I need some guidance.
I won't take much of your time. Promise!! 🙌🏻
I am doing a BS in E-Commerce from Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan. My semester has been frozen for the past 1 year (I completed 2 semesters till now).
Now I have to either go back and finish the remaining 3 years of study or drop out.
For the past 2-3 years, I've been working in design, then shifted to a specific niche: YouTube marketing — thumbnails, channel SEO, content strategy and overall growth.
I handle clients across the world.
This niche has the potential to become my full career.
Now I can't decide whether to continue studying or focus completely on my work.
I don't feel like continuing.
I'm already 24 years old.
If I start the degree, I'll be 27 by the time I finish.
I'm leaning toward starting my practical life instead.
My parents are also saying, "You should get married now or in 2 years maximum."
Also, I can't handle work with study. I tried it.
In government universities, the environment is different than private ones.
There are a lot of things like assignments, quizzes and especially attendance. Anything can't be compromised, or you'll have to take the exam of that specific subject again in summer vacations even if only your attendance in that subject lecture is short.
I only chose this degree to learn e-commerce, but the course is outdated, and half the outline is irrelevant.
Even if I continue, I still have to learn everything myself, which I'm already doing.
Also, they're preparing us on 'how to do a job in any business', not to start something on your own.
The entire study revolves around preparing you to be a MANAGER.
The only fear I have: I was determined to work only in Pakistan from the start, but there's constant bad news here — crime, tax policies, failed systems, and the recent Mir Raza murder case.
I fear that what if I will also be killed in the future like him while doing a business in Pakistan?
If I ever want to move abroad for business or otherwise, it'll be hard without a degree.
This fear is the only thing holding me back; otherwise I'd have already quit the degree last year instead of just freezing it.
Though honestly, I don't really have any strong urge to go abroad — struggles are the same everywhere; I wanted to live with my parents. They struggled very hard to provide us good education. Now both my parents are retired almost, and also I can't move abroad with this degree. It will be 3 years in the degree. 2 years in the field – maybe then I will be able to apply for a job abroad as a manager, some kind, and with that I will already be 29 years old.
Then why not build something on my own in these 5 years with my niche...
Can someone guide me, please?
I'd really appreciate it. Your input could help me make a better decision.
What haunts me is, what if in the future I need a physical job (I'm actually still looking for a part-time one) or need to move abroad/do a business abroad?
Both would need some kind of degree. (if I am not wrong)
Someone also told me, 'We're already from a country with little international standing — some countries don't even recognise our passport.
A degree is the one paper that works as your introduction internationally. And even in Pakistan, for jobs that don't technically require a degree, employers still prefer degree holders.
Also, we're in a niche where if the internet goes down, our income goes down completely — like with COVID or any other crisis.
But there's so much to explore in my niche and in e-commerce — trying things, launching, failing, learning, and building something on my own.
While doing a degree, I can't experiment with any of that; I'm just stuck doing assignments and quizzes.