College Edcuation vs. Life Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

College Edcuation vs. Life Experience - Essay Example Young people often feel pressure to get on with their adult lives; they've just finished high school and can't imagine spending one more day in school than what was already required. They feel there is no time for more schooling; they must begin to explore life. Their anxiety to overcome the fear of the unknown makes them edgy to take on anything requiring their time and energy the way academics do. When in doubt, go to college; it is the key that opens the door to a life of extreme potential in many areas. An individual learns many things in life; every area of learning must be explored. There are some levels of learning that can only be done academically; especially at the higher level. College opens the door to a lifelong process of learning not only professionally, but also on the personal level. A college student is exposed to many different philosophies on a wide variety of topics; gaining a very broad view of the surrounding world. In essence, they begin a journey that, by its very nature, ensures a civilized approach to life. As children we grow and develop physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and begin to gain experience in controlling our environments and destinies. We never lose the need for learning, as life constantly presents us with many lessons aimed at our growth and development in every area. The reason for formalized education isn't just about academics, it involves so much more. Research indicates that college graduates come out ahead in nearly every area of life. They make better health, financial, social, and longevity choices; taking less unnecessary risks. They have a higher quality of life and experience more personal satisfaction and self-actualization than people who never go beyond high school. College graduates are much more successful in separating from their families of origin in the developmental quest for independence too. They are associated less with crime and incarceration, do more volunteer work, and have more sel f-confidence in meeting with life's challenges. In short, they adapt better to the challenges of the world around them. College graduates tend to be lifelong learners, preferring to obtain facts when making decisions. They learn how to do research to find what is needed to make informed decisions. Many of them seek out positions in government where they can use their critical thinking and social networking skills to advocate for the underprivileged; making an impact in their surrounding environment. They stand up against moral corruption, injustice, and support practices for liberty. Knowledge is power. Every civilized nation in the world espouses the education of its people. Where you see abject poverty, it is usually poverty across all levels, not just financial poverty. The most serious poverty anywhere is the poverty of the spirit, where people give up the hope that life can one day get better. Often corrupt governments frustrate the education of their people in order to keep th em in ignorance and prevent the overthrow of the regime. Where there is hopelessness, there is also slavery. Many Third World nation governments keep their countries controlled through controlling the educational level and quality. Educated people are powerful people; they are the movers and shakers of society. They operate from a position of self-confidence and stand up for what's right; quickly putting down what is harmful to the society at large, making college