The UTD Mercury

Issue date: 10/18/04 Section: Opinion

Seeing as though we are a little more than halfway through the fall semester, I figured this was an appropriate time to address what all I have learned thus far this year.

Of course, I don't mean the specifics of each class, because who really wants to read about the intricacies of social statistics, but rather what life lessons I have picked up.

I now know that regardless of the cost, it is vitally important to finish college. I myself was out of school for three years.

In the so-called real world, I worked retail, was perfectly content to do so and actually did quite well at it. However, it was not something which I wanted to make a career out of.

In order to achieve my own desired professional goal of getting into broadcast journalism, I decided to emulate the recently departed Rodney Dangerfield and go back to school.

You may be thinking to yourself, "Wow, thanks for the obvious point that finishing college is important; everyone knows that, what a breakthrough."

Maybe most people do know that, but I also want them to know that the sacrifices one has to make now to get a degree are definitely worth it in the long run.

Consider that many students could just dropout and go get a perfectly respectable job that paid the bills.

However, that same job would be a glass ceiling in terms of money and advancement without a college degree.

Many people at UTD do not fit the prototypical description of a college student. These are people who are older, who have families and who have probably already had long careers.

Still, though, they came back to start college, finish or even get a graduate degree.

Halfway through the semester, the stress of studying, taking exams and paying tuition might be taking its toll.

Perhaps many students are thinking that they may have made a big mistake. As one such student myself, I just had to work past those feelings and realize that finishing college will open a world of opportunities in the future.

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, college graduates make $900,000 more throughout the span of their careers than high school graduates.

Wouldn't it be nice to get a bit of that money now to help pay for tuition?

Until that starts happening, which should be about the same time the university gets a football team, that figure should at least represent a goal to which we all aspire.

For most of us, college is a means to an end. Whether we want to go into medical or law school, or any other profession for that matter, this college degree is the key to get there.

Now, don't get me wrong, this is not strictly meant to be a love letter to the higher education system.

Quite frankly, the fact that UTD is the most expensive public school in the state despite not being ranked in the top-tier of Texas schools raises serious concerns.

The fact remains, though, that finishing school is the first step that will allow us to pursue whatever our hearts may desire.

To me, that goal is worth pursuing no matter what my financial, physical and emotional limitations are.

This semester, I have learned that I want to graduate college no matter what the costs.

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