By Pamela Sweetwood
A student last week was questioning the value of finishing an Associate’s degree. Statistically, each degree leads to higher lifetime income. With the decreasing value of a high school diploma, the earning gap is widening. Those with a high school diploma earn 62% of what college graduates do.
In comparing the 10 most prevalent jobs of each degree type, it is obvious education opens doors otherwise unavailable. Education is way out of poverty for many.
An Associate’s degree is, as he realized, needed to be considered for some positions. Albeit, a bachelor’s degree or higher degree may be needed. Standards for education continue to increase.
In a meeting about the nursing profession, they said RNs are now the standard. The LPN is essentially being phased out. Employers within 10 years will be requiring a RN instead. Other professions are seeing this trend.
In the United States, a college degree also indicates some sort of general knowledge. Regardless of your major there are some general education expectations. Writing, math, science, humanities, and communication are built-in to degrees. The premise is that the person is well-rounded.
Another attribute many argue is that college requires critical thinking skills, being able to decipher through information rather than taking it at face-value.
I asked a group of students yesterday what they thought were benefits. Several remarked about the network of people they were meeting through classes and the college experience. Deservedly so, students said college provided them a sense of accomplishment.
I’ve always believed college isn’t so much about intelligence but about persistence. It’s about showing you can complete a goal and handle challenges rather than give up. Stick-to-it-ness as some people say is very relevant to employers. Having skills is great but follow-thru is just as important if not more so.
Pamela Sweetwood was an ISU student, like many, who never left town. She works in higher education and has a history with many community non-profits organizations.
The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Cumlus Media, Inc.
