It is understandable as to why some people think college, community college, trade-school, or any educational opportunity is a waste of time and money. Tuition costs and college are in fact expensive, but that’s not the point of going and getting your education, and many people withdraw from this life-saving opportunity because it’s too difficult or too expensive. Many people shouldn’t even worry about money and tuition, because in the end it all depends on your future, which is also important.
The purpose of education is to keep individuals with knowledge, and skills to achieve personal
and professional fulfillment while preparing them to contribute to society. Education is also important because it gives you growth, better job opportunities, financial stability, confidence, and more. According to edutopia.org, authors Sir Ken and Kate Robinson state that education should be for students to become economically responsible and independent. They stated, “The four purposes above suggest eight core competencies that, if properly integrated into education, will equip students who leave school to engage in the economic, cultural, social, and personal challenges they will inevitably face in their lives. These competencies are curiosity, creativity, criticism, communication, collaboration, compassion, composure, and citizenship.”
Education is one of the investments that can never be taken away from you. It shapes the way you think and learn, and it also gives you the freedom to choose the future you want. Education is not just long lectures, heavy coursework, and large textbooks, it’s about gaining your perspective, confidence, and discovering more about yourself and becoming more competent about the world and what’s in it. If you don’t believe you can reach your goals, then what potential do you have?
Like many other educational or career pathways, college can introduce you to new ideas, people, interests, aspirations, and pathways that can change your life. College is also hard, but it doesn’t have to be for you. It may feel like too much, but it’s not. It’s the growth that comes from it is worth it. All the growth, problem-solving skills, personal development, and more will pay off one hundred percent. Not choosing to pursue education is just the same as choosing not to climb a mountain because it’s too high.
As outlined in the article, “Top 10 Reasons Why Education is Important” by University of the People, the writers argue that education builds stability. “Education provides stability in life, and it’s something that no one can ever take away from you. By being well-educated and holding a college degree, you increase your chances for better career opportunities and open up new doors for yourself.
It’s devastating that many people are unable to pursue any education for several reasons: poverty, traditional beliefs, high tuition costs, the need to work urgently to support families, and more. According to Lumina Foundation, an organization aiming to get at least 75% of adults a higher education degree or training, Courtney Brown states that they have found a decline or fewer Americans who believe the education system, college and universities are doing well for its citizens. “The reasons for this low confidence are painfully clear: rising tuition, staggering debt, misalignment with the labor market, and a sense that higher education is more focused on selectivity and rankings than student success. All of the above have contributed to reduced faith in what once was seen as a ticket to the American dream,” She also states, “It’s a vicious cycle: as expenses rise and the value of holding a bachelor’s degree becomes less certain, fewer people enroll or stay enrolled, and the system becomes less accessible, supporting a pattern of decline.”
Donald Hickman, a sociology and history teacher at BHS shared his opinion on why he thinks it is important for young people to pursue their education: “Education opens up our world, opens up their minds, and expands opportunities.”
What influences us, what creates our passions, what develops our values, what we learn, what we experience all come from education. Education is a superpower we all hold within ourselves that should not be taken for granted.
