Hello Readers,

I received the following response to the letter from “Worried”, the parents who were concerned that their college-educated daughter was interested in a man who had not gone to school past high school.

Dear Miss SmartyPants,

Please assure those worried (and confused) parents that a wife with a degree can be happily married to a husband with no schooling beyond high school.  I had a good friend who had to drop out of college after only two weeks because there were cows to milk and his brother couldn’t do it because of an accident.  This friend helped to bring a bankrupt farm to profit and educated himself.  He became a civic leader and has a very extensive vocabulary.  He has given generously to Allen College, UNI and Valley Lutheran High School.  I doubt if he could have done any better if he had achieved a college degree.

Then I could name another fellow who married a teacher, and all he had was a high school education.  Together they beautifully remodeled an old house, adopted a special needs girl, and now he works for Habitat for Humanity in a supervisory role.

And another friend traveled the world over for John Deere without a degree. The parents should consider this man’s good points, and trust their daughter to make the right choice.

Interested Party

Dear Interested,

Thank you for sharing your stories about some of your personal acquaintances to help prove the point that many people have led happy, successful lives despite not having experienced the advantages of an advanced education.  I’ll bet if your friends read this column, they will recognize themselves, and will feel complimented by your appreciation of their talents and achievements.

As you pointed out in your first example, sometimes circumstances prevent a person from continuing their education.  But education has nothing to do with the personal qualities of intelligence, curiosity, and ambition. As I mentioned in my previous answer to “Worried”, learning for all of us should be lifelong.  My own mother is an intelligent woman who did not have the opportunity for college, but still is razor sharp at age 90.

A college education is extremely valuable; do not misunderstand me.  It provides opportunities to broaden one’s horizons socially, monetarily, and intellectually.  It can open up the whole world – and beyond – for a motivated student.  But it is not the only avenue to a productive, fulfilled life.  Your friends are excellent examples of that fact.