I have chosen to go to college for many reasons. In order for me to do the job I want to do for the rest of my life I have to have a degree for it. The higher the degree I have in my field, the more money I can make in a year. I've also heard from many people, including family and close family friends, that college is one of the best experiences they have ever had. College isn't for some people, and there are other ways to get a well paying job without having a college degree, like knowing how to do a trade. In fact, if you already know what you want to do and it doesn't require going to college to do it, don't go. Today everyone makes it sound like you have to go no matter what, and that isn't true. I even grew up knowing I was going to college; it wasn't a choice, just the next step in life. I don't know how to do a trade and I've found my calling so I knew I was suppose to go to college anyway.

 My calling in life is to be a Geriatric Nurse, which means being a nurse for elderly people. There is no way for me to do what I have wanted to do for two years now without having the college degree that classifies me for it. When my grandaddy was sick, I was in the hospital everyday for three months and could see myself doing all of the different jobs nurses do. The rewards of getting to help save someone's life or make their last moments comfortable for them would be an honor to me. I specifically chose geriatrics because of how much respect I have for the elderly. I chose Jacksonville State because of the fantastic nursing program their known for having. I can not wait for someday being able to do what I know I would love to do.

 Going to college costs A LOT of money. Some people have to pay for all of it out of pocket or pay back loans to the government to go to college and don't even get the job they wanted when they get out. Very few are lucky enough to have their college completely paid for by scholarship, grants, or a family that can easily afford it and get the job they've wanted. In the end, for some people, it's worth it because it helps you get the job you wanted to be qualified to get. Being able to have a job can help pay for retirement, a comfortable living, and even help support a family; however, going to college and getting a degree doesn't promise that any of this will happen immediately or even soon. Some people wind up having to settle for lesser jobs until they can get up to what they want. I want to be able to live comfortably and never have to worry very much about money. I also would like to have so much money saved up by the time I die that my children and grandchildren won't have to worry about much in their lives either. I know it will be many years before I can do this. My mom always had to worry about money for me, and I made a goal to be able to help her and everyone after me that I can. It means a lot to me to have my family taken care of.

 Another thing about college that made me want to do it was to be a part of an organization of some kind. I considered doing a sorority and then tried out for the Marching Southerners earlier this summer and got accepted into the 2012 flute line.

It is without a doubt the best thing I have done so far. The family in my section and throughout the whole band isn't like any other organization on campus. It takes so much work to be a part of the Southerners. The reputation we have makes me so proud to be a part of the 402 people in the band and on the field. Because I didn't get a scholarship for band, I don't have to take a musical class or be in another type of ensemble next semester. I can just do marching band and not lose any money for my other classes. At first when I chose to go to college and be in band, I wanted to do some type of concert band next semester, but now that I see how much work it is and what little time I have to do things outside of school, I'm actually relieved I don't have to worry about another class to take up my time. Band makes me have a fourteen hour load. It's hard for me to believe that I almost didn't even do the Marching Southerners this year. It's what I have loved most about college so far this year.

 All of my life I was pretty sheltered and over protected. My mom always worried constantly about where I was, what I do was doing, and who I was with. Sadly one of my big reasons for choosing to go to college and living on campus, even though I didn't have to, was because I got to be on my own (for the most part.) I don't have to check in with my mom all the time or tell her everywhere I'm going everyday. It's nice to have a taste of all of the freedom. The location is perfect too. I'm from a small town named Odenville northeast of Birmingham.

 It's far enough from where I live to really feel like I've left the nest, but not so far I can't run home for something I need to or if I'm sick. It's already proven to be very convenient. I enjoy the laid back feeling college has and the fact everyone is here for the same thing. They're here to get an education. For the most part the people that go to college actually care about school. It's too much money to blow to flunk out or slide by grade wise. The atmosphere of the classrooms, the professors I have, and the ability to plan my own schedule really appealed to me. I like Jacksonville State University, and I'm glad I chose to go to college here.

       In today's society, job opportunities are becoming harder and harder to come by, so many people have resorted to starting their own business, or a workers co-op. I had not known much about this type of company until I read about it.This type of business is becoming more popular because of the fact that the owners of the business have more say so over what the business does or doesn't do. Before starting this type of business however, you should gather a group of people willing and able to do the job and address certain questions one should ask themselves to help it succeed. Typically the people who own a workers co-op makes more money than someone who just works for a "traditional" business, and because of the economy, workers co-ops are becoming more popular. It's been said they even last longer than regular businesses do.

You are your own boss in a workers co-op. What exactly is a co-op? It's a business democratically controlled and owned by the workers. There are coworker-owners who share the responsibility of managing the company. This is more ideal to most people because the coworker-owners are typically more understanding of personal needs than middle management at any corporation. They also are not forced into hierarchy and have more of a voice in the decision making of the company. Cutting out the management and investors will save a lot of money for the business as well. It almost seems ideal to have this type of business, but some questions should be addressed first before starting up a business.

To get any business started, you must have people to get the job done. Some companies will switch to a workers co-op and keep the workers they already had there. Sometimes new employees are found to do the job. Once you have your people for the job, you need to ask several questions. Common questions used to help start a worker's co-op are:

-What is your common goal and purpose? 

-Are you forming a new business or converting an old one?

-Who will be on your team

-How will new worker owners join?

-How will you manage your co-op?

-Who will make decisions?

-How much money will you need?

-Where will you get the funding?

If all of these questions aren't addressed, then it's near to impossible to get the business up and running or successful.

It has been shown that people who work for a workers co-op make more money than those that work at a traditional business. On page seventy-one of the book "Share or Die" it gives an example of a man from Petaluma, California at Alvarado Street Bakery making $60,000 a year. It says in the book that the workers in these type of business are less likely to get laid off. The job security is major appeal especially since jobs today are becoming more and more scarce. 

If you're going to start a workers co-op, do your research on how to do it, get a group of people together who will work for you, and start your business. I find it to sound very easy to do and beneficial. It's almost ideal because of the pay, job security, and the fact the bosses are more likely to be understanding of any given situation. Workers co-ops will probably become a lot more popular than they already are.

Is college enough? Is college good enough? In a way I also feel I should ask, "Is college good?" Considering I wish to be a Registered Nurse, I feel that college is excellent and mandatory to fulfill my dream. College has some things about it however that aren't good. The most well known reason being, financial debt. Some things school will teach someone can have a negative affect. In some cases it shows how it no longer really helps prepare them for the real world. College alone isn't enough because of the fact that in today's world, a college degree is no longer something that sets you apart from other people. Luckily, things are always changing and we can change the game in how and what we learn.

College wasn't really a choice for me. It's not a choice for someone wanting to go in to nursing; however, many people find it not a good thing for them. More and more students go in to a large amount of financial debt when they go to college. They usually will spend countless years paying back their student loans or some other type of financial aid they received. College also doesn't teach you much about the actual real world for a lot of people. All of your life you are drilled to believe you should go to college and that college alone will help get you what you want. The government believes that with the growing number of people who will be voting, they should keep the country educated. Though this is true, the article in "How the Young Are Indoctrinated to Obey" it says, "…but educated the right way: Limit their perspectives and understanding, discourage free and independent thought, and train them for obedience," which basically states that college won't teach you how to think for yourself, or how it's okay to have you're own opinion about how things may be done. You will probably gain bad habits from college as well like  thinking that everything is in black and white, being narrow minded about a situation, and feeling that no one else you work with or are around is important. Until you get in the work setting, it can be difficult to be open to new ideas.

Unlike most people's beliefs, a college degree will not guarantee you a job immediately after you graduate. "A college degree just isn't enough i today's job market," said the writer of Financially Poor. For example: when my cousin, Kerri, had just finished nursing school and earned her RN license, she applied for her job title at a local hospital, but because someone else who had worked in a hospital previous to applying there put in an application, they got the job instead of her. Many cases will prove that experience will almost always triumph over a college degree. 

Life, nature, gas prices, and learning methods are always changing. Use to, the belief was that a degree secured you a job after graduation. There was the idea that not just anyone could go to school and obtain a degree of their own. In Next-Generation Learning, it talks about the ways of which to learn. First of all, no one can do it for you. You must study. You must go to class. You must make the effort, and you must be willing to do the work and try new things. Only when these things are done can you actually see how college would be enough for you. College won't be easy and not always fun, but if you try to make it work for you, then you will be able to see how college will be beneficial.