The article “College Helps Students Dream of More Than a Salary” written by Drew Faust revolves around the benefits of education and the critical changes it cultivates in people’s lives. The author states that college graduates acquire numerous financial advantages compared to other people. However, money is not the only positive aspect; studying at a higher educational establishment promotes a change in lifestyles and broadens horizons because students meet new people, attend new places, and learn how to think. I agree with the ideas offered by Drew Faust, as college cultivates a radical shift in people’s mentalities, which leads to the emergence of new perspectives on life and promotes numerous benefits, including those mentioned by the author.
First of all, Faust says that college pays off financially, and I agree with this statement. Education is the key to success in the modern world characterized by fierce rivalry. Good positions and well-paid jobs require specific skills and knowledge. For this reason, it is necessary to have a college degree as the guarantee of being prepared for various types of tasks. Faust states that women with a bachelor’s degree earn 70% more than females with a high school diploma. It proves the idea of financial benefits linked to graduating from college. I believe that it also provides individuals with higher chances to build a successful career, which is also a guarantee of stable income.
At the same time, Faust admits that college promotes a lifestyle change, and I support this idea. Knowledge is a central factor shaping people’s mentalities as it broadens horizons and improves understanding of the critical importance of some aspects. Faust says college graduates are healthier and have a lower risk of engaging in unhealthy behavior. It can be viewed as a result of a better understanding of the adverse effects of poor dietary habits, lack of physical activity, or smoking. From this perspective, education provides individuals with knowledge vital for a higher quality of life and helps to acquire useful habits and behaviors.
Finally, Faust makes one of the most important claims, saying college teaches students how to think. I agree with this statement and believe it is one of the most critical acquisitions linked to higher education. The fact is that having access to information does not imply its understanding. On the contrary, the high speed of the modern world means that people might fail to process data and move forward. However, the ability to understand and convert knowledge and use it in the future is fundamental for success and future development. That is why college can be viewed as an important step towards a better life and an enhanced understanding of processes surrounding a person.
Altogether, the article by Drew Faust offers the major advantages of being a college graduate. The author mentions the financial aspect, but she also speaks about the positive changes in the lifestyles, the ability to meet new people, attend new places, learn how to think and broaden horizons. I agree with the ideas offered by the author as I believe education is a crucial success factor in modern society. It helps to become a new person with improved knowledge and the ability to analyze various concepts and use acquired skills in practice. College is an important step towards building a successful career and enjoying numerous benefits available to people.
Work Cited
Faust, Drew. “College Helps Students Dream of More Than a Salary.”USA Today, Web.