Immigration

Giovanni Moreno English 1A July 5, 2012

A College Degree Leads to the Road of Success

How difficult is it to succeed without a college degree? It is extremely difficult, In fact, not all of us are as fortunate like Willy Aybar, Tyra Banks, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Michael Dell or Bill Gates. These well-known wealthy individuals are high school or college dropouts, who achieved success without a degree. Why? Well, because they all had a talent and pursued it until they accomplished their desired goal. They too worked as hard as a student attending college wanting to succeed. The only difference between these students and successful dropouts is that their knowledge derived from life experiences and not a textbook. However, the odds of a high school or college dropout to reach wealth without a college degree are remarkably slim. According to the Census Bureau of Eduction individuals with a degree are more likely to succeed in life, prosper in wealth, and accumulate self-pride. Therefore, in today’s society, education is a crucial part of life and essential for success. I believe education is worth the investment, therefore, all students should obtain a college degree in order to reach a higher level of success, and a comfortable lifestyle.

Obtaining a college degree is becoming a must in today’s society; it has served students as a guide to a better life and exposed various opportunities for a successful future. Many high school graduates chase the path towards college, often without knowing what to expect and what exactly is their necessity in college. However by stepping into the college zone they have achieved the first serious step to the road of success. The road in which all college student accommodate new skills, new habits and are prepared, physically and mentally. For example, besides academics in every grade level you learn functions. In grade school, we learn the foundations of recces time, working with others, and respecting others. In middle school you learn the basic communication skills, how to overcome fallacies and how to contribute with your surroundings. In High School you learn how to be more independent, stand up for yourself and discover your personality.In college you learn aptitudes for future reference like independence, responsibility and most importantly how to manage your time efficiently and prosper in the working environment.

A student skilled at a profession is an important and pleasant mechanism, though, students often do not have the college degree that empowers them to go above and beyond. Sure, expereince will serve an individual with knowlege in the workforce, but I believe attending a university or college will enhance your communication skills, organization and critical thinking skills, setting educated students to manager position in the workforce. According to Robert Longley, an advocate of the Census Bureau of higher education, satisfies “Workers 18 and over sporting bachelors degrees earn an average of $51,206 a year, while those with a high school diploma earn $27,915. Workers with an advanced degree make an average of $74,602, and those without a high school diploma average $18,734. ” Longley claims that student’s income rates are accurate according to the student’s degree of education and concludes that education is better than no education. High school dropouts are far less capable of reaching success, compared to students who managed to earn a high school diploma. However, a college student with a Bachelor’s degree is far more likely to succeed, and a student with and advanced degree is guaranteed a life-style of success.

Earning a college degree is certainly a long educational process and not all students are willing to go the distance. Statistic demonstrate that 25% of college freshman will dropout within their first year; 53% of students attending a public institution will dropout, and overall 33% of college students will dropout before achieving a college degree. Students dropout due to various circumstances: 78% outside job, 38 % financial reasons, 28% academic disqualification, 13% feel out of place, 5% health problems, 4% distance of college and 3% due to: partying, family problems, children and other outside problems. However, dropping out of college should not be an option. According to Times magazine, “…in 2010, the unemployment rate was 9.2 percent for those with only some college and more than 10 percent for those with just a high school degree, but it was 5.4 percent for college graduates”. The unemployment rate are emerging through the roof and opportunities are fading away for dropouts and day by day are struggling with, life, money and success.

In today’s economy well-paying jobs are tough to encounter , but with the assistance of a college degree the selection of professions contribute to a wide variety of options. For the most part, we are not all equipped with professional skills and talents right of the bat we are destined forthe college to enhance and guide us into the real world, as well as, prepare us physically and mentally for higher demanding wages. For instance, Nicole Shaw, 18, of Baton Rouge, La, “gets paid just $2 an hour plus tips, making it hard to accumulate real savings”. Shaw states "I'm mostly just trying to help out my family and save for college.Even though you can be the best waitress you can be, the tips, they tip you whatever. I love my job, it's just the pay." (Mercury News). Many high school and college dropouts are often stuck in the same situation, over the years, receiving minimal salaries, insufficient hours and limited benefits, if not, unemployed. College students with a degree however, are more likely to encounter a well-paying job followed by financial growth. Joe Aguilar a writer in Corvallis, Oregon states that a degree is vital to the student’s income. Aguilar states that students who achieve a professional degree will earn a higher income.Students in the medical field will averagean estimted income of 145,600 a year; dentist will average an income of 132,140 per year; law school students will average an income of 102,460 per year; pharmacist will average an income of 94,520 per year and software engineers can expect a mesmerizing income of 74,780 to 85,370 per year. So for succes education is needed, it is is extremely powerful and in order to become who we dream, we have to be the best of the best and obtain a higher education to accommodate the skills required in order to build an economically-productive life.

According to Time magazine, students with college degrees are likely to encounter more options and opportunities, which often lead to greater success and happiness in life. Professor, David T Conley, writer of “College knowledge: What it really takes for students to succeed and what can we do to get them ready” states that; “The thing about succeeding is that it can be achieved in a number of ways. Rarely does one have to make every mistake possible in order to not succeed” . Success can derive in various forms, according to Conley, yet students have to demonstrate proficiency, dedication and persistence to define success. College is a guide to intensify your financial and social status. However, Katharine Hansen, from Quintessential Careers believes, “Obtaining a college degree is not just about making more money, a college education is associated with other benefits, such as: a longer lifespan, greater economic stability and security, more prestigious employment, job satisfaction, less dependency on government assistance, greater participation in leisure and artistic activities, greater community service and leadership and more self-confidence” . College is beneficial to all and a higher education encourages students to become more open-minded, more cultured, more rational, more consistent and more successful.

A college degree has allowed many individuals to succeed. For instance, Doug Jerome an officer and employee of the police academy achieved his dream of becoming an officer by pursuing the college life and receiving the degree and credentials desired. Jerome states:

I am very thankful obviously for your diligence and professionalism during my college experience. Success may not have happened without your words of encouragement at exam time and other times when I wanted to quit due to difficulty or frustrations with test questions. I have not taken my class ring off since I received it after completing my Criminal Justice Associate Degree online. I was equally as proud when I received my AS in Paralegal Studies. Those two achievements were truly lifelong goals that I never thought I would accomplish.

Officer Jerome accomplished his dream goal by not giving up and dedicating his life to his college goals. Officer Jerome received his Criminal Justice Associate Degree and Associate in Paralegal Studies, yet he is on the rampage for higher degrees. Jerome states, “I am now approximately 14 classes away from my Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, which I expect to complete by the end of 2012. I will then be enrolling in my Master's Degree Program or Graduate Program at Ashworth.” Officer Jerome learned the significance of college and how vital a college degree is in today's society. He thanks his college degree for creating the succesful person whom he is now.

Marcelo Leonardi,Cal State Northridge head water polo coach, veiws education as the number one priority and believes education will open up the path towards success. He believes education will also expand his skills as a role model, communicator, and instructor. Coach Leonardi mentions:

During my last two years of school, I found that I was a better communicator and I really enjoyed sports, with my degree and my water polo background, I thought I could coach and teach at the secondary level. I started the girl’s water polo team from the ground level, at first, we started a team just learning how to swim, and then we advanced to the basics of play in a tough sport like water polo. I was hooked. I wanted to go coach water polo at the highest level of NCAA Division I and CSUN gave me that opportunity. I got the job."

Coach Leonardi accomplished one of his goals, out of many; he succeeded for the fact that education gave him the skills to be persistent, focused and in control. His persistence led him to many opened doors, but best of all, college was the resource to his success, which encouraged Leonardi to take control of his future accomplishments. Leonardi states, “If I was going to move forward in higher education, whether it was coaching, teaching or movitional teaching, I would need that advanced degree." Leonardi considered his advice and by May of 2011 earned his Ed.D in Educational Leadership. Now Lonardis title has changed from being simply “coach Leonardi” to Dr. Marcelo Leonaldi.

A college degree plays a significant role in today’s society; it is a guide to a better living, a better future and advocates a better understanding of where you stand. Students will achieve success thru textbooks, which will prepare students physically, mentally and economically. Students without the proper education like Willy Aybar, Tyra Banks, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Michael Dell or Bill Gates, are more likely to fail than to prosper. We are not all geniuses liked those individuals; we are known to have the ability to succeed like those individuals, although with the assistance of a college degree. We are all human a characteristic we share; we all have different talents and are skilled differently according to knowledge. Based on research and statistics, knowledgeable students by means of obtaining a college degree are more likely to succeed and those who do not will are likely to face devastating circumstances and fail towards the road to success.