College Degree Essay

The quest for college degree has brought us to here HCC, because there was no real fulfillment in our various jobs. The benefits from having a college education are manifold and range from jobs satisfaction, higher earning potential, and healthier life style choices. With the advances in technology, many of today’s jobs now require more than a high school education or trade skills. Success in the workforce is increasingly defined by the ability to think critically, manipulate a computer, and to work collaboratively in a teaming environment. Today’s college education develops these abilities, providing individuals with invaluable business and personal skills and knowledge, as well as opening the door to better career opportunities and increased earning power. Having a college degree is linked to higher pay. People with a higher level of education are more satisfied in their jobs than people who only have a high school diploma. For example, in 2012 the median of earnings for young adults with a bachelor’s degree was $46,900, while the median was $22,900 for those without a high school credential and $30,000 for those with a high school credential. In other words, young adults with a bachelor’s degree earned more than twice as much as those without a high school credential (105 percent more) and 57 percent more than young adult high school completers. (National Center for Education Statistics website). One of the biggest arguments against a college education is not being able to  go work when you turn eighteen. Many people believe that this will cause them to fall behind and not be able save up enough money. A college education will let you â€Å"skip the line† and start working with better jobs, in better places, with better conditions, and on top of that, the unemployment rates for high school graduates have increased to 8.1% in the last year (â€Å"Value of a Degree†). The bottom line is that better jobs come from a better education. College education will help in making good choice and have a healthier life style. Apparently those with a college education are more likely to live healthier lifestyles, with fewer incidences of smoking and obesity. The gap between smoking rates of those with high school diplomas and those with four-year degrees has risen from 2 percentage points in 1962 to 17 points in 2012. College-educated adults of all ages, and their children, are also less likely to be obese. In addition, mothers with higher levels of education spend more time with their children, regardless of whether they are employed or not (â€Å"Top Universities†). Also in the other hand, according to Malcom X â€Å"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.† The Luck of education is a serious problem today. Some effects include illiteracy and increased drop rate, this is also leads to have a trouble finding work. It is difficult to see the exact value of your education in the beginning. However, finishing high school is an asset that everyone with the opportunity should take full advantage of. Just finishing high school opens up some doors, but not many. On the contrary, not going to school can result in higher unemployment and therefore a means for extra burden on the society. You can see from the chart that there is a dramatic difference between what a person will be paid with a diploma and as a college graduate. According to the chart a college graduate can bring home nearly fifty-percent more than a person with a high school diploma. Higher education opens up opportunities for people. It gives student the experience and the confidence that they will be able to use in many life situations. Attending college gives students opportunities to express themselves and to learn about other people and their ideas Although college isn’t for everyone, everyone should at least give it a try. By going to college you learn to become independent, you go into the race for bigger, safer, better jobs, and you make more money on the other side. If you are given the opportunity to go to college, you should take advantage of it. You might even find out that you like it. The college experience is both academic and practical. College gives us a great opportunity to grow intellectually and gives us a chance to mature.