Is education worth it?

Is pursuing an education... worth it? This question has been thrusted upon our generation (modern era of the 2000s) and expected to be answered with an: "how dare you even ask! of course an education is worth it!". With the current climate of Higher Education under scrutiny, ranging from: monetary funds being revoked, DEI being discontinued across campuses, outdated teaching methods, and others I am sure you can find on Google somewhere. This question has been on the forefront of arguments with the rise in the next generation choosing to work in the industry out of high school rather than go to college.

If you asked me this question 10 years ago, I probably would have given you a drastically different answer than what I am about to give you. So let's dive in to what my 20 year old self would have said:

20 year old Nathan: My experience during undergrad was stereotypical. I joined a fraternity at the University of Central Missouri and chose to put my attention toward the "college life" rather than academics. My week mostly consisted of me attending class out of requirement and sitting there daydreaming and on the verge of falling asleep. Usually, the days we would go out and party would be Thursday and Saturday. So most of the early week was focused on playing video games and drinking beer where possible. In the moment, I did not see the importance of education and abuse my time at UCM to enhance my social life and experience as a 20 year old. In the end, I would say "education" is not necessarily worth it, but going to college is extremely worth it. What I lacked in the classroom, I excelled in figuring out who I was as a young man.

30 year old Nathan: ABSOLUTELY, yes, education is worth it. Thinking back to my younger self, I wish I would've invested in myself more and didn't party my life away. As a now PhD student, I finally see the impact that education has on your psyche. Even if what you are learning seems meaningless, you are teaching yourself dedication, responsibility, work ethic, motivation, and confidence. Now, there are definitely more adjectives I could include here, but I am pursuing a PhD in Sport Management, not English, so cut me some slack. The biggest argument I hear about the "anti-college" debate is the debt you accrue as a student. Now, yes, this is the dark side of academia in the United States. But, there are many ways for you to find scholarships and opportunities to subsidize these debts. I worked as a graduate assistant during my master's degree and got my tuition paid for. I am currently getting paid to pursue my PhD and am only paying fees of about $500 each semester, which is not too bad. In the end, beauty is always in the hands of the beholder. If you don't believe in the value of education, then working in the industry will be just fine for you. But there are many intrinsic benefits of pursuing an education that only those who pursue will achieve.

In the end, I fully believe that education is worth every dollar, stressful night, and long weekend. Finishing a degree is one of the most satisfying things you can do in life. So why not go for that degree, why not go for that graduate degree? It will help you in ways you didn't imagine.