The importance of a craft
I'm one of those people who went to college. I've often felt that student life was like walking through a mist. You don't know exactly why you're there, and college has a hard time providing that direction and sense of purpose.
At some point, I realized that the knowledge offered was very specific and not very relevant outside academia. The techniques and methods to obtain and analyze information about the world, however, were immensely valuable.
I discovered that these skills to learn about the world were appreciated everywhere; I discovered that I could improve those skills; I discovered that, taken together, those skills made up a craft, a little niche of doings, and a related community.
After realizing this, navigating my work life has been much easier. I'm no longer a little bit of this and a little bit of that; I have been steadily specializing in my craft. That's what I do.
I'm now deeply familiar with certain languages, tools, and techniques. I keep studying and exploring them. They can always be improved; mastery is a lifelong journey, and I enjoy that.
Maybe you also went to college and ended up with a laptop job. My question to you is, "What's your craft?"