The Reasons Why People Attend College

Alex Brown
Heather Surface
Writing Seminar
2 September 2013
Why People Attend College
Let’s go back to the 1960’s. In the 60’s nobody went to college. Education past high school was unheard of. A lot of young adults going to college now are first generation college attendees. Someone having grandparents that went to college is very rare. Speeding time up another twenty years, people attending college is still few and far between. There is an increasingly amount of people choosing to go to college but most people are entering a trade, or working on the family farm. So what is different today? Why is everyone attending a four year college or grad school? Pursuing education, achieving dreams, and the cultural norm are some of the reasons I chose to go to college.
Bettering ourselves is something we value in today’s time in age. We want to get to our peak, or our max whether it is education, sports, socially, or our own personal goals. We want to be the best we can be, keeping up with the times and going to college will help us achieve this all-time high in our own lives. As times change, and the pendulum passes what is different today than thirty to forty years ago is how much we value our intelligence. I’m not saying in the past students didn’t care, but hard work and brute labor was valued more than someone’s intelligence or knowledge. Then again, in the past, you did not need an education as much as you needed hard work to make a living or be successful.
With media and social networking the way it is today, the opportunities that are offered to our generation is literally endless. It really is quite mind-boggling. We today, our going to college to obtain jobs in the future that have yet to be invented. My generation can reach any dream that is presented to them. The playing fields are even, no matter what your sex, religion, or race you can be whatever you want to be with the right mindset, education, and some hard work. Personally, I want to be a Senator, a House Representative, or the President of the United States. In order for me to achieve this dream of mine, college is a necessity. Even if you have a dream of playing a professional sport college is a steppingstone for you to get to your final dream destination. Even athletes have to play a year or two at a college before they go pro. With the right degree the doors that are open are plentiful, but you need the right education which is why college is so common.
Lastly, I think furthering our education is a societal norm these days. Is it right, wrong, or indifferent? I do not know. Today the young adult population is expected to go to college. “Get the college experience”. “Make friends that will last a lifetime.” “Get your degree.” These are all things my parents told me when I was deciding on a college my senior year of high school. Years ago, the norm was different. The norm then was to go straight to a trade and help out the family business. Now, slowly, the tables have shifted and the norm is to further your education. Most jobs won’t even give your application a second look if you did not attend at least a two year college. With everyone going to college after high school jobs are being hard to find because everyone is qualified for the job that they are applying for. Many of the application are similar schooling wise. Also people to occupy the jobs such as plumbers, electricians, and construction workers are hard to come by. My parents expected me to go to college to further my schooling. Working on the family farm out of high school was out of the question. My friends’ parents expected them to go to college. It is no longer an option for most to not attend college after high school.
Why someone attends college varies from person to person. The intent of furthering ones education depends on who is asked. The above reasons is why I chose to go to college. I chose to further my education at Ohio Northern University majoring in Political Science because I value my education, want to achieve a dream of mine, and was expected from me.