College is becoming more and more essential in today's society. It is good for furthering your education to get the degree of your choice so that you can start your life. From everyone's opinion, it also is an experience and chapter in your life that you will never forget, and one that most people believe everyone should go through. College is made to seen like it is meant for everyone, and that everyone needs it to get any where decent in life. I know of some cases where that isn't entirely true. It depends on the person, but for the most people, it's the smartest decision they could have made.

It seems like every decent job now a days requires a degree to make the higher of salaries. The degree a person chooses should be one that is not near to impossible to obtain a job for. Useless degrees are not as common as some people believe. Just about any degree can have a purpose for a certain job at some point in someone's life. Andrew Bast in his blog "The Case for a Useless Degree" he shares his story of how he found out that many degrees are in fact useful. You just have to know what you would like to do and what interests you in life. You figure that out, your possibilities become almost endless.

So many people talk about "the college experience" and how much fun it is. They say everyone should go through it- including my own mom. It's a chapter in your life where you begin doing things on your own and taking your own responsibilities. Battousai posted a blog talking about the college experience. Depending on what you're studying and how many years you've been studying differentiates your opinion on college. Freshman learn to grow up and mature. They realize that with all their new found freedom comes more responsibility. Everyone has difference opinions about their own experience, but really it all depends on how you approach it all.

Everyone I have ever talked to says that everyone should at some point in life live the college experience. It has always been important, but it is increasingly becoming more important. It may be a great experience but only when it's justified. There was a professor at an Ivy League school who one day was questioned on why students had to do certain things in their classes. He concluded, "Society needs a mechanism for sorting out its more intelligent members from its less intelligent ones…". This in my opinion is very true. Not everyone could probably handle, afford, or pass college. There are a select few who learn how to do a trade and make a lot of money that way. Below is a small table showing the difference in incomes for someone without and with a degree. My cousin is one of the select few of people, and his family is more than well taken care of. He never stepped foot on a campus or in a classroom after high school.

Beginning Midlevel Top No College Required $28,350 $47,200 $79,150 4-year degree or higher $51,250 $85,300 $130,600

College is a huge milestone in a person's life. It's the beginning of the first start of their life. This is where they figure out themselves, the responsibilities of being an independent adult, and what they wish to do with the rest of their lives. It's good to have the degree proving you have the necessary education for your desired job. The experience and maturity it can give a person will stay with them their entire lives. Like my mom said to me before I came, "Just try college. It can't hurt."

Why go to college?

I have chosen to go to college for many reasons. In order for me to get even a reasonable paying job I need to have some type of college degree. The higher the degree I have, 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 that everyone should go through in their lifetime. College is not 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. I don't know how to do a trade of any kind so I knew college was for me.

My calling in life is to be a Geriatric Nurse. 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 chose this college because of the fantastic 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 cost 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. Very few are lucky enough to have their college completely paid for by scholarship, grants, or a family that can easily afford it. In the end it's worth it because it helps you get high paying jobs that can go into retirement, pay for a comfortable living, and even help support a family. 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. 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 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 to proud to be a part of the 402 people in the band. Because I did not 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 sixteen hour load. It is 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 live 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 quite nice to have a taste of all of the freedom. The location is perfect too. 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 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.