Education and Opportunity: Unlocking Doors to Unexpected Futures by Jenna

Education and Opportunity: Unlocking Doors to Unexpected Futures by Jenna - October 2024 Scholarship Essay

I have grown up in a family that asks, “which college are you going to?” instead of “are you going to college?” It’s always been an assumption in my family that whatever profession I wanted to pursue would require a bachelor's degree. My mom taught a "college prep" class, she used statistics to help explain a lot. One of those is the fact that a person with a bachelor's degree has the potential to make an average of one million dollars more in his or her lifetime than someone without one. This leads you to ask the question, What does a college education bring besides increased income? I have been taught the value of education through example by my parents.

My mother has a BBA in Human Resource Management, the last thing she thought would ever happen was her teaching secondary math; well, here she is, touching lives in a very different manner. My father has a BBA that specializes in the automotive industry but is now serving as a technology supervisor for our local school district. Their varied careers really show one thing: a university degree opens those doors to some big opportunities and pathways that I don't even know or think about in the future. I have a passion for interior design, but I worry about that profession being taken over by AI. This has led me to change my goal a little. I have decided to pursue a degree in Family & Consumer Sciences with a certificate in education.

By choosing to do this I will be able to teach interior design. This choice will open doors for my own future in that field if I ever wish to pursue it more seriously. One of the real advantages to a college degree in Family & Consumer Sciences is being able to do multiple things. Not everything in life requires a bachelor's degree-for example, my brother is going into the Marines, and he, too, will not need one for that. One of the few 'perks' to being in military service is the chance to pursue his degrees at lower costs. Choosing to get a bachelor's degree is an expensive decision - you should really make sure that it can provide a career path with a good salary.

My older brother has joined the marines, he will definitely benefit from the skills and education he is receiving there. This choice also will help alleviate a lot of the cost he will have when he does continue his education (his goal is to be a high school band director.)My mom says there are many qualified professionals that do not have bachelor's degree that are making far more than she is without a four-year degree. However, many of those fields do require some form of continuing education This shows that even though a college diploma is not always needed, continuing education and certification often are. Having a will make someone stand out in the highly competitive job market. It also can earn bonuses. My dad earned $1,000 more per year when he was a police officer - because he had a college degree. My mom earns an extra $1,000 per year because she has a masters degree. Someday I might want to take up a career in real estate, where a bachelor's degree is not required, but by having the bachelors, I would be able to thrive in the environment, I would have more math skills, hopefully my spelling & grammar would be correct. Having the degree would give me a better view of business and practices that include negotiation and critical thinking, which are needed in any profession. The positive benefit of me choosing my degree, is that my passion for interior design and teaching are combined-they work well with one another. With a degree, I will be in a position to work with students and encourage creativity within them about art and design principles that will take ordinary spaces to another level.

The advantages of a college degree go far beyond any kind of financial gain one can possibly come into.

It may be the key that opens the door to a number of professional areas and brings in opportunities that could have been unattainable. An example is my parents, it is clear that education changed their lives and careers in unexpected ways. It is clear that college isn't the only path to success and definitely not one size fits all. But the knowledge and experience I'll gain from college will prepare me for whatever career path I decide to take.