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Reader question: Please explain “crutch” in this sentence: If you are going back to school to pursue a new field, make sure you are not using education as a crutch. My comments: In other words, “you” are advised not to use education merely as a tool, i.e. as something that helps you move on – in this case to new jobs, higher wages and the so-called better things in general. Here the crutch is a metaphor. A crutch, of course, is one of a pair of high sticks that you put under your arm to help you walk when you have injured your leg. As a tool, it is very useful when your leg’s hurt. But once you’re recovered, it is discarded. And that’s the analogy here. You are failing in your current job and therefore you wonder whether it’ll be a good idea to learn something new. You go back to school and earn another degree, which you use to help you find another job. After that, you forget about that particular study altogether. The commonsensical view is that since you have failed in one area of study, you’d better try your luck somewhere else. That’s a common mistake that people make. You should know that it’s not luck that failed you in the first place. More likely it’s been a lack of effort, dedication or enthusiasm on your part. Therefore, you’re likely to fail again in another field of study so long as you don’t get the effort and dedication part of your game sorted out. | 
