If Success is Relative, Why is College Relevant? by Gabriela

If Success is Relative, Why is College Relevant? by Gabriela - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

I have always been told that college is not an option, it is a requirement. I have never truly considered having a post-secondary plan that did not include attending college, regardless of whether it be a community college or a four-year institution. Even the high school I attend currently is called Jones College Prep, a school that in its name announces the intent to prepare students for college. While my family has instilled this belief into me since a young age, I have grown to believe in the significance and value of higher education myself without warranting my family’s reminders. Attending college has always been important in my eyes for the abundance of opportunities it has to offer, whether these opportunities be outright or more ambiguous in how they will benefit those who choose to pursue them.

One of the many opportunities that arises from attending college is rather overt, it being that those who receive degrees from institutions of higher education become more hireable in their field. While in college, there is room to explore what path to take for life after school. Taking classes and receiving official training and instruction then provides tools to become more successful in a career. Additionally, going through college teaches crucial skills advantageous for functioning adults in society. Learning how to handle greater responsibility, managing time, and working productively with others are all benefits from a college experience. Not only do one's chances of being hired likely increase, but the opportunity to advance is greater. Generally, the higher a position one has in an organization, the more income a person will earn. In the United States the reality is that having a higher salary allows for more options, whether it is having the means to buy a house, start a family, travel, and/or live a more comfortable lifestyle. Unfortunately, living from paycheck to paycheck is a harsh reality many face, even if those in that position went to college. Therefore, while college does not always guarantee security, it is relevant in that it can aid significantly in helping to open the doors to more opportunities.

Additionally, college offers the often times overlooked opportunity to reinvent the person one wants to be. In high school, most people have generally experienced a drastic change over four years from the person they were to someone that they are more at ease with, happier with, and proud of. However, during this time of discovery, old perceptions continue to exist, and may never disappear completely. Everyone seems to earn a reputation in a building where most people may move on, but never truly forget who people used to be. Therefore, attending college is a new start. For the majority, it is the first real taste of independence. Joining new clubs and organizations is easier because there are no past perceptions of the activities someone might typically enjoy. One can move on from the people they have known for many years of their life and seek out new people from all across the country and the world. It provides the opportunity to be exposed to differing views and beliefs other than their own and learn in a potentially more diverse environment than what they may be used to. As a result, attending college provides a unique setting for the opportunity to grow, leaving old personas in the past and finding other students who challenge one to think outside of the confines of the world they have known.

While college provides important tools, it is up to those who attend these institutions to actually use what they are given. I believe that success is relative and that a college education is what one makes of it. It is one thing to receive an education, it is another to apply the knowledge well in order to build on one’s current success. After college graduation, some people may end up with a lifestyle that they are unhappy with and not feel as successful by their own definition. As a result, they may feel that college was not necessary or important. Sometimes life after college may not be what was expected, but ultimately it does lay a foundation, and what follows must be hard work, dedication, and perseverance to continue moving onward. Additionally, it would be foolish to say that there is no success found by not attending college at all. Like I said before, success is relative. I genuinely respect and understand those that choose a different path, as college is a large financial decision that not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to invest in and a commitment bound by circumstances. I believe their choices and views are no less valid than mine. Nevertheless, in my opinion I am not sure how easy it would be to move upwards in life without the advantages and opportunities that attending college can provide, and I want to define my personal success as making the most of my college education.