Star News Article – December 2018 “The Value of An Education” We tend to value education for its contributions to our community, including civic, political, and service organizations. A well-formed education provides the skills and financial resources necessary to advance a culture by addressing social justice issues and providing world-view enlightenment. Education has the power to transform a community by increasing economic cashflow and addressing problems within the community that would prevent growth and advancement.

Almost every piece of research I have studied brings me to the same conclusion. The more advanced or specialized level of education attained, the higher the income average is over time. A person’s labor is typically worth more based on degree or specialty level. According to the US Bureau of Labor, a person with a Bachelor’s degree averages about $1,000 a week in the United States compared to a high school graduate earning an average of $678 per week. Of course, there are exceptions to this statistic. Some degrees earn less salaries than others and businesses are not rewarding education and specialty training in salary or step increases as often as in past years. In fact, there are more unemployed PhD recipients today then there were ten years ago. This creates a conflict. Most of the conflict that exists between the value of an education and the financial reward is that there are no guarantees.

The world today is fast-paced, and an on-going education is necessary to keep up. Much of the information acquired from a technical or college degree earned five years ago is obsolete. Therefore, a person must continue their education in some form. I have three suggestions for anyone wanting to continue their training without acquiring an additional degree.

First – identify someone you trust to guide you as a mentor. Sometimes the “who” is the primary key factor to success. Having someone who will hold you accountable, help you stay motivated, and make you aware that every decision you make can impact your life for years to come, is critical for successful mentorship. Building and retaining those types of relationships will become part of your professional character throughout your career.

Second – Read and research areas of interest often. With our everchanging society, staying abreast of current data from specific research validates the need for strategic planning within an industry. Staying current can be overwhelming and so fast-paced that the needed refocus can shift quickly and require yet another refocus to be needed again sooner rather than later. Social media is a prime example of such. Learning the do’s and don’ts of social media is essential to any growing business. However, it changes as soon as the processes are learned therefore requiring additional research, flexibility, and new processes. Data drives strategy. Strategy promotes sustainability. Sustainability requires on-going and direct research.

Third – Get involved and gain experiences. The more involved you are within the community, the more experiences you gain knowledge of, that could point you in the direction of a career path not previously considered. Even as adults in the work field, there is always room for growth and new experiences in areas outside of our own chosen career paths and comfort zones.

A solid education does not just provide you with a chance to earn a higher salary, it also provides you with many social and emotional benefits. According to the Institute For Higher Education Policy (IHEP), individuals who participate in regular on-going education, have an increased life expectancy, demonstrate better health, and experience an overall better quality of life. Lower crime rates, higher voter participation, and increased volunteerism are also byproducts of educated communities.