“Is College Good Enough; Is It Worth the Investment?”

By Nakesha Willis

                College is an educational institution or establishment that provides higher education or specialized professional or vocational training. Many people question the worth of college and whether or not it helps or hurts you in the long run. In my opinion, college is worth every penny invested in it. Knowledge is everything and I stand firm on that as it was instilled in me.

 

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                 For me, college was not really an option and I was always encouraged to further my education and succeed while doing so. I am learning that college is a wonderful place where you learn wonderful things. College provides many experiences and teaches various lessons/skills ranging from responsibility, hard-work, and dedication to networking, service projects, politics, etc. Being involved throughout your college years makes your experience well worthwhile.

                While I believe that college is worth the investment, others may differ for various reasons. According to the article “Why Your College Degree Is Not Enough” gives some reasoning that include debt from loans, the fact that a degree no longer sets you apart from other applicants, due to a lack of experience offered for a particular field, and drop-out rates.

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                Based on a United States poll, only 22 percent can afford college while 75 percent cannot. In an article “What is College For,” 74 percent of graduates from four-year colleges say that their education was very useful in helping them grow intellectually, 69 percent expressed that it was very useful in helping them grow and mature as a person, and 55 percent claimed that college was very useful in helping them prepare for a job or career. All in all, 86 percent of those graduates think college was a good investment for them in a personal capacity.

                I have been in college for a little over a month and so far, I have done great with time management and prioritizing. I would place myself in the category of people who do believe college is a great investment and an awesome preparation for the workforce. Education is to produce well-rounded citizens rather than productive workers. One of my teachers gave me the advice that if I do what I have to do, I’ll be able to do what I want to do. If you pursue a field in something that you’re passionate about, you never really work. Robert Hoggard made a statement that I definitely agree with; College may seem unrealistic to some because they cannot afford it; however, college is worth placing yourself in debt because of the success one can find after college. It is better to be overqualified than under-qualified. That statement gives me comfort with the idea that college is worth the investment and it is good enough. It backs the idea that knowledge is everything!