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A NEED FOR A HIGHER EDUCATION
Yashar Zhalehdoust
While considering education, I realized that a bachelor’s degree is not as valuable as it once was, but rather has become the modern equivalent of a High school diploma, the minimum requirement for one to be deemed educated. Following this realization, I knew that at the very least I must obtain a bachelor’s degree. Now that I have almost completed my studies as an undergraduate, I wonder what I should do next. In one year I will have successfully completed my studies and have obtained a bachelor’s degree in Engineering. However, I question my ultimate goal. Have I studied for the past three years simply to acquire a “minimum education”? Should I begin searching for a career?
Although an engineer with a bachelor’s degree is certainly more qualified than a High school graduate, I wonder to what extent. If I do pursue a career in engineering immediately after college, in what ways will I apply my degree? Will I be doing real engineering work, or will I be performing entry level tasks? Will the lack of a higher degree inhibit the advancement of my career? On the brink of my final year as an undergraduate, I have been left to contemplate these various questions. Do my interests and my career goals require a higher degree? Should I follow the path that the majority of my peers are taking and begin graduate studies immediately, or is there an optimal path for each individual associated with each unique goal?
After much consideration, I have chosen to follow the track that I believe will allow me to achieve my particular goals. I plan to pursue a graduate degree, which will further complement the years of work I have already dedicated to academics thus far. I believe that the opportunity to obtain an education has made me a fortunate individual. I am responsible to take advantage of this opportunity to accomplish more. I intend to payback not only my parents who made this opportunity possible, but also the society as a whole. Wondering how I can payback, one might say a simple check will suffice. Of course I am aware of that, but I am suggesting something more significant. My main aspiration is to provide the academic field with inventions and research, contributions more valuable than any monetary imbursement.
I have never thought of an education as a means of making myself wealthy. Certainly a higher degree will offer a higher biweekly paycheck, but that is not my motivation. This is why money is not my only incentive in the pursuit of a higher education. There are other interests and concerns above the fiscal rewards of possessing a higher degree. While some might say that money is their primary goal in an education or even in life, I personally know that money itself will not satisfy me. Money provides comfort, but after a certain degree money means nothing except power. Donald Trump, a paradigm of financial success, asserted, “Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score.” Therefore, one should realize that money is not an end, and therefore is not a goal.
In concordance with William Durant, the founder of General Motors who stated, “Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance,” I have realized that my undergraduate studies are merely the beginning of the education required to fulfill my goal. I aspire to be like the great scholars of the past, who throughout history have contributed knowledge that has led to the betterment of humankind. The work of such individuals has made the world what it is now, and their ideas have become fundamental to the progress of modern society. I hope that my future endeavors will lead to the progression of society, such that my education and my efforts will have some significant impact on humanity upon which subsequent generations can build. Furthering my education will only enhance my capabilities to do so. I aspire to use my intellect to the fullest capability, so that my accomplishments will remain alive.
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