“Did College Lie to You?”
“Did College Lie to You?” — Rethinking Education and Real-World Readiness
(Inspired by “కాలేజ్ నీకు అబద్ధం చెప్పిందా?” by Srinivas Sharma)
From a very young age, most of us were taught to believe in a simple formula: Study well → Get into a good college → Earn a degree → Secure a stable job → Live happily.
This belief was repeated so often that it became a universal truth. But once we step out of college and face the real world, many of us quietly ask ourselves a disturbing question: Was this the whole truth, or did college lie to us?
Srinivas Sharma’s thought-provoking work “కాలేజ్ నీకు అబద్ధం చెప్పిందా?” doesn’t attack education itself. Instead, it challenges the false guarantees we were sold in the name of education. The book resonates deeply with Telugu youth who feel confused, underconfident, and directionless after graduation.
The Gap Between Education and Reality
Traditional education focuses heavily on marks, ranks, and degrees. While these may help us clear exams, the real world plays by very different rules.
The workplace doesn’t ask:
- “How much did you score in your final exam?”
Instead, it asks:
- Can you solve real problems?
- Can you communicate clearly?
- Can you adapt to change?
- Can you learn on your own?
Unfortunately, most colleges don’t train students in these areas. We are taught what to think, not how to think. We memorize answers instead of questioning assumptions. This is where the system quietly fails many students.
Emotional Cost of This Mismatch
After college, many graduates experience anxiety, self-doubt, and fear.
“Others seem to be doing better.”
“Maybe I’m not talented enough.”
“Why didn’t my degree help me?”
ఈ feelings చాలా common. But the truth is painful yet freeing: You were not underprepared because you were weak; you were underprepared because the system was incomplete.
The book emphasizes that college often creates a false sense of security. When reality hits, confidence collapses—not due to lack of ability, but lack of exposure.
What College Didn’t Teach Us
Most colleges fail to teach:
- Financial literacy
- Career clarity
- Emotional intelligence
- Risk-taking and decision-making
- Practical life skills
These are not optional skills—they are survival tools. Life doesn’t provide a syllabus, and success doesn’t come with step-by-step instructions.
Taking Responsibility: The Turning Point
One of the strongest messages in “కాలేజ్ నీకు అబద్ధం చెప్పిందా?” is this:
Your future is not decided by your college. It is decided by your choices.
Once we stop blaming the system and start taking ownership, growth begins. Today, learning is no longer limited to classrooms. Online platforms, books, mentors, internships, freelancing, and real-world projects offer unlimited opportunities.
You don’t need permission to learn.
You don’t need a perfect plan to start.
You just need awareness and action.
A New Definition of Success
Degree is not useless—but it is incomplete without skills.
Education should not end with graduation; it should evolve with life.
For Telugu youth searching for clarity and confidence, this realization can be empowering. You are not late. You are not lost. You are simply waking up.
Final Reflection
Did college lie to you?
Maybe it told you only half the story.
But the remaining half—the truth about growth, resilience, and self-learning—is now in your hands.
Your degree may open a door,
but your mindset decides how far you go.
The real education begins when you stop waiting for answers and start creating them.
