The Purpose of an Education by Kaitlin

The Purpose of an Education by Kaitlin - April 2015 Scholarship Essay

From a young age, we are all told "Get good grades! Go to college!". But why? What is the purpose of an education? If you were to ask 100, even 10, random people on the street, all of their answers would vary. In my opinion, there are several purposes to an education. To get a decent paying job, to teach lifelong values, and to further one's knowledge of the real world.

Probably the most common answer regarding why education is important is to get a decent paying job. In today's economy, a high school diploma will only get you so many jobs. A college degree opens the door to so many more opportunities on the job market today. Depending on the level of your degree, whether a Bachelor's Degree or a Doctorate, depends on how many opportunities are presented to you. Furthering your education past high school will aid in your search for a decent paying job.

Another reason to get an education is to teach lifelong values. I believe that education teaches time management, especially in a college atmosphere. In college, if you don't turn in an assignment, the professor isn't going to hound you about it like they would in high school. It is the same in a real world job. If you don't turn in something to your boss, they aren't going to hound you about it. More than likely, you would be fired. Education also teaches students to balance their social life and their academic life. As much as you would like to go hang out with friends, the schooling has to come first. Lifelong values such as these become highly important in a job.

I believe that one of the most important purposes to get an education is to further knowledge of the real world. The more you know, the better opportunities you have, on the job market and in everyday life. Diving into the real world with no knowledge of it with leave you drowning in it. By furthering your education, you have a more extensive knowledge of the real world, and instead of drowning in the real world, it will be a lot easier to swim.

Education is one of the most important things in today's society and economy. The more education you have, the better chance for opportunity you have in the future. I do believe that the purpose of an education is to not only get a decent paying job, but to also teach lifelong values and to further knowledge of the real world. Education is something everyone should invest more time into.