Perhaps you are looking for a younger respondant, but when I graduated from high school in 1971 I did not go to college (much to the dismay of my parents). The economy was different back then and I was able to pick up most any job I applied for. Waitress, factory, retail sales, office help. Also, at that time, one could live on minimum wage. Without a college degree I worked my way up in a reasturant chain and eventually bought my own business and expanded it to two stores and catering on the side. Then my life changed drastically and I embarked on getting a college degree twenty years after I graduated. I really believe I got more out of myceducation going as an adult than I would have had I gone at a younger age. Since I have gotten my degree my career path has been more ‘white collar’.