SheketaBryant Blog Post #2

Why College?

 

My answer for why I decided to further my education is based on exactly that furthering my education and deciding to do something better with my life; some teenagers decide to go to college for the parties and the social aspects and such, all that is good but that not and shouldn't be my main purpose. Me wanting to go to college and actually get a degree in something stimulates from my upbringing. I grew up in a small town, community, and school; it had a lot of people that had the opportunity and potential to a lot of things but never did anything with it. It was either they went to college lost their focus in the limelight and flunked out or said they were going to school and just never made it. Those same people who could've been the best at anything they wanted to be end up working at a fast food restaurant ( not that there's anything wrong with that because everyone serves a purpose) and if there lucky they get to work at ROCKTENN and make a decent living. I loved my upbringing because it taught me values and morals, but most of the time people didn’t get a chance on how things could be if they only applied themselves. I know some people I went to school with were smarter than me but just didn’t want to go to college because they were tired of school. In my opinion, that doesn’t mean that he/she won’t be successful because there are many ways to succeed without a college education (ex. Mark Zuckerberg & Steve Jobs, 2 individuals that weren’t fond of school); at the end of the whole thing though they decided to still attend a college whether it was before or after their success because whether or not it’s right or not people will believe and listen to what has to be said if they can see a piece of paper saying that you are certified. I happen to disagree and agree with that but that’s another discussion; so as I grew up I knew if I wanted people to listen to me and not doubt my abilities college would something I wanted in my life. I’m determined not to be a statistic of a young black woman with no further education than high school. I want to be a part of a statistic that says people with a college degree earn more than those with just a plain high school diploma, if that. I watched my mother work a basic 8 to 4 shift my whole life and almost half of hers. If she had had the choice and opportunity that I did I'm sure she would’ve done the same thing and work for what she wanted but she took what she had to because that’s what was there for her. Don't get me wrong she had some college under her belt that’s why she isn't working minimum wage but as I was saying for me I just want more out of life than the basic house and just getting by. I want to be able to have money saved up in the bank and something to give my kids a future that doesn't involve seeing me struggle financially. When I was younger it was a dream of mine to go to college and I'm here; in order to get here though I contributed a lot of hard work and long hours to ensure that my dream would be a reality not just some pipe dream that I’m going to be left with when I’m older. I plan, not dream this time, of being successful and one day. When I finish school there is a lot of things that I could do with a finance degree but I think I’m going to either be an entrepreneur or I’m going to become a CFO (Chief Financial Officer) and be able not only give myself but my mother and my family the life that was always wished and deserved.