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Sharee Mullah English 1301-23236 Instructor-Mrs. Stuewe April 15, 2014 Importance of Graduating College

When a student starts college, they can have so many hopes and dreams about their future after college. The advantages for staying and graduating college can be so much more greater than for a student that has decided to not finish college. Even though, finishing college can bring a sense of new direction in a student's life, one can argue that life can be as great when a student takes time from school, or if a student drops out, and if they do not go to college at all. In most cases after graduating from college, a student can gain tremendous amounts of knowledge, become financially stability, and have better career choices in life. There are so many reasons why college is important to finish, but there also other reasons that college may be not everyone. One good reason to finish college is for students to gain knowledge. While in school students can gain more information that can stay with them throughout college, and therefore after. Knowledge can help with gaining the certain skills that a job requires. It can open a student's mine up to having a boarder perspective in life for example, being able to analyze, and problem solve. The critical thinking, and job relate skills that graduates learn in college will stay

with them for a lifetime. Francis Bacon said, "Knowledge is Power". In my life time, I have witnessed a lot of good brains go to waste. Another reason why college students should graduate is because of financial stability. When college students graduate they can make more money, than those who did not graduate because they have better employment opportunities. As long as they work hard, and show good leadership skills they can get promoted while at a job that they have been with for awhile, and in return they can earn more money. They can have a brighter future by purchasing a house, investing their money, buying a new car, and even saving for retirement. Having financial stability gives a graduate many options to make their life better. Some students might struggle with their finances through college, but once they push through all of the hard work, the grass gets greener on the other side. Although, college is a good opportunity for everyone, there are many people who either dropped out, or did not go to college all, and still became successful. For example, Bill Gates, a billionaire, started a company called Microsoft, he went to Harvard University, and dropped out. Also Mark Zuckerberg, a billionaire, is one of the co-founders of Facebook, he went to Harvard University, and he dropped out, or Karl Albrecht, a billionaire, who founded ALDI discount supermarket with his brother Theo. According to Paul Schmitz, " Those without college degrees aren't necessarily less driven or intelligent than those with degrees." According to National Center for Education Statistics [NCES] published in 2008, not all students graduate, statistics ,"Show despite the benefits of college graduation, 30% of college students drop out in their first year, and 56% do not complete their degrees". In the Time Is the Enemy the Complete College America is it written that, "The longer it takes, the more life gets in

the way of success." (2011) Students today, face challenges with graduating college. If they are juggling family, work, school, and life in general, it can be hard to see the goal that they want to achieve. In the long run if they strike a healthy balance that incorporates other parts in life, they can be successful. In some cases, some students have to take off time from college for varies reasons, but the objective is to go back, and finish. Even though, it seem like a long journey to finish college, staying motivated in college can definitely help with the support of teachers, peers, family, and friends. The other reason I think college is important is because students will have a variety of career choices. Students graduates can be moved in a higher position at the current job if they meet the requirements. Some are able to change jobs with the education, and job experience that they have acquired. The social skills developed in college help relate better with others at all levels on the job. The technical if any, and social skills they acquired can even open up their own business. Graduates are more likely get health insurance through their employers. The sky is the limit and their possibilities are endless just to say. There is nothing greater than knowing that it all came from graduating college. College is available for everyone. There are many grants, and scholarships available for students to receive. Why not take the opportunity, and find the life many dream about. For the reasons that I have explained above why it is important to go to college, and finishing will pay off at the end, that's when life starts for most graduates. College is where a student can receive all of the knowledge they need to further their career in life. There are so many opportunities for people to go to college. An article in New York Times entitled, Dropping Out of College, And Paying the Price, it says, "Getting more Americans successfully through college requires ensuring that once they get there, they can reap the enormous profits of the

experience."(Porter, Eduardo,2013). According to another article by States News Service on The Important of College Completion, it states that, "Our focus must be ensuring students complete their education by earning applicable certificates, degrees or other credentials which demonstrate they are qualified to fill the jobs of today and tomorrow."(2012). So I have ask these questions. Why not finish? Why not have a since of new direction in life? Why not start now?

5 Works Cited

Kranstaber, Haley, Kristen Carr, and Angela M. Hosek, "If You Can Dream It, You Can Achieve It. Parent Memorable Messages An Indictors Of College Student Success", Communicate Education 6.1.1(2012):44-66. Communicate & Mass Media Complete: Web, 13 Apr. 2014 Paul Schmitz, "Lessons from famous college dropouts." CNN Wire 30 Dec. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context . Web. 18 Apr. 2014. Porter, Eduardo. "Dropping Out Of College, And Paying The Price." New York Times 26 June 2013: B1(L). Biography in Context . Web. 20 Apr. 2014. "THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLEGE COMPLETION." States News Service 14 May 2012. Biography in Context . Web. 21 Apr. 2014.