Business Education

4/3/00 Argumentative Draft Formal Education Is the Key to Success The advancement of technology in the last decade has increased the demand for Americans to seek higher and formal education. No longer do we live in the age of manual labor, family owned & operated conveniences, but rather a computerized age. Thirty-years ago job seekers could find stable and secure work that would ensure stability and a prosperous future. Those white collar jobs could be obtained and secured by individuals lacking a formal and/or higher education. Today, blue collar jobs like fast food restaurants, warehouse labor, and/or janitorial services prefer and sometimes require some form of education. Employers have become more openly concerned about their employees ability to represent their companies. (Formal education is the key to empowerment, but it is not necessary in order to become successful in today’s society.) Education has become a large importance and often the determining factor for competitive job seeker. More than half of Americans citizens seek some form of education at one time or another whether it be for job placement or advancement. Technology is always changing and requires employers to train and re-train its employees to keep then afloat. College students like myself have always been for warned that higher education is the key to ensure success in the career world and will be the only means of providing a competitive income to accustom societies changing trends. Not long ago, education could be used by employers to determine which potential employee was qualified for the job. Today applicants are equally equipped with resumes, one or more degrees, fluency of languages, and references. Only highest achieved in education distinguishes him or herself from the competing applicants. Education is extremely important for those hoping for success in the twenty-first century. Those without a formal are not completely exempt from success, but without some form of education it will prove to be a difficult climb. Education open doors for those with the desire to enter the corporate world. People without a formal education may find it extremely difficult to compete with those with degrees. Professions like doctors, and lawyers are solely limited to those who have obtained higher education and proven to be skillful. People without higher education can not meet the minimum requirements. Mechanics, janitors, secretaries, and administration may put more emphasis on skills rather than education. Persons having those skills may be more successful than those without. The author, Unger states that “more than 28% of all full-time workers without college degrees earn more than the average without college degrees earn more than the average workers with a bachelors degree from college” (17). This proves that it is not completely impossible for individuals without formal education to be successful. Author John Gatto describes schools as a “body of knowledge that equips students with all the ideas, skills, and attitudes necessary to help them lead happy and productive lives” (166). Not all knowledge is obtained through schooling. There are many people that may argure that higher education is simply a waste of money. Malcolm X argued that the “biggest troubles with college is there are too many distractions” (227). Higher education enables individuals to obtain power. With education people are able to make decisions about the choices of their lives instead of settling for what is made available to them. With an education, you can market yourself to different companies and have your choice of the litter. Without an education this is almost impossible. Those persons that lack a formal education limit their future career choices. As we move into a new millennium, it will become more important for everyone to receive some form of formal education. Citizens will no longer be able to obtain jobs based on experience alone. Almost every employer will require some form of education to ensure the life of its company. The knowledge that can only be obtained through higher education will prove to be vital in the twenty-first century. Everyday performance such as grocery shopping, mailing letters, or pumping gas will become so sophisticated that we will need to be computer literate to complete the task. Knowledge is power and the more you know the farther you will be able to go. It is only when we limit ourselves academically that we limit ourselves economically and socially.