<prompt> Human: I am 19 and going to a community college on FAFSA. I just recently got a job as a barista at Starbucks making 12hr and have no bills save a cell phone bill. Im sitting on 3000 atm and was considering using the option Starbucks provides of going to school, but I honestly dont plan on staying at Starbucks, and school seems like a huge waste of time to me.I am a very fast learner and always get straight As whenever I find the activity worth my time. Perhaps a testament to this, I became one of the strongest baristas at my store in a month and was nominated for the district-wide barista championships this month. While still knowing I have mountains to learn about everything, I know that if I put my mind to something, I can get good at it fast.I live in the silicon valley. While I have no car at the moment, many offices nearby do business in something I have a great interest in: computers.I have built several computers for myself and others, I love working on them and using them, I love the idea of graphics design, 3D model design and architectural design.I find almost no merit in going to school for 4 years being taught things I can learn without it, and wasting time that I could use making money, or starting my life. I do not want to keep financially supporting me on the shoulders of my already very poor parents for much longer I need to be able to support myself and others as soon as possible.Is school really worth it? What could I be doing with my money, aside from saving for a car?  <response>: I have built several computers for myself and others, I love working on them and using them, I love the idea of graphics design, 3D model design and architectural design.Unless you want to be an entrepreneur, and have small scale business assembling custom gaming rigs, there isnt really any money in assembling computers. Generally when people are into computers, they want to either go into CS or IT, with a few interested in Computer Engineering. CSIT are both fields you can break in to without a degree, but your going to be playing your career on hard mode. You need to be a lot better than the competition if you want to compete with that handicap, and some big companies will still reject you unless your a serious rock star. Computer Engineering you will need a degree.If your parents are poor, you should be eligible for considerable financial aid, particularly if you also have great grades, enough to attend school without much or any contribution from your parents. I would strongly consider it if you can make the numbers work, you should at least see what you could get. If you want to be an artist that uses computers, I cant really speak for that, but get the sense your portfolio matters more than your education. But my impression is its a much harder career to get started in either way. 