Importance of Bachelor’s Degree for a Career Success

“The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new” –Socrates. Although students feel Bachelor’s degree is crucial for a better future, they think to drop out as they consider they won’t be able to cope up or will fail. They are unclear about the steps to be taken because of the issues they face during college. But, students should remember that a Bachelor’s degree is necessary for a better career and successful future. Students may face various financial and academic problems while going through the college but one should remember that it is not only accounted as a basic job requirement but it also helps gain intellectual skills. Socrates teaches to remove all negativities to fight against every odd and bring a solution to give a new start with positive energy. So, students shouldn’t drop out.

Many students get very depressed when they think of college as they feel it is a burden financially, academically, and emotionally. And so, they think of dropping out of college. SJSU statistics, 2014 show that 48.4% of students at San Jose State University failed to graduate within 150% of the expected time. The reasons for not graduating are that 34% of the students have dropped out, 4% have taken a transfer and 10% are still enrolled. This indicates that the drop out rate is higher than the other two and is a real issue that needs an appropriate solution as this is not the right path to a better career. Students come to the college to learn something and be successful. They attend college to prepare for a job and a flourishing future.

There are adverse effects of not completing Bachelor’s degree because over the course of a lifetime, the average worker with a bachelor’s degree will earn approximately $1 million more than a worker without a postsecondary education. Other statistics show that the share of jobs that require postsecondary education has doubled over the last 40 years, as jobs require more skills. So, Bachelor’s is not only essential for a job in reference to money but also to knowledge. The other fundamental advantages of attending a college are to learn more, improve reading, writing and listening skills and even become cultured. Therefore, “Students should start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly they will be doing the impossible.”

The common problem that the students struggle with is the academic one. They feel discouraged when they don’t get good grades or enough support to succeed academically. They feel that they are incapable of completing college and should drop out. To overcome this hurdle, students should meet professors and explain their issues to them as they are meant to help the students to tackle academic issues. Students can also hire tutors for subjects; tutors are seniors who can very well understand their condition and help them academically and emotionally both as they might have gone through this situation. Students can also form study groups with seniors or classmates who are ready to help because they feel most comfortable with the people of their age group. I went through the same condition as I was constantly gaining low grades in English subject. I got very depressed as I was not getting any help to solve it. I went to my subject Professor who helped me overcome the problem and score better. He taught me various techniques for improving and mastering my weaknesses. I took his advice which was very helpful and further gave me success in the subject.

Another issue that the students face is that they feel lonely in college because they don’t experience fun. This can make one feel helpless and depressed. They don’t get involved in class discussions, pay attention to studies, always stay distant to others, feel alone and downhearted. This not only affects the academics but also the mental state of students which causes adverse effects to their health. Students should try to make connections so that they don’t feel lonely. For that, they should join various clubs in the college and also outside that. One should try to make friends and hang out in free time. Whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a therapist, finding someone to talk can make a huge difference. I understand that it’s the biggest challenge, but it’s the most healing thing one can do. As an instance, SJSU has many clubs not only related to major subjects but also to social activities. Students should join them. I not only joined the Software Engineering Club but also gym to increase connections. This helps me a lot when I feel low or depressed. Thus, students should always try to bring a solution by consulting someone or taking help from someone.

Many students face financial struggles and they think Bachelor’s degree as a waste of money but they are investing their money instead. When the students attain the Bachelor’s degree, there are more chances that they will get a job worth their education and efforts and they can earn quite more than the money spent during college education. The college provides an expanded level of education which is valued a lot in the workplace and is helpful to get promotions. To overcome financial problems, students should seek help from financial offices on campus that provides scholarships, educational loans, and grants. They also set up payment plans such as installments to decrease the student’s financial load. My own experience tells me that I might drop out of the college because of a financial crisis in my family but I made the wise decision to complete my college. To solve this issue, I took help from FAFSA (Financial Office & Scholarship Office) department of SJSU. They gave me a scholarship so that I can pay my fees and continue my Bachelor’s. Every penny invested is going to revert back to me when I get a valuable job upon graduation. Evidence shows that the college graduates with a Bachelor’s degree typically earn 66 percent more than those with only a high school diploma and are also far less likely to face unemployment.

Another issue students face is while they are studying, they do part-time jobs which turn out to be a distraction as they crave earning more and more money, not focusing on academics. They think that they should not go for Bachelor’s as they have a job already and can earn and save money at the same time without studying. Even, the job pressure can compel them not to pay attention to studies and eventually they drop out. Respectable individuals such as Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and Jeff Bezos completed their Bachelor’s degree with honors who became successful by becoming founders of valuable companies such as Google and Amazon. This inspires to pursue Bachelor’s and get successful by converting the dreams into reality. Statistics show that by 2020, an estimated two-thirds of job openings will require postsecondary education or training.

One of the testimonials about the issue by my close friend stated “I was very weak in my academics when I started my college which made me very disconsolate. I started staying lonely as I would feel embarrassed going into public because of my low grades. Afterward, as advised, I hired a tutor and met the Professors regularly to deal with my academic struggles. I formed a study group which helped with my studies along with my embarrassment issues. Eventually, I started to excel and became one of the toppers in my class.”

To repack the nuts in the shell, I can very well understand the situation these students face and it’s really overwhelming how they struggle through confusion and depression. They put hard work and determination in it and their efforts are really worth appreciation. They find the way out by fighting with academic and financial issues and investing their time, money and hard work for a better and successful future. By feeling a sense of encouragement, they can remove the stress out of their life and be confident of their capabilities. When they can overcome such problems, they can help others also. The images clearly describe that not dropping out results in successful graduation and thereafter, a better career and future in the job market. Therefore, “An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward; when life is dragging you back with difficulties, just imagine that it’s going to launch you into something great.”

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