When I was 17, preparing to attend Fresno State University, I wasn’t just thinking about college… I was thinking about legacy.

Even before choosing a school, I sat with a bigger question: What kind of life do I want to build after this? My vision was clear early on — I wanted to invest, to build, and to engage in international business. I wasn’t just choosing a major. I was choosing a path.

THE GATEWAY BOOKS

That journey began before I stepped foot on any campus. I dove headfirst into what I now call gateway books — those foundational reads that open your mind to possibilities beyond your current environment:

• The Bible
• Rich Dad, Poor Dad‘
• Think and Grow Rich
• The Richest Man in Babylon
• The Wealth of Nations
• …and countless others that explored the psychology, structure, and spirit of wealth creation.

With every book, my conviction grew stronger: I was meant to be an entrepreneur. An investor. A builder.

MORE THAN A DEGREE

When I arrived at Fresno State, I didn’t approach education traditionally. I didn’t enroll for the sake of a degree or to check a box. I enrolled to learn the skills that would shape how I move in the world.

I chose psychology — not because I wanted to be a psychologist, but because I understood something foundational: every business is built for people. No matter the industry, if you don’t understand people, how they think, feel, decide, and interact you’re already behind.

I knew the world was shifting toward interconnectedness. I knew silos were dissolving. I needed an interdisciplinary foundation — a lens that allowed me to operate at the intersections of culture, commerce, and community.

So I took courses not just for credits, but for future use. Philosophy. Sociology. Communications. Statistics. Global studies. Economics. Courses that gave me a broader framework — one I still draw from today.

EDUCATION AS PREPARATION, NOT DESTINATION

The true value of education isn’t just in the information — it’s in the application. It’s not about what you memorize for a test. It’s about what you internalize for your life.

Education becomes powerful when it’s driven by vision. When you know what you’re preparing for. I didn’t need a perfect syllabus. I needed a mindset that said: This is part of my preparation to serve nations.

And that’s what education gave me — not all the answers, but the frameworks to ask better questions.

IF I WERE 17 TODAY

Now that we’re in the age of AI, I often ask myself: What would I do if I were 17 now?

Would I go to college? Would I start building earlier? Would I try to master prompt engineering, systems design, or decentralized infrastructure? Would I choose a hybrid path — blending formal education with hands-on innovation?

The truth is, the world is evolving faster than ever. But one thing remains the same:

Your greatest asset isn’t just knowledge — it’s your ability to adapt, to connect, and to build with purpose.

If I were 17 now, I would still be investing in my education, not because the classroom is the only option, but because preparation still matters. Whether it’s in books, conversations, experiments, or failures — the value lies in how you choose to grow.

So where is the value in education?
It’s in knowing who you want to become and equipping yourself, by any means necessary, to get there.

— Early Boykins III