The Purpose of an Education by Shannon

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

To be able to choose a career that you enjoy, that accomplishes your life goals, that allows you to meet other interesting people and exchange ideas and will provide financial independence for you and your family, that is the purpose, I believe, of an education.

I know from personal experience that a college education can make a profound difference in your life. I was placed for adoption at four months old by a twenty one year old high school dropout who wanted to make a better life for herself and her child. She knew she must go to college to improve her chances for financial independence and picked a couple to adopt me that also had college degrees and good paying jobs.

I’m lucky because I had an open adoption and have been able to keep in touch with my birthmother. Since she placed me for adoption she has gone on to achieve a college degree, marry another college graduate and become a successful adult.

Another impressive example of how college degrees benefit your life is my mother. When she adopted me she was working in the business environment and had a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. She traveled throughout the United States in a sales position. After adopting me she decided she wanted to change careers so that she could be home with me. She went back to school at night for two years, while working during the day, and obtained a teaching degree.

Her education allowed her to not only be financially independent, but change careers to a more accommodating schedule. She and my father have been there for me every day, instead of working several jobs just to make ends meet.

Going to college and gaining an education has never been a choice for me but an assumption and I am very lucky that my birth mother and my parents know the value of an education.