What a College Education Can Do For You by Amari

What a College Education Can Do For You by Amari - October 2024 Scholarship Essay

What a College Education Can Do For You
“So, why do you want to go to college?” I was asked this question during my first year in high school. I've always enjoyed reading and writing, so I told them I wanted to be a writer. Of course, they were not shocked. I had been writing since I could hold a pen and classic stories such as Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women were my muse.

There are three authors in my family - one of which is younger than me! Being around such talented people has encouraged me to set high goals for myself - long and short-term. You see, my long-term goal is to become a published author of children’s books. Literacy started very early for me. My mother says I was reading by three and had always had a keen interest in books. She would sit with me every night as a little girl and read from the many books I had. While reading, she seemed to have something extra to make the characters come to life or make me feel like I was part of the plot. I loved those nights! Doing something that will give these magical nights to another child is a passion of mine.

You see, this desire comes naturally and runs in my family. I am the daughter of two educator parents. Their number one goal for me and my two siblings is to identify what we are good at and use that to establish career goals. They were always straightforward with us. I know my strengths and my weaknesses. I know I will never be a fisherman no more than a fisherman taking on the high seas as a means of living would rather pick up a pen and write. I am thankful for that. It helped me pick my major without guilt. I know most parents would want their child to become an engineer or a doctor, but my parents want me to thrive in life while being happy. That is very important to them. So, when I shared my desires they encouraged me to choose a university that would support my endeavors.

Also, college provides a level of skill development that is required for their professional goals. Many students leave high school without all the proper skills to thrive independent of their parents’ support. Executive functioning skills like building great study habits and building better study habits encourage students to do better academically and eventually as leaders.

Obtaining a college education opens those doors in so many ways. I can use the resources and information provided to network with my professors, peers, and other professionals for support. Most of my professors are published authors of great works. Also, I realize my having a degree makes me more marketable and provides me a higher chance at career advancement compared to someone who does not hold a degree. By working to get an education in a field I love, I will be able to work in a career that gives me satisfaction.

I am pleased to say my college journey has helped me in more ways. In closing, there is a quote that rings true for me. That quote is by Albert Einstein. It states, “The value of a college education is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think”. This is factual. I know that my four years of college are doing that for me.