter had once taken a gap year, trading classrooms for the wild landscapes of Colorado. She didn’t go back. Instead, she built a career she loved, crafting a life from experience and grit. She made more than many graduates, not because she followed the “approved” route, but because she carved her own. Yet people still asked her when she would “go back,” as if her worth depended on returning to lecture halls she no longer needed.
Then there was the son. His future wasn’t written in essays or admissions letters. His hands told his story—hands that would learn a trade, build, repair, or maybe serve in uniform. His friends were headed in every direction—military, business, trades, college—and yet, only one choice seemed to receive standing ovations.
And that’s the question: why does applause only come for college?
The truth is, success isn’t one-size-fits-all. The plumber who keeps water flowing, the electrician who lights a hospital room, the mechanic who keeps ambulances running—all of them carry as much dignity in their work as any degree-holder. The soldier who enlists, the small business owner who dares to take a risk, the caregiver who devotes time to others—these are not “alternatives.” They are successes, full stop.
The world doesn’t run on diplomas alone. It runs on effort, discipline, and the courage to follow a path that might not always earn claps from the bleachers.
As the parent reflected, the message was clear: “Success isn’t one path. Every choice deserves the same respect.”
And maybe that’s the applause we need to start giving—the kind that doesn’t depend on a cap and gown, but on the bravery to build a meaningful life, no matter what form it takes.