Life Before College

Life Before College: A Time to Reflect and Prepare for What’s Ahead

Not long ago, I wrote an article about life after college—a stage full of uncertainty, excitement, and personal growth. You can check it out here. But today, I want to shift the focus. Let’s talk about life before college—a chapter that is equally important, if not more so, because it sets the stage for everything that comes next.

From My Grandfather to My Children: Four Generations, Four Realities

Manoel (my grandfather)

When my grandfather graduated from high school, he had specialized in accountancy. Back then, that was enough to land a stable job. He spent most of his life working at the train station—even during World War II—and provided well for his family. Life was tough, but simpler in some ways.

Wedding of Claudio (my Father)

My father, on the other hand, married young and started with almost nothing. But he worked hard, put himself through university, and earned a degree in Business Administration. Eventually, he became one of the directors—and part-owner—of the company where he worked. He was, by all definitions, a successful man, and when he passed away a few years ago, he left behind a meaningful inheritance for me and my brothers.

My Graduation

Then comes my generation. I earned a master’s degree, and my brother holds two degrees and several post-graduate diplomas. And yet, even with all that education, having a guaranteed job or a secure career was no longer a certainty. The world had changed. A degree was no longer a golden ticket.

And now I look at my children’s generation—and, to be honest, things are even more complicated. That’s not to say education is pointless. Far from it. But formal education alone no longer guarantees success. In fact, some of the world’s wealthiest and most innovative minds—people like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs—were university dropouts. Of course, that doesn’t mean dropping out is the secret to success. It just means that education comes in many forms, and we have to think beyond the traditional path.

Redefining Education: More Than Just a Degree

Education is still one of the most reliable ways to improve your life, especially financially. But it’s important to understand that education doesn’t only happen in a classroom. You can become educated by reading books, taking online courses, or learning directly from a mentor or tutor. The real value lies in what you learn, not just where you learn it.

Today, I find myself in China, working as a university teacher. And I see so many brilliant, hardworking students who are deeply discouraged. They face fierce competition just to get into a good university. And even after they graduate, many feel unprepared for the job market. Some keep studying—pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees—hoping things will get better. But the future still feels uncertain for many of them.

And honestly, I understand their concern. The system is not easy. The pressure is intense. And the fear of being left behind is very real.

A Powerful Solution: Learn English, Change Your Life

But here’s the good news: I believe there is still a simple and powerful way to improve your future. It’s a skill that has worked for me, for many others I know, and it still works today.

That skill is learning English.

I’m not saying English is a magic solution to all problems. But what I am saying is this: being able to speak English fluently opens doors that are often closed to others. In both my home country and in China, most people don’t speak a second language. Those who do—especially those who speak English well—often get the best opportunities, whether it’s a great job, a chance to study abroad, or access to global networks and information.

I wouldn’t be here in China with a great teaching job if I hadn’t learned English. Simple as that.

Don’t Just Study English—Live It!

If you’re a university student in China, you’ll likely spend four years or more earning your degree. Imagine if you spent just 20–30 minutes a day studying and practicing English during that time. By the time you graduate, you could be fluent. That would make you stand out—not just as a graduate, but as someone who can work in international environments, talk to clients from around the world, and solve problems in a global context.

And the best part? Learning English can actually be fun. Watch English movies or series, listen to music or podcasts, join speaking clubs, or even make friends who are learning English too. The secret isn’t studying hard—it’s studying consistently, and finding ways to enjoy the journey.

The World Is Changing—So Should You

What worked for my grandfather doesn’t work today. What worked for my father may not work anymore. But learning English still works, and it may continue to be one of the most effective tools to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

So why not make that investment in yourself? Why not take the next four years and build a skill that can truly transform your future?

And hey—if you happen to study at the university where I teach, why not come say hi? Invite me to lunch at the canteen, and I’ll gladly share some tips, resources, and ideas to help you speak better English and feel more confident doing it.

Because improving your English isn’t just about learning a language—it’s about creating a future you’ll be proud of. Also if you manage to learn English your future will not be bleak like I portray in the post: “Life after College”

 

Chinese version translated by AI for your convenience

 

当然可以！以下是您的文章《Life Before College: A Time to Reflect and Prepare for What’s Ahead》的中文翻译版本，保持了原文的情感色彩、结构逻辑，并增强了启发性和可读性，以鼓舞学生努力学习英语并思考大学前的意义。

上大学之前：反思与准备人生下一步

不久前，我写了一篇关于大学毕业后的生活的文章，内容涉及毕业后的不确定性、成长与挑战（点击查看：链接）。
但今天，我想换个角度。我们来聊聊上大学之前的生活。这个阶段同样重要，甚至可以说，它决定了你之后人生的很多方向。

从爷爷到我的孩子：四代人，四种现实

我的爷爷高中毕业时学的是会计，在当时这已经足够找到一份稳定的工作。他在火车站工作了一辈子，甚至还经历了第二次世界大战。生活虽然艰苦，但相对简单。

我的父亲则是在一无所有的情况下与母亲结婚。他后来努力奋斗，考上了大学，获得了工商管理学位。最终，他成为公司董事之一，甚至拥有公司的一部分股份。他是一位非常成功、值得尊敬的人。几年前他去世时，给我们兄弟留下了相当不错的遗产。

My parents wedding

然后是我这一代。我拿到了硕士学位，我的哥哥拥有两个大学学位和多个研究生学历。但即便如此，也不能确保拥有稳定的工作或美好的未来。时代已经变了。大学文凭不再是通往成功的“金钥匙”。

再看看我的孩子们这一代，情况似乎更复杂了。这并不是说接受教育没用，恰恰相反。事实上，许多全球最成功、最富有的人——比如比尔·盖茨和史蒂夫·乔布斯——都曾是大学辍学生。
当然，这并不意味着辍学就是成功之路，而是告诉我们：教育的形式可以多种多样，我们需要跳出传统框架去思考。

重新定义教育：不仅仅是学位

教育依然是改变人生的有效方式，尤其是经济方面。但我们要明白，教育不仅仅发生在课堂里。你可以通过读书、在线课程，甚至向导师或榜样学习而变得有知识、有能力。真正重要的不是你在哪里学，而是你学了什么、有多努力。

如今，我在中国担任大学老师。每天我都能看到许多聪明、努力的学生，他们常常感到沮丧与迷茫。进入一所好大学竞争激烈，毕业后面对的就业市场又充满挑战。很多人选择继续深造，攻读硕士甚至博士学位，却依然看不到明确的未来。

我非常理解他们的感受。这个系统真的很不容易，压力很大，不确定性也太多。

一个实用的建议：学好英语，改变未来

但我想告诉你一个简单而强有力的解决方案。这个方法对我、对许多人都起了作用，并且到今天依然有效。

那就是：学习英语。

我不是说英语是解决所有问题的万能钥匙。但我确实想强调一点：能流利说英语的人往往能获得别人得不到的机会。无论是在我的祖国，还是在中国，能够熟练使用第二语言（尤其是英语）的人，总能获得更好的工作、更高的收入、更多的国际机会。

就拿我自己来说——如果我不会英语，我根本不可能来中国工作，也得不到这样一份体面的教学岗位。

别只是“学英语”——要“活在英语中”

如果你是一名中国大学生，你可能需要花四年时间完成本科学业。试想一下，如果你每天花20到30分钟来学习和练习英语，等你毕业时，你的英语水平将达到一个完全不同的高度。
这不仅会让你在毕业生中脱颖而出，还会让你有能力与世界对话、拓展国际视野、解决全球性的问题。

而且，学习英语其实可以很有趣！你可以看英文电影、听英文歌曲或播客、加入英语角，甚至交一些学习英语的朋友。关键不是用力学，而是坚持学、快乐地学。

世界在变，我们也要跟着变

曾经适用于我爷爷的方式，如今早已不再适用；适用于我父亲的路径，也不一定适合我们了。但学好英语，仍然是你能掌控的人生“加速器”之一。

所以，为什么不从现在开始投资自己？用接下来的几年时间，把英语这项技能打好基础，让它成为你打开未来之门的一把钥匙？

如果你正好是我所任教的大学的学生，欢迎找我聊天，或者邀我一起去食堂吃个饭。我会很乐意与你分享更多学习英语的方法和技巧。

因为，提升英语水平，不只是学语言，更是创造一个你值得骄傲的未来。

如果您还需要将此翻译内容以文章形式发布在您的博客，我可以帮您设置格式，或者再为其生成适合中文读者的简化摘要版本或配套短视频文案。图像也即将准备好，我会第一时间发给您！

Article by Marcelo Gameiro

Published 31 May 2025