Introduction
Education is one of the most intrinsic components in any society. The determination of success in social life is dependent on the level of education. The American society is one of the many societies that determine success by a college degree. In the US, parents and a number of people value the essence of education and encourage their kids to pursue formal education in order to be successful in life. The connection between college education and success in the American society cannot be overemphasized. In a competitive world, education is perceived to be the only equalizer in the mainstream society. Although a college education to some extent determines success, it is important to note that not everyone needs a college degree in order to be successful.
The essence of education is to impart knowledge and skills to individuals for relevant application in the daily life. Most companies and organizations require learned people to take up positions for effective delivery of professional services. It, therefore, means that if you are not formally educated then it is practically impossible to gain some employment. In colleges, students are taught how to apply what they learn in school environments in the job market. In the American society, every kid is encouraged to take up college seriously to ensure that they secure gainful employment leading to success (Altbach et al 22). A college degree is, therefore, considered important in ensuring that individuals secure success through gainful employment upon completion.
A college degree is important because it widens an individual’s worldview in what the Germans would call Weltanschauung. When a person inside is in college, they get more exposed to various possibilities and issues. The experiences gained over time in a college environment prepares the individual to conform to various challenges in a competitive international system. The expertise gotten overtime makes an individual versatile in the application of knowledge in various fields (Baum and Ma 23). Through education, a number of people have applied what is learnt in schools to come up with innovations and inventions that have changed the human society to a greater extent. Theoretical frameworks taught in school forms the basis through which practical solutions are achieved in the human society. It is to this extent that a college degree is more associated with success in the US.
The challenges in the world have grown to the levels that experts have become the beacon of hope in providing solutions to the world problems. Experts can only come through an education program and not through cognitive ability or intuition. Experts in any field are not hired for free in fact, they get some of the most competitive salaries. Various institutions for the sake of providing solutions for various issues hire consultants, analysts and skilled individuals who have gone through College University. A human resource that is competitive in terms of skills and knowledge are valued in the job market because they provide expert opinion and come up with models some of economic nature to alleviate the problems the societies face (Ellsberg 100). It is against this background that a university degree is linked to success to a greater extent.
The government of the US and the federal states has put more emphasis on college education as the only means through which individuals can be propelled through the social ladder. More funds have been dedicated to schools to train and ensure that students going through the college system are more equipped to face the market. Many students are encouraged to take up science and mathematics in schools to ensure that they are more innovative. On the other hand, more scholarships are given to the college students to make them complete their education. It is the belief that a vibrant workforce can only come through a formal institution such as a college university (Autor 12). The government believes that when students go through colleges they are able to attain some success through the jobs offered to them by different companies. On the other hand, various companies only require that the people who work for them must have some technical competence thus strengthening the government’s position. American society right from the government down to the smallest unit believes that individuals can only succeed with a college education (Carneiro 68).
Education is no doubt a critical factor that determines the essence of success however not everyone can depend on a college degree to succeed. There are a number of people who have succeeded in life without going through college education and are by far some of the most influential individuals in the American society (Simpson 99). Bill gates dropped out of college to start one of the most vibrant companies of Microsoft and Yahoo. Microsoft is one of the most valuable companies in the world with equity turnover running into billions of US dollars. Mark Zerkerberg invented Facebook from nothing and has recently been listed on the Wall Street with so many billions in equity being realized over the short time. The two individuals among others, are a proof that one does not need a university degree to succeed. The notion that college education is key to success does not hold in this context (Roesch 193).
There are people who are born with entrepreneurial skills that enable them to succeed in life. A number of people are people in America dropped out of college to end up becoming a great success thus shaping the human society. A number people depend on their knowledge to start programs that later become products of immense success. There are people with dreams and innovative thoughts that are translated into practical issues (Murphy 112). The various innovations and innovative thoughts later become a great success effectively making the individual becoming successful in life.
Most people go through college, but never become successful in life. Case in point is that even though individuals may successfully go through a college system, most of them end up becoming destitute and unable to apply the theoretical frameworks learnt in college to the outside world ( Martin 123). Some of the courses that individuals take in school are essentially not able to fit the job market and are never considered as essential. The application of the knowledge in real life is sometimes not realized to the extent that employers fail to offer gainful employment to the people seeking the positions (Unger 11). College education does not guarantee success, as the American society would want people to believe. There are diverse issues that can ensure success in the life of an individual.
In the American society, there are people who have immense talent. Most of the entertainers in the US did not go through college or any institution of learning. Most of the singers, movie stars and television talk show host did not have any formal education, but are some of the most successful people. Most of the people in the entertainment scene did not start as people of substance or with influence, but through the different stages of life have proved their worth thus making them some of the most influential people in the American soil. Most of the records sold run into billions of dollars (Ferrante-Wallace 40).
On the other hand, the influence that most of the celebrities have making some of the most respected personalities. It is against this background that it is important to note that a college education does not guarantee success in life or the society as a whole. There are careers that do not necessarily require college degrees. When one is able to understand the strengths and limitations it is possible to choose career paths that end up becoming successful in life. The determination of success is not based on college education but how well a person is able to choose a career and become successful in life (Rumbauskas 6).
Conclusion
Education is one of the key determinants of success especially in America. Education provides individuals with knowledge and the technical competence that can aid an individual to become successful in life. Careers are developed to greater extent from the line of education and the technical expertise achieved make it possible to achieve success. To this extent education determines success, however it is important to note that education is not the only determinant of success. There are successful people who either dropped out of college or never attended at all. There are entrepreneurs, entertainers and other people who have managed to be successful without going through college. College education is essential for success, though it cannot be glorified wholesale because there are other ways through which people can be successful.
References:
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