@socalgolfguy,
SoCalGuy
Thank you for your kindness - time spent studying for a goal or career is often so specialized, people address homage to the person as if they have intellect, but all of us can study what we find interesting - long hours spent learning about what we enjoy or even love - we all have those attributes. Rarely does it indicate an all round supra intellect. Stats will demonstrate many degrees belong to isolated and insular scholars who go through life affecting very few except in their field of study.
The degrees are merely the arduous testing which is the finale of the time spent in being taught. It's reward of course is the 'label' or degree but I know very little about so many other things, I prefer to think of myself as a student of what little I know which I hope to understand from others.
The day we stop absorbing information (especially from this wonderful gift of forum discussion on the internet) is the day our learning takes a vacation or worse, stops.
I am now embarrassed I let that information slide and wish I could unring the bell - many people I meet in real life have no idea because I do not share it - it does not make me a better person. I think being interested in other people does. That is the real career choice. Being a good citizen contributor to our society and our world.