Earning a college degree is one of the achievements many of our descendants have had the honor of receiving a diploma showing there accomplishment of completing their education to become a master at what they do. As it was many years ago when you got an education it was almost like an apprenticeship in which you would learn from a mater individual and then receive what today we would call a diploma. Back then though it was more or less a verbal agreement that you had advanced through the ranks of learning and had become capable of running the show all by yourself. Although this was probably less expensive than most colleges today, it took many, many years to become a master at your trade, and often times it was difficult to open your own shop.