The idea of higher education can be intimidating for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s just the uncertainty of it all. Whether you are starting college for the first time, returning to college, or making a career change that requires additional college education, regardless of your situation, you may be questioning why. Understand that many others have felt the same way, but they continue their quest because education is empowering. To that end, let’s examine four things that education does to empower students.
Education launches a new mindset
If you are trying to be the best person you can be for yourself, your career, or for those you care about, the first place to start is your mind. And one of the best ways to broaden your mind is a college education.
When you absorb new concepts and develop new ideas, you are on the way to being a deeper thinker. The person you were will be replaced by the person that you become. You will unlock the potential to take yourself farther than you thought possible, and you will be empowered with the confidence to make it happen.
Education elevates your conversation
In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
College education opens your mind to the discussion of ideas, and when you begin talking about things of substance, the desire to gossip and speak about the exploits of the masses soon becomes less appealing. If you have a focus and a desire to think deeper, dream of better things through innovation or some other contribution to the world, then you will be among those who help to shape the future. Education makes you ask questions, and more importantly, it helps you find answers.
Education enhances your finances
While it’s true that money isn’t everything, there’s certainly no harm in having more of it! If that’s what you desire, you can make it happen, and a college education is one way to get there.
According to an article by the Pew Research Center, workers in the millennial generation that possessed a college education outperformed, in every economic category, their peers who had only a high school education. In addition, as the gap between those two groups continues to grow, those with college degrees now say that college was worth the investment. Why shouldn’t you be able to work in a career that is right for you? You can, and in many cases, a college degree can help you make it happen.
Education gives you control
One of the best ways to empower someone is to give him or her some measure of control over their destiny. The financial aspects discussed in the previous paragraph are crucial because financial success can allow you the leverage you need to take control of your life.
Many people find themselves in a job where their prospects are limited, their living conditions are less than desirable, and they’ve settled for less simply because they lacked control over their destiny. A college education gives you the power to pursue not just another job, but a career. With a degree in hand, you can go anywhere and with some degree of certainty, find a good-paying job. Generally speaking, those who are working in career positions enjoy better pay, better benefits, and some chance for advancement.
It’s important to note that while a college education may not be for everyone if the points above sound appealing, it may be a good option for you. There is no doubt that a college education can create opportunities, and if you are seeking to empower your life, it might just be the difference between a life of dread and a life of fulfillment.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC)
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of the Kansas City metro. CUKC offers a range of degrees, including
Our cornerstone program is the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Founded in 1922, we’re nearing our 100th year of showing talented, motivated students how to become a chiropractor.
Visit www.cleveland.edu if you’d like information on our educational programs in chiropractic and the health sciences. You also may want to get the free ebook: Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
