More Than a Title: Why Degrees Don’t Define You
If a Tree Falls and No One Hears It…
If I don’t hang my degree on the wall, does that mean I’m not proud of it? If someone has a doctorate and I only have a bachelor’s, does that make them more important than me? If we measure people by titles, are we really valuing them correctly?
These questions popped into my head last night during dinner with my business partners. I casually mentioned that I’ve never physically used my degree—I mean, of course, it has helped me, it has opened many doors, but I don’t display it as a symbol of my success.
They looked at me as if I had just insulted the entire education system.
They told me I should celebrate my degree. That I should show it off because, for many people, a degree is a status symbol. They even argued that those with a master's or doctorate hold a higher place in society than someone with just a bachelor’s—or, even worse, someone without a degree at all.
Degrees, Success, and a Bucket of Chicken
Of course, I’m proud of my degree. It’s the result of years of effort, and my family sacrificed a lot for me to earn it. I almost dropped out during the COVID-19 pandemic due to financial struggles.
When I finally graduated, I celebrated in the most meaningful way possible: I took my parents to KFC.
Why? Because when I was a kid, I believed KFC was where you went to celebrate something huge. And in my book, this was huge.
I also gave my degree to my parents as a sign of gratitude—because without their support, it wouldn’t have been possible.
Was earning my degree a big step in my career? Absolutely.
Did I celebrate it? Hell yeah, I bought the biggest bucket on the menu.
Should I keep celebrating it today? Maybe, but I believe success is about setting new goals, not living in the past.
Not joking, here we are at KFC
Why Degrees Don’t Define a Person
I don’t value people based on their degrees or titles. I don’t care if they have a doctorate, a bachelor’s, or no formal education at all. Everyone’s life context is different, and it’s unfair to judge someone based on privileges they may or may not have had.
If degrees measured worth, then logically, I’d have to consider myself more valuable than my parents—who couldn’t even afford to finish high school. But that’s ridiculous. My parents worked tirelessly to make sure my siblings and I could go to university. They didn’t have degrees, but they had wisdom, resilience, and an insane work ethic.
That’s why my view on education is simple:
It’s not about what you have—it’s about what you do with what you have.
The Difference Between Titles and True Knowledge
One thing I’ve noticed over the years is how people handle their degrees differently.
Most people I know with a master’s degree love showing it off. Some even make it their entire personality. Meanwhile, the doctorate-level professionals I’ve met? Many of them are so humble that you wouldn’t even know they had a PhD unless you specifically asked.
Why is that?
My Hypothesis:
If the only thing you have to show off is your degree, then maybe you haven’t truly put it to use.
I’ve met brilliant people working in mental health, education, computer vision, GPS, astronomy, medicine, and even quantum mechanics. Not one of them has ever introduced themselves with their title.
Because when you do something meaningful with your knowledge, you don’t need to remind people how educated you are—your work speaks for itself.
The Other Side: When "Showing Off" Makes Sense
At the same time, I get it. Sometimes, showing off your degree is necessary.
We live in a competitive world where standing out is important. Whether as an individual or a company, personal branding matters. And like it or not, degrees do play a role in that.
We all market ourselves in some way. Even this blog could be seen as a form of personal branding.
And I’m not saying we shouldn’t be proud of our achievements—we should! But there’s a difference between sharing success and making a title your entire identity.
If the best thing you have to say about yourself is something you achieved 10-15 years ago, what does that say about your growth since then?
That mindset is outdated. If degrees were the ultimate proof of success, companies wouldn’t care about skills, experience, or real-world results. They’d hire based on diplomas alone.
And for those who still love the “Would you let a doctor without a degree treat you?” argument—come on. A degree is a minimum requirement for most jobs, not a guarantee of skill, intelligence, or competence. In medicine, tech, or any field, your ability to apply what you know matters far more than just having a certificate.
Success Is Personal—Don’t Let a Title Define You
At the end of the day, be proud of your degree. Be proud of your achievements. But don’t be a jerk who looks down on others because of a title.
Everyone measures success differently, and every individual is on their own journey.
What do you think? Do degrees define a person’s worth? Should we constantly remind the world of our achievements, or is personal pride enough? Let me know in the comments.