1)  The first pillar of an argument can be found in paragraph three. The second pillar can be found in the paragraphs two through eight. The 3rd can be found in paragraph 9. Finally, the last pillar can be found in paragraph 10.

2) For pillar one, the thesis statement is easy to identify in paragraph three where it it states, "College fails to empower us with the skills necessary to become productive members of today’s global entrepreneurial economy." The author clearly states his position on this issue as though the title didn't do it enough. Pillar two is scattered all across the argumentative essay from paragraph three through eight. "The College Board Policy Center found that the cost of public university tuition is about 3.6 times higher today than it was 30 years ago, adjusted for inflation." is one of the many factual evidences provided. The refutation of the opposing argument in paragraph nine is "If you want to be a doctor, going to medical school is a wise choice" there isn't a doctor in the world that didn't need to study to master their profession and those are just the fact. The final pillar can is the concluding statement, "We who take our education outside and beyond the classroom understand how actions build a better world."

3) The author is a college dropout, he did not agree with having to conform over seeking independence. him being a dropout makes him relatable, he's been on both sides of the spectrum. That alone make his opinion valid due to experience.