Attending college is not a mandatory requirement for every individual. It is more of a choice that people make after they have cleared high school. The objectives that people have in life determine whether it is on their to-do list as the next step after high school. There are people who prefer to seek permanent employment opportunities rather than join college. There are those that prefer the option of joining college and maybe go further beyond this point. Americans owe more than $1.3 trillion in student loans (Stevens and Kirst 16). This aspect has elicited various questions on whether college is worth the cost. However, this cannot be used as the bench mark in assessing the value of college education. There are people that have benefited immensely and gained satisfaction as a result of pursuing a college education. There are several reasons that prompt people to pursue college education.

Among them is earning a salary. People indulge in college education with the objective of attaining employment at the end of it. It is possible to gain employment even without college education. However, there is a significant difference between people that do not have college education and those that have. In the past, economists have argued that higher education is accompanied with an earnings premium. These means that people who have attained college education are believed to have greater expertise (Turner 123). As a result, employers are willing to pay more for their services.

An individual with mere college education might be performing very effectively, but there is always an element of doubt from the employer. There is always a cap on where they can reach on the organizational ladder in terms of upward mobility. This is among the reasons why some people go back to school after they have actualized a certain status in their place of work. Having college education increases their probability of being given “heavier” responsibilities. This obviously comes with increased salary.

Quest for better health has also emerged as a motivating factor for attending college. Previous research has indicated that adults having college education have the tendency of smoking less and watching their weight. This is attributed to the fact that while in college they have come across some scenarios in their learning activities that have been of immense enlightenment. They are well aware of the health dangers associated with leading poor health lifestyles. Attaining college education also means that people will be employed in institutions where they will meet high profile professionals. They will have the objective of fitting into these environments and one way of doing this is “looking the part”. The objective of wanting to maintain a favorable physical appearance will ensure that they watch their weight. This will come with healthy eating habits, which go a long way into ensuring favorable health conditions.

College education also ensures that people attain employment in organizations that offer benefits such as health insurance. This is to say that a degree or diploma opens opportunities to jobs that can help support and care for one’s family. In America, educated individuals are more likely to have health insurance. This is usually a smart move since health costs are becoming more expensive with time.

To some people attaining job security has prompted them to attend college. Everyone has to put food on the table, pay bills and put a shelter on their heads. This means that having a steady employment is likely to bring peace of mind. There is an assurance that funds will be available to carry out routine expenditures. People with at least a bachelor’s degree are less likely to remain unemployed. In America, the unemployment rate stood at 2.8% in 2015 for people whose highest degree was a bachelor’s (Stevens and Kirst 72). The unemployment rate of individuals that did not attend college was almost double.

While in college, people have the opportunity of taking different majors. This means that there is an aspect of specialization. There is sufficient time to learn and master various elements associated with that major. The tendency results in the acquisition of valuable skills, more so in technical fields. In the job market, there are usually few people with similar skills and prowess. The probability of acquiring favorable jobs is enhanced, as a result. After acquiring job experience, employees with these skills have a high propensity to keep their jobs since very few people can do what they do. This means they have attained some form of job security, and they can feel at ease.

College also helps people to make lasting connections. This has been a motivating factor to attend college, more so in the modern era. While in college, students are normally working towards similar objectives. There is an environment that they all have to persevere in order to attain the ultimate objective of graduating. This results in the development of bonds that become stronger with time. The relationships and friendships developed help people to persist in light of the difficulties that come along. The connections created at this point will prove to be very helpful once these people start their careers.

After college, people indulge in different careers. There are those that gain employment ahead of others. The connections created while in college help people secure employment through their friends. No matter what people say, nowadays landing a job boils down to who you know. According to research conducted by Pew Research Center report, 44% of Americans that were job hunting said that some forms of relationships; friend, friend of a friend or professional connection was the most significant resource while in their job hunt (Turner 107).

Fulfilling childhood dreams also acts a reason for joining college. While growing up, there are things that people want to be in life. There are those sectors that they want to be involved with once they are of age. Despite people shifting focus as time passes, there are those who pursue their dreams to the end. If attaining college education is among the fundamentals of attaining this dream, they will ensure that they have done it. The relentless and the burning desire is the driving force under this respect. The belief that actualizing these dreams will make them feel contented helps them to hang in there when difficulties present themselves.

People of this nature are aware of what they want while in college. This helps them to avoid the things that do not matter and focus on the main objectives. This increases their probability of being successful in college life.

Works Cited

Stevens, Mitchell and Michael Kirst. Remaking College. California: Stanford University Press,     2015. Print.

Turner, Paul. Everything You Need To Know Before College. Oxford: Tyndale House, 2014.         Print.

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