College Degrees Now Serve as Expensive, Jobless Wall Art

KEY POINTS

•Gabriel Sheahan, a 24-year-old from New Jersey, chose trade school welding to avoid loans and family stress.
•Surveys reveal only 19% of college degree holders find the job market favorable, highlighting employment fears.
•Experts like Rachel Janfaza urge schools to focus more on soft skills and real outcomes, not just diplomas.

Once the Golden Ticket to the American Dream, college diplomas in 2025 are quickly downgraded to pricey paperweights, lamented by Gabriel Sheahan, 24, who wisely chose welding over $100K in debt. Meanwhile, UNC's 19-year-old philosophy major Rachel Sukkar feels trapped in a "rat race" where even sign-up sheets are competitive, and 17-year-old Moksha Agrawal senses a job market volatility that makes bitcoin look stable. Gallup polls show only 19% of college grads believe it's a good time to job hunt versus 35% with no degree — confirming that fancy degrees don't stop AI and economics from ghosting your dream career. High schools still push college like a cult, ignoring that many graduates won't even work in their field, as their TikTok influencer ambitions remain pending approval from the universe.