College: Four of the Most Important Years of a Person's Life by Joshua

College: Four of the Most Important Years of a Person's Life by Joshua - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

In just a few short months, the nation’s high school graduating class of 2020 will be embarking upon one of the biggest changes in their lives to date: going to college. For the first time in the lives of these incoming freshmen, they will be living on their own, possibly hundreds or even thousands of miles away from their families. While it may sound scary for some, I am quite excited for this next challenge in my life. College can be a place for a person to learn more about them self, to acquire necessary skills for their future career, and to begin the transition into adulthood. For the vast majority of people, attending college is very important, from both an educational and personal perspective.
Think of some of the most popular jobs in our society today. Doctor. Lawyer. Teacher. Engineer. People from all over the country dream of holding a job like one of these someday. However, one thing all these jobs have in common is that they require the applicant to have some sort of college degree. Doctors need to graduate from medical school so that they can eventually become a doctor. Lawyers need to go to college to learn information necessary for the bar examination, the test that a lawyer needs to pass before they can start practicing law. Teachers and engineers have to earn a bachelor’s degree in order to acquire a job in their respective fields. As it turns out, going to college is a critically important part of getting one of these desirable jobs. Without a college education, the people who dream their whole lives for such a prestigious job will fall short of their goal. From an educational perspective, going to college is extremely important in the lives of many people today.
While college is important from an educational aspect, it is also an important part in a person’s personal and social growth. The transition to living without the comfort of home and family is a challenge that the vast majority of college freshmen face for the first time in their lives. While this challenge may seem daunting, I believe that it is the first step in moving towards adulthood. As much as people would love it, we are not going to be taken care of by our families for our whole lives. It’s just not the way the world works. Eventually, adults have to start taking care of themselves, and for many people, college is the first time where this process is initiated. By going to college, young adults get to see what it takes for them to live on their own, which will help them know what it will take for them to be successful in their adult lives. Besides the transition into adulthood, college is also important because it can be four of the most fun and exhilarating years of a person’s life. My parents both graduated from 4-year universities, and they have told me all about how great college was. When I ask my parents about their favorite college memories, they don’t tell me about a test they did well on or a great paper they wrote. Instead, they tell me about the fun they had hanging out with their friends or going to their school’s football or basketball games. While college is the first major step in the transition into adulthood, college students are not full-fledged adults yet. For four years, college kids can have fun experiences without the stress and responsibility of being an adult. Overall, going to college is important because of the personal and social aspect that comes with it.
In conclusion, I believe that going to college is important from an educational and non-educational standpoint. College gives students the opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to obtain their dream job. Without attending college, some students would never have a chance to achieve their dreams. College also provides students with valuable information about what it will take for them to be successful as adults, as well as fun and pleasant experiences before taking on adult life. Overall, going to college is an important part of a person’s life, and I know that I am very excited to take this important step in my life in just a few months.