In life, no matter who you are, everyone strives to find a job that makes enough money. In addition, to also make you happy and to feel important. People that fail to do this often lose ambition and the confidence they need to succeed. There are multiple outlets to purse including college, a trades union or construction, and also the military. Unless you are able to get lucky, these are the three most common paths to take in life. Matthew Crawford is a perfect example of this, who is also the author of “The Case for Working with Your Hands.” Crawford got a prestigious degree but ultimately decided that he would be better off working in a motor cycle garage. He is proof that you can find success outside of college if you take the right direction. Anthony Depalma provided a great example in the artile he wrote called “Fifteen Years on the Bottom Rung.” Depalma tells the story of John Zannikos and his former employees where Zannikos came to this country and started a booming restaurant due to luck, not being smarter or craftier then the other immigrants. The other immigrants got left in the dust due to being stuck in a dead end job. Fast food though and other entry level jobs, is not a boulevard of dreams you can find achieve enough to find wealth and peace of mind. I used to work at my local McDonalds for three years during high school. At first, I thought I was there just to make an extra quick buck to fund my weekend adventures, but later would turn into a key cog at the store as the crew trainer and starting to be prepped for a managerial spot. It was exciting, learning how to place orders for the store, make the work schedule and cycle counts among other things. Soon however, I started to realize how replaceable my coworkers a... ... middle of paper ... ... jobs. At 20 years old, he is already decently well off with a lot of options to pursue with the military. Alex, is equally doing well with the union and has raises set the longer he stays with the union. With that said, I will never understand why fast food workers can’t do the same. With the skills they take away from the job, the potential to find a career is astounding even if they decide against college. Everyone wants to fill a niche in society, but the question to ask is are you really filling a niche if you are replaceable to just anyone on the streets? People should be looking for a job where they are a true asset. For the purpose of being able to demand a large salary and knowing what you mean to the company who employs you. As stated, there isn’t just one way to achieve this but multiple which makes it easy to find the right one for you are as a person.
I also agree with my Mom that everyone has their own definition of success and that the media creates the ideal version of it. I decided that college was the best option for me because I couldn't see myself working a blue-collar job for the rest of my life and being able to say I felt successful and/or happy. College isn't for everyone but if you can’t see yourself working a blue-collar job and be able to say you're happy and successful then college might be your best option, no matter how
Jayson Boyers stated that "having a college education can make big differences in some people 's lives" (The Huffington Post Newspaper, 2012). People who do college education often get high level and high paying jobs. The main reason for why students feel hesitant to attend college after they graduate from high school is because they worry about the price of schooling and they prefer to have a job instead to make fast money. Although, people who graduated from high school often are only able to receive jobs at fast food restaurants, clothing stores, etc. When people are able to earn more than enough money to have a stable life they are able to be less stress-free and enjoy their lives more. People who often work in retail jobs face the risk of not making enough money to buy food and also pay their rent. The money that people earn in retail jobs takes a very long time to save up in order to go to college. Alternatively, the world is very competitive and people, truthfully, do have trouble succeeding and even surviving day to day. The most recommended thing to do is to go to college after high school and take out a student loan if needed and pay it off when a career job is obtained. Working very hard now equals to a better life, job opportunities afterward, and positive friendships
During high school, whether it is by a teacher, parent or classmate a student will be advised to go to college. “College is where you find yourself,” they will say. College is made to seem as the place where students will attain a brilliant education, thus making them feel as though once they are done with the schooling, a dependable job of high pay will appear for them. In our society, college is not a scarce option, but rather, an expectation. For many graduating high schoolers, college is the next step. Attaining a college degree is not necessary for creating a life for us as our civilization makes it out to be.
Contrary to popular belief, a college education can help with any job, regardless of whether the job is within a certain major or not. In fact, a college graduate even benefits if they take up a job as a plumber or a police officer- not only from their academic education, but also from learning important skills such as persistence and discipline (Leonhardt). Having a college experience and exposure to the world creates well- rounded people with higher skills and work ethics- and therefore better workers. Though they aren’t immune to being turned down, college graduates are more likely to actually get jobs, and be paid more for them, as shown in a study d...
College is the place where people go to retain the necessary training for a job that requires specific skills, which results in earning a higher pay check. In today’s world, employers are scouting out for individuals with the proper dexterities to fill the shoes for that specific job. Blanche D. Blank, the author of “A Question of Degree," argues that possessing a degree of higher education isn’t the only way to have a very successful life. This statement is highly argumentative, due to the fact that college graduates still out-earn people without degrees. Obtaining a college degree is one of the best things someone can do for themselves, when it comes to looking for a stable job. There is also so much more to college than just receiving a
. Many of us view higher education as an investment that will pay off in the long run, but many others would tell you that you are just wasting time and money. Some may think that college isn’t worth it; there are many useless degrees out there that people have paid for and are unable to find jobs. In an article, Wala Blegay wrote, when College is Not Worth The Money and he said, “Most fields don’t even require you to hold a degree. Your dream career path might not even require a degree.” This is true because there are many jobs that don’t require a college degree, if ...
College is not so much a promise of success as it is a chance at success. Young adults should not feel like college is the best and only option for them. Robert Reich emphasizes this idea in his writing, stating “Last year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 46 percent of recent college graduates were in jobs that don’t even require a college degree.” For a lot of people, college can be a really bad investment, and although more and more jobs do require a degree there are many jobs that don’t. Even after getting a degree many people find that they are working in a job that has nothing to do with their field of study. Also, Collge is not something that is for everyone, but working is Len Penzo stated “There are plenty of relatively well-paying jobs available that don’t require a college degree. According to US Labor Department projections, 63% of all new jobs that will be created between now and 2020 won’t require a college degree.” For the last few decades, college degrees have served as a guarantee for easy access to a middle-class life. But the middle class is on the decline. Although the necessity of having a college degree continues to rise in our society, there are also many new and innovative ways for people to find a way to make a living without a college degree. Those who have been putting their trust in the old system are finding themselves with nowhere to climb. Finally, college just simply is not something everyone can handle Penzo also stated that “Not everybody is college material. If they were, 54% of all Americans who enroll in college wouldn’t eventually become dropouts. Look, college is hard enough for those who are motivated; for people attending who don’t really want to be there, it’s almost impossible.” The idea that every young person needs to go college is wrong. College can be a pathway to success, but it can also be a waste of time and
First of all, college gives us a variety of careers. You may want to be a Doctor or an Astronomer. Both careers are day and night different, but that is the beauty of a college education you are given the opportunity to explore new waters. High school graduates that don't move on to college are not given this opportunity, they are forced to choose from menial and odd jobs, that you may not even enjoy. In the article “Importance of a College Education” by Mr. Hobsons the author states “High school graduates
It is possible to be successful with just a high school diploma, but it is much easier to be successful with a college degree in some field of study. With just a high school diploma, it is possible to have a successful life with a well paying job such as being a manager, police officer, military personnel, and even an employee of the garbage industry. College, however, offers many other jobs that are well paying or even give a sense of accomplishment or happiness. College leads to occupations such as being a CEO, scientist, teacher, artist, or another kind of STEM career. My road to success involves college, specifically a bachelor’s degree in computer sciences and business. With that degree, I have options opened for me that weren’t there before. Some of these options include, but not limited to, being a business owner, being a trader, working as a computer programmer, or game designer. Plenty of high profile occupations that offer access to an incredible life of success as long as hard work is also involved.
In 1975, Caroline Bird’s “College Is a Waste of Time and Money” describes why college degrees cannot buy you five years in the work force. Bird’s essay heavily describes the emotional struts these students encounter while attending college, and the anguish of dreadful classes which seem irrelevant to your actual desired occupation. High school students are inevitably being pushed to believe that college is a fundamental difference between working a desk job making $80,000 a year, and working a minimum wage job the rest of your life. Many college students are finding out that your twenty-thousand dollar degree won’t land you your dream job. Although some may advocate that college is the proven method to a successful career path, the majority of people that attend college are setting themselves up for failure with barricades like loans, low graduation rate, lack of experiences, and career success rate after receiving a degree.
It is a competitive job market and if one wants a high paying job he needs some college credentials. College is also said to prepare people to take on the world. Once one has graduated and has a well paying job he is on his way to becoming successful. People work their whole lives making money so they can satisfy their desires. The idea of being able to purchase the items one has always dreamt about is an achievement. People dream about owning a home and having beautiful things to fill it with. Many people take pride in what they possess. People want to own nice homes, nice cars, and nice clothes. Some need to look successful in order to feel successful. These people feel successful when they can admire what their hard work has given them.
In John Cassidy’s article, he states, “About seventy percent of all high school graduates now go on to college, and half of all Americans between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-four have a college degree” (Cassidy 2). With that reality, the business world becomes much more competitive for jobs, and it comes down to whether a person has a degree or not. College should be thought of as a prerequisite for the growing jobs of the economy today. Next, college is worth it because it can provide a better life and make more money. According to economists studying the effects college has on a career path, “Once you enter the labor market, the theory says, you will be rewarded with a better job, brighter career prospects, and higher wages” (Cassidy 2). More options in life means more opportunity, and while some may be able to obtain a job more quickly than others, college will almost guarantee a job opportunity. Finally, college unlocks the true potential of everyone, including displaying a person’s characteristics or talents. According to the end of John Cassidy’s article, “Providing access to college for more kids from deprived backgrounds helps nurture talents that might otherwise go to waste” (Cassidy 5). Although it could be just for deprived kids, the same applies for all students. College helps students find themselves, and being on their own will make them broaden their horizons. Overall, a college degree has a lot of importance
As I was exposed to the theme of just how dangerous it can be to believe in the myth of social mobility that surrounds the American Dream, I wondered why I ended up in college. Although I believe it is in my best interest to be here, I do think that more people need to understand that it really is not for everyone. While I am here to earn a degree in order to get a job that I love, other people may not have the same aspirations that I do. Because we all have different goals in life, I believe that young adults, especially those from the working-class, should not feel so much pressure to attend college. We all have different goals and passions and if college does not help someone achieve theirs, they should be able to stay where they are and not be chastised by society.
The Benefits of Higher Education states it perfectly, “After spending many years learning, people tend to feel happier and more content as they lead educated lives…Consequently, education promotes fulfilling, fuller lifestyles” (¶ 6). The types of jobs a person will be able to acquire after a college education allow more freedom and security, as well as an improved intellect. The naysayers believe that people do not need a four-year degree to acquire a job, but how many good jobs with comprehensive financial benefits do not require a four-year degree? What quality jobs are in store for an individual when they are nineteen or twenty years old with no working experience? Those kinds of jobs tend to have lower salaries with longer work hours. Higher education not only gives students more opportunities but the skills and understanding that allow them to dig deeper into more difficult situations. “After a trip through the world of higher education, you will hopefully be the person who communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems. You will know to ask questions” (Carter ¶ 14). Receiving a higher education will help anyone narrow down their options and help them succeed with life’s constant challenges. Greater numbers
College is a place where you open up your mind and see the different options that are set for you , ranging from sports, engineering, literature and many other subjects. Many high school graduates think that college is only a place you go to obtain a higher wage, while that is somewhat true, students should pursue a career which they enjoy, rather than a job that just pays a large amount. As Danielle Allen writes “But we don’t want to craft an environment where people fail to come to their own understanding of what they should try to do because as a nation, we are justifiably trying to increase the efficiency with which we match human capital to the labor market.”(2) Teens nowadays are pressured by parents and media to obtain the most valued jobs such as those in the medical and engineering field, but completely ignore the fact that they might not enjoy the job itself. While not completely ignoring the income in a profession, scholars need to learn that studying something they 're passionate about will become better for them in the long run because it 's something they will be working on for a long