Why College? - Revised

Until I reached the seventh grade, I didn't know what college was. I just knew that if you wanted to be a teacher or a doctor you went to college to become one. I didn't know of credit hours, fraternities, meal plans, or any other things associated with college. I found that if I wanted to be successful, college was a necessity. If I was to become a band director, college would be a necessity.

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Neither of my parents attended college. They both graduated from high school, but never took the next step in furthering their education. I am surprisingly happy that neither of them attended college. I would not be here if they had. College is going to be a chance for me to do something that neither of my parents were able to do. I will have a degree from a university. This is very exciting to me. So many doors are going to be opened for me and it is up to me to go through them. I am reminded every time I go to class of how blessed I am.

When I reached the ninth grade, I began thinking about if I wanted to attend college or not. I thought about joining the military, but quickly changed my mind. I finally realized that I wanted to attend college. My first choice of a college was The University of Alabama. Nothing seemed better than to be able to call The University of Alabama my college. I am very happy I decided to not attend The University of Alabama. The tuition, etc. was too expensive. I knew I could receive the same education from Jacksonville State University for much less money, so I chose JSU.





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My parents never really gave me an option to attend college. They would always say, "Whether you like or not, you are going to college." or, "It doesn't matter how expensive college is, you are going." I didn't really like being pushed about it, but I am glad my parents pushed me in school. I would not have been given the opportunity to march with the Marching Southerners, join a fraternity, or even know of Flex Dollars.

I was very active in both the marching band and symphonic band at my high school. I participated in many honor bands, clinics, and classes. Music was my favorite thing in the world. I knew that college would be a place where my musical interests could flourish. There are numerous activities involving music in the world of post-secondary education. Now, I am a member of The Marching Southerners and it is incredible.

Other than musical ensembles, I was involved in many clubs and organizations in high school. I was a member of the National Senior Beta Club, Government Club/Student Government Association, Morning Announcer Staff, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and many others. I liked keeping myself busy. There are so many more clubs and organizations in college than there are in high school. For example, my high school didn't have an Earth Club. I would have loved to be a part of Earth Club because I am all about going green, saving the environment and recycling. I can now join the Earth Club at Jacksonville State University. This is another reason why I chose to attend college. I want to be involved with every organization that I can possibly be a part of.



I decided to attend Jacksonville State University for many reasons including proximity to home, cost, music program, and accredidation. I am definitely happy I chose Jacksonville State University as my college. I am now studying to become a band director. I am able to do this because I chose to take the next step in furthering my education.

 



Without college, I don't believe success would be as easily obtained. I think it would be much more difficult to find an enjoyable job with a high-paying salary and great benefits without a college degree. Not attending college should be a last resort in today's society. Education is one of the most important things we have. We are blessed to be able to even attend school.

College has already been a great experience for me. I am a member of the best college marching band in the nation. I have made some awesome friends that share similar interests with me. I am making connections with people I never thought I would even talk to. I have been introduced to a new society and I love it. Life could not be better.



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Now that I have finished my first semester of college, I am thankful for the opportunities I have been presented while being here at Jacksonville State University. I am in the most amazing musical ensembles I have ever been in. I have some of the best friends I have ever had in my life. I have become an all-around better person. I am still having having the time of my life. Though I may not get enough sleep always, but I always keep a smile on my face because I love college. JSU has already been what I expected and so much more.

Is College Enough? - Revised

Everyone in my family has always pushed me to attend college. I did well in high school so I could go to a university without having to pay as much out of pocket. I was blessed by receiving scholarships that cover my education for the next four years. Is paying all this money worth the degree? With so many people attending college and obtaining the same degree I am, will it be possible to get a job in the field I want to? In fact, according to Students Review: Unemployment By Major Chart, the unemployment rate for people with degrees in music education is down 2.5% which is a much different story than years past. Many of the questions cannot be answered until I receive my degree and look for a job.

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With more people attending college today than ever in history, the job market is becoming much more competitive. At one time, college degrees almost guaranteed employment. This is definitely not the case today. A degree will not necessarily make you competitive in the job market. As Jack Vincent writes in his blog, "Why Your College Degree is Not Enough," "Regardless of your major or the type of position that you are seeking today’s candidates must have more to offer than just academic achievement."

Experience trumps a degree. This needs to be understood in today's society. I have known people to receive a banking job without any sort of degree over someone with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. The person without the degree had experience in bookkeeping and had been a treasurer for many years. This person was hired because of their experience in the field of banking. A degree won't always guarantee you a job.

 

I degree will not always guarantee you a job, but it sure doesn't help. Statistics do show that people with a college education tend to have better opportunities than those who do not. I am willing to take the risk and get a degree. 

With everyone attending college, nothing really sets you apart from the rest of the people with a degree other than experience. For example, if I had a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and had taught music for several years and another person had a Master's Degree but had never taught before, I would probably be hired before the person with less work experience. Though they had a Master's Degree, I had experience. Different employers focus on different attributes of potential employees, but most focus on work experience. CNN said this best in their article, "When a Degree isn't Enough to Get a Job." "Ask employers what they want from graduates and the answers are equally diverse. Depending on the job, you might need a degree and an internship, a degree and work experience, or the right connections to even land an interview."

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There are many different uses so a degree, so those who say a college degree has been rendered useless in today's work force are wrong. In order for you to work in any field of healthcare, which is one of the most highly employed fields of work, you need a degree. Every doctor anyone has ever visited has been licensed and equally have a certificate verifying that they attended Medical School and passed through. I don't know about you, but I don't want just anyone operating on me. They must have a medical degree.

The amount of jobs that require a certain degree in the US has risen in recent years. I assume that is why so many people are working so hard for a degree.

The education field is another field where a degree is required. I am one of the many students who are attending Jacksonville State University for a degree in education. I am majoring in Music Education. There is not a high need for music teachers, but I am aware of this. Teaching music is what I want to do with my life, so no matter what, I am going to eventually going to become a music teacher. Some jobs require a college degree. The only reason I really wanted to attend college is because it is required to become a teacher.

There is not a really high demand for music teachers in the US. I am going to face the consequences when I look for a job that isn't going to be there. As I posted recently in blog post response to an essay, I am doing what I am passionate about. Music is what I see myself doing for the rest of my life. Sarah Idzik was the author of the essay I replied to. She went to school for a degree that didn't have a high demand or need and she faced the consequences. 

A degree is a way for employers to tell if you are serious about new learning experiences and/or if you are serious about a job. College is a test to see if you are serious about learning. College proves that you are willing to go the extra mile when learning to do something. That is why people attend college in the first place. People go to college to learn new things.

Though it is possible to make a decent amount of money without a college degree, it is not likely in today's job market. Most jobs that require a degree offer a better salary than those that don't. In my opinion, people should be considering a degree in Information Technology or Computer Science since the world is now so digital. There is also a high demand for those jobs since there are so many different forms of technology. An article entitled, The Top 10 IT Skills for 2013, from IT Career Finder, there will be a need for people with degrees in computer programming, IT Security, and Networking now and in the future.

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If more people considered whether they were meant to go to college, the world would be a much happier place. People could simply go to a trade school or technical school and be much happier than they would be going to college and being in debt for the rest of their lives.

Sometimes I wonder if college is the same in every country. I wonder if every country considers college to be a necessity today.

According to an infographic, College in America, the amount of unemployed college graduates doubled from 2008 to 2009. I find this alarming because these same people who were unemployed then could still be unemployed when I go out into the work force to get a job. Is obtaining a degree really worth the sorrow you are going to face trying to find a nonexistent job?

I believe that college can improve your leadership and communication skills if you stay involved. There have been records of the "quiet kid" in school becoming the president of the Student Government Association. Employers are going to want to hire these leaders and these good leadership and communication skills. However, there is a debate on whether college can teach leadership. This article titled "The Bad Habits You Learn in School" states this. I disagree with this because school has already polished my leadership and communication skills.

So, is college enough? Will a college degree alone ever be enough to live a long, happy, prosperous life? This is debated now and will be debated forever. I personally believe that a college is degree will be what you make of it. It could be your ticket to the best job you have ever had, or it could lead to trials and suffering. You have the make the best of everything and anything.