The true value of Education by Jared

The true value of Education by Jared - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

Education is the founding block of society. Education's effect is seen across the globe, countries which emphasize the importance of education have higher degrees of happiness, GDP per capita, lifespan, innovation, and a multitude of other categories. Countries which have a limited scope of education, many times giving students a cookie cutter approach, tend to fall behind, they have higher rates of unhappiness, political corruption, and in many cases have lower standards of living. Education opens the doors to opportunities previously closed, and is a catalyst for individuals to live up to their true potential.
Education and schooling are two separate ideas, yet they are not mutually exclusive. Anyone can be educated, modern companies such as Tesla, Google, and Apple understand this better than anyone else and no longer require a degree to be employed. Education is not the act of going through schooling, it is the act of learning, it is creating new passages in the brain and connecting thoughts to ideas, questions to solutions. In the Twenty-First century anyone can be educated, a treasure trove of information is sitting in everyone's pocket waiting to be taped into. The internet can answer any question in a matter of seconds, a concept that just fifty years ago would be unthinkable. Libraries have books with endless streams of knowledge waiting to be tapped into. There's a famous saying, “The more you learn, the more you earn.” There's a common trait among the most successful people in the world, they’re readers. Warren Buffet is cited to read around 500 pages of economic, and stock market material a day. College is not essential to become educated, to open doors, and to progress in this world, however it does give a head start.
College is not essential for many fields, and although it would be great to see everyone in the world with some form of college education, that would only take millions of people away from being productive citizens at the local mom and pop shop or as an EMT. For the large proportion of people however who want to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher, or nearly all other professional careers, a college education seems to be as essential as having a pulse. College is a fundamental step in professional and personal growth, it teaches you how to live on your own, time management, and a level of self dedication not even in the same ballpark as the high school level, and for that reason it is essential for many employers. It is college that you are finally exposed to new cultures, ideas, and careers you never would experience while growing up in a singular ecosystem. College allows you to get a taste of careers first hand, it gives you a test trial of what you want to do for the rest of your life, and that experience is invaluable. Although college is not essential, education is, and for the majority of 18 year olds who don't know exactly what they want to do in life, a college education will lead them in the right direction.
Today education is as essential as food and water. Education is the bridge between poverty and prosperity, it lifts people out of the gutter and gives them direction and purpose. College is not the only way to become educated, plenty of very successful and happy people go their entire lives never stepping foot on campus, or dropping out early on. College isn't for everyone, and for those who have a vision for life after high school that doesn't include college, chase that dream and don't look back. Yet for the majority of high school juniors and seniors still questioning what they want to do with their lives, college is invaluable. From the classrooms to the dorm rooms, the life lessons and experiences go far beyond what is on the transcript. College is a catalyst for determining one's path in life, it could be the difference between living a life with no limited meaning, to living a life of purpose and happiness, finding your spot in this world, and making a mark.