The American Dream is that all should be accorded the opportunity for richness and fulfillment in spite of social class. Nonetheless, the achievement of this dream is often threatened; especially among the poor in society. For instance, struggles faced by the poor, including low paying jobs; affect their chances for success in life. While college presents an opportunity for gaining crucial knowledge, certification, skills, and experience that prepare one for essential job opportunities, the institution presents considerable difficulties for the poor. Enabling ‘the other America’ to access college education efficiently helps people access better job opportunities; and leads to lower unemployment, greater earning potential, and personal development.
College education helps address poverty by presenting chances to the poor for better jobs. Rose (2011) notes that a college degree does not immediately change the social and financial status of the poor. Nonetheless, it is important in making a difference. According to Mirowsky (2017), higher levels of education lead to more rewarding employment opportunities. Notably, most jobs require that an individual should be educated to be employed. Job responsibilities are related to skills that an individual gains during training. Many Americans believe that college provides essential job-related skills and knowledge. Up to one third have failed to apply for jobs they felt they did not qualify for since they lacked a degree; thereby proving the confidence that college education ownership instills (Pew Research Centre, 2016). Consequently, aiding the marginalized poor in the society access college education will significantly solve the challenge poverty presents to the American Dream through enhancing opportunities for better jobs.
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Other than enhancing chances for better job opportunities for individuals, a college education also solves the problem of unemployment for the society. Rose (2011) explains that there are many chronically unemployed Americans. Instead of focusing on technological enhancement, therefore, America’s economy should be enhanced by enabling social, educational, and occupational services for the poor (Rose, 2011). Mirowsky (2017) indicates that education largely contributes to increasing full-time employment, thereby decreasing not only unemployment but also part-time employment. A college education, moreover, significantly decreases chances of being unemployed. The labor market is biased towards skills and the increase in human capital, therefore presenting better chances of work for those with learned skills (Zimmer, 2018). As a result, the American economy can be enhanced by taking advantage of the link existing between occupation and education by considering consumer spending. Specifically, unemployment leads to psychological trauma and a cut in spending that, consequently, have a ripple effect on the economy through, for instance, reduced productivity of companies (Zimmer, 2018). Therefore, ensuring chances of employment for the marginalized poor in the society are enhanced will help solve the challenge poverty presents to the American Dream.
College education also leads to greater earning potential. The challenges indicated by Rose (2011) for the marginalized poor include economic mobility that is enhanced by income. Although not very successful, some of the policy initiatives to increase economic mobility have focused on enabling postsecondary education (Rose, 2011). Having a college degree increases the ability of an individual to bargain for better income. Bowen (2018) notes that higher education greatly favors the economic productivity of graduate. Wages for college graduates also greatly exceed those for high school graduates. The impact of improved earning potential on the American economy, eventually, is an increase in the Gross Domestic Product that is a reflection of lower poverty levels. Improving the earning potential for the poor through enhanced college education helps solve the challenge of poverty in America.
In addition, a college degree is important for personal development. Rose (2011) explains an experience with a community college serving the poor. Many had difficult childhoods and went to under-performing schools. Moreover, the poor in these colleges had difficulties in the labor market due to their low level skills resulting in lower employment periods among other challenges. In spite of this difficulty, a number of the students are positively engaged in their occupational and educational endeavors, revealing their enthusiasm through persistent trials in the efforts to learn. A majority, moreover, indicate that they have a desire to change their lives (Rose, 2011). Personal growth is enabled through college education by the experience provided. The management of adversities in college helps one to be ready for not only employment but also a number of life’s difficulties. Time management, for instance, is a crucial skill gained through time attending lectures and tackling quizzes, for instance. Students also gain financial management skills having to balance survival in college with necessary requirements for the completion of courses. For the college students such as those described by Rose (2011), therefore, college presents an opportunity to excel in their personal lives in spite of the difficulties faced in their communities or while growing up. Eventually, college aids in the creation of successful individuals, hence the achievement of the American Dream.
Nonetheless, some scholars have argued that college education does not always translate to better job opportunities. Increasing chances for education implies that human capital is improved; thereby having more graduates in need of jobs (Caplan, 2018). However, the labor market may not always be adequately prepared to absorb this capital. College graduates, therefore, have to accept any job opportunities they can find, sometimes not reflective of the skills gained while training (Caplan, 2018). However, Rose (2011) notes that education will not instantly provide financial success that may be gained through better job opportunities hence the need for a more critical analyis. Bowen (2018) further indicates that college education provides additional social skills that help graduates in the labor market. Intellectual tolerance, creativeness, wisdom, rationality, quantitative, and verbal skills, for instance, are enhanced through a college education. Adaptability and leadership are also improved, enhancing competence in practical issues of life (Bowen, 2018). Being able to interact with others effectively as well as solve simple challenges in daily life can aid graduates in financial management and job creation in spite of unemployment (Mirowsky, 2017). Therefore, while college education may not always translate to job opportunities, improving its accessibility for the poor can enhance essential personal and social skills relevant for addressing economic challenges in America.
In conclusion, it is evident that college means several things to the poor in America. A college education, for instance, implies that the marginalized poor increase their chances for better jobs that contributes to changing their financial status. Other than increasing chances for better jobs for individuals, college education also solves the problem of unemployment for the community that, consequently, enhances the economy through improved productivity. The poor improve their earning potential with a college degree, eventually enhancing the economy through a better Gross Domestic Product. Finally, personal development is enabled, as they gain important skills to enable them face life’ challenges better in an effort to change their lives and achieve the American Dream. Although critiques indicate that improving the accessibility to college education does not always enhance chances for better job opportunities, graduates gain essential skills for job creation and financial management in spite of unemployment. The author of the article ‘ What College Can Mean to the Other America ,’ therefore, makes an important point in advising the government to focus on enabling the poor access college education.
References
Bowen, H. (2018). Investment in learning: The individual and social value of American higher education . Routledge.
Caplan, B. (2018). The case against education: Why the education system is a waste of time and money . Princeton University Press.
Mirowsky, J. (2017). Education, social status, and health . Routledge. Pew Research Centre. (2016, October 16). The value of a college education on the American worker. Retrieved from https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/10/06/5-the-value-of-a-college-education/
Rose, M. (2011, September 21). What college can mean to the other America. Retrieved from http://mikerosebooks.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-college-can-mean-to-other-america.html
Zimmer, T. (2018). The importance of education for the unemployed. Retrieved from https://www.ibrc.indiana.edu/ibr/2016/spring/article2.html
