THE PAPER CEILING FIRE

You’ve heard of the ‘paper ceiling?’ No?

Now you have.

“Millions of workers with in-demand skills and experience, overlooked for higher-wage jobs because they don’t have a bachelor’s degree.”

They don’t have a bachelor’s degree? Like that’s the ticket for a good life?

‘Oh great, another old baby boomer sounding off like they’ve ever struggled to find their place, find their way.’

This isn’t a confessional blog, but too many kids under forty find us as a useful target.

‘You’ll never know what it’s like because you grew up in comfort and abundance in a world so different than today.’

I’ve heard it in the media, in person, and every time I’m reminded of what it takes to pull a college degree out of the hands of those who’d rather not give it up, the professors, department heads, graduate assistants, teaching assistants, the gate-keepers for higher education, and they grade your work.

Do the work, put in the time, get a degree, otherwise make up a story why you didn’t.

It amazes me how, in looking back, so many so-called hippies, stoners, and deadbeats somehow navigated their way to a college degree.

Somehow, in between keggers, smoke-outs, college football, and streaking, they collected enough hours in class to fulfill graduate requirements.

From Oregon State University:

Bachelor’s degrees are designed to be completed, while maintaining full-time attendance for three quarters per year, in four years. If you are unable to attend full time, it will take longer.

Each degree requires 180 total credit hours for completion. To learn more about requirements for specific degree programs, browse online undergraduate degrees.

 

Who Started That Fire?

My paper ceiling moment came during cancer treatment with the radiation doctor.

He had a huge book in his office, a show book for all to see.

 

Me: That’s a big book. You’ve read it all?

Doctor: I’ve not only read it, I wrote the study guide used around the world.

 

He had me at ‘study guide.’

This was the guy I trusted to take cancer to the cleaners; the technician was the guy who put it use.

Did I want them to change places, the doctor and the tech? Noooo.

Were they equally qualified to fry my shit? Nooo.

Did I comply with of their directions? Yes.

This is too dramatic to use as an example of the paper ceiling?

Your call on that, but who doesn’t want the most qualified guy for anything?

Some people travel for treatment for their best outcome.

We all hope for the best.

Before I started I knew a few things.

#1 Cancer would kill me if I took a complacent attitude.

A few guys on my radar decided they knew better than to take the poison of cancer treatment, and they took their firm beliefs to the grave.

#2 If I didn’t stay on the program I’d get disqualified, and then cancer would kill me.

The two guys who decided to treat themselves joined the oncology doctors in finding their cure, but their health was so bad that the treatment would do more harm than good.

In other words, the treatment would have killed them before their cancer.

The paper ceiling can help people find a better way.

Personally, I want the people applying medical innovations worried about me, not their ceiling.

 

PS: With all things equal in education and experience, get a second opinion on any medical treatment that includes chemo and radiation.

PSS: Again, all things equal, you may interview a doctor willing to open the flood gates of multiple chemoes when one is more than enough. Don’t choose that guy.