What Education is Really For by Theresa

What Education is Really For by Theresa - August 2015 Scholarship Essay

As a college freshman along with millions of other students in my position, it is safe to say there was too much important information school should have taught us. Instead of stressing over whether I know how many moles are in 88 grams of magnesium sulfate, I should have been more stressed about whether or not I would make good career choices after graduation; or whether I knew just how big of a deal college really is. I feel that the American Education system should teach useful information to upperclassmen, which would benefit juniors, seniors and graduates when it comes to dealing with postsecondary education. With finances being one of the largest factors in choosing a school and being able to attend it, many students who may be the first in the family have much to learn about the education business. Living on your own, being able to budget finances and aid, understanding responsibilities as a student and deciding what truly is necessary for one's career choice are just a few tidbits of information many young adults struggle with obtaining, until it's too late. Classes on the real world are something lacking in just about every American high school.

Because education is emphasized as the key to success, it should be treated as that and not a privilege to those who can afford it. Educating those who do not know of all that goes into colleges and universities would be extremely helpful with building our nation, and even the world's future. There could be one course, or a series of courses taught to high school juniors and seniors, where serious facts are taught about colleges; and we all know that the same basic information given to students is nowhere near enough the amount of information needed to prevent students from making some of the biggest mistakes of their lives. These courses would debrief on the importance of choosing a career, how high school affects your college life, the important information about finances, and how careers affect more than just your paycheck and standard of living. Because these courses would be required by the education system, everyone would know information needed to take new and great steps in their postgraduate lives.

Educating America’s youth about education would do a great service to this generation and the upcoming ones as well. By students recognizing the true importance of careers and education, they would be the generation to bring society from expected laziness and entitlement to a future of helping others who need it, instead of basing lifestyle off of contributions and passion versus income and rank. While high school does require an economics and politics class, information obtained from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries should not be so prioritized to teach the futures of society, as opposed to why this information is being given. Teaching the importance of postsecondary education should be a requirement for the American education system because education is man’s most powerful weapon, and should be used by all.