Education Opens Doors by Alyssa

Education Opens Doors by Alyssa - April 2015 Scholarship Essay

According to Malcolm Forbes, "The purpose of an education is to fill an empty mind with an open one." I believe that attaining an education is not about how much money you earn once you complete college and move on to post-graduate life to pursue the career of your choice. Instead, I believe that it is about learning material that intrigues your mind and compels you to continue to learn more. Education helps one learn to be more of an independent thinker, promoting one to grow as an individual.

Although I feel money should not be the prime factor in the choice of career selected, education is the foundation for a successful and prosperous life. From a study conducted in 2014, a college graduate with a degree is said to make $17,500 more annually than one who only possesses a high school diploma. This amount of money could be used to buy a car or even be used as a down payment for a house. With a college degree, you are also less limited with job choices. There are plenty of options to fit your skills and abilities. With just a little willpower and perseverance, college can help immensely with furthering one's education. Wisdom is everlasting, and it is fulfilling to be in possession of a vast amount of knowledge.

I feel that the ability to absorb new information is fascinating and enlightening. There is a broad amount of fields of study to become competent in. Some fields are more interesting than others, but having knowledge about a wide variety of subjects could be remarkably benefitting to intellect and edification. Nevertheless, if one subject peaks your interest more than others then you may earn all the way up to a Ph.D in that field of study. Education allows more income, a better appreciation for learning, and a sense of accomplishment. Once you begin your journey with education, your mind will flourish with a newfound sensation of being able to learn more than you thought was feasible. In the famous words of Lao Tzu, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The meaning behind the quote is that amazing things start with modest beginnings. Through and through, obtaining an education leads to a rewarding and virtuous life.