Today’s job market is complex and highly competitive. High school education nowadays is insufficient to contend for high paying jobs which are scarce. Today’s economy has also been changed from being dependent on manufacturing to being dependent on knowledge (Baum and Payea, 7). Thus, college education is very important because it will provide me with the knowledge I need to be competitive today. Although a college degree may not help in getting a specific job that I may be applying for, it will enhance my chances of getting it.
Attending college is important to me because it will provide me with the mental stimulation which I crave. This is because I will be able to listen to lectures by experts in different fields, and read books, journals, and publications by different accomplished authors. Mental stimulation will help me to think innovatively, become more inquisitive, and be able to investigate new ideas. Such qualities are cultivated in college, and they help in individual growth and development.
According to (NCPPHE, 1), a study of revealed that 77% of participants responded that college education was more important now than it was ten years back. Higher education has socioeconomic benefits which are often underplayed. The society benefits financially by having individuals who are educated. “Higher education results in high tax payouts to the state, and reduced reliance on public facilities, for example, income transfers,” (Baum and Payea, 11). As a well paid member of the society, I will be eligible for higher tax remittances which will be utilized in the improvement of public resources. In addition, because I will be able to support myself financially, I will put less strain on resources meant for those who need them. I want to be a member of the society who is productive and one who contributes to the well being of the society.
In conclusion, a college education will assist me in attaining my life’s ambitions. I intend to be very successful and be able to contribute to the well being of the society. A college degree will stimulate me mentally and enable me to take advantage of any opportunities that may present themselves. A degree will be instrumental in ensuring that my options in a career path are viable. Whether I decide to get into formal employment or to start my own business or practice, I have better chances of succeeding. In addition, I do want to make my parents proud of me, because I am aware of the various sacrifices they have made for me in the course of my education. Most importantly, attaining a college degree and consequently a Masters or PhD, is a vital step towards my pursuit of self actualization.
Bibliography
Baum, Sandy and Payea, Kathleen. Education Pays, 2004: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society. 2004. Web. 19th December 2011. http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/press/cost04/EducationPays2004.pdf
National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Finding One: Higher Education, more important than ever. 2000. Web. 19th December, 2011. http://www.highereducation.org/reports/expectations/expectations5.shtml
