"Your decision to go to college is an important one that will affect the rest of your life. Let�s explore some of the ways having a college degree can make a difference for you. First, it is the key to getting a better job, which means higher salaries and better working conditions. With a degree, you are better able to pick and choose what kind of work you like to do and the kind of environment or setting you�d like to be in. Also the better the education you have, the better the job you�ll have and that means more free time for doing the things you enjoy. In the September 2006 �Fact Book Bulletin,� the Southern Regional Education Board reported advantages to having a bachelor�s degree over a high school diploma. Some we�ve already touched on such as higher salaries. They also stated that because people holding bachelor�s degrees make more money, they also have higher savings levels. Third, they have lower chances of being unemployed. Similarly they report that people who have college degrees have more leisure time. As a result, they have more time for activities that improve their quality of life and so tend to be healthier and have a longer life expectancy than someone who has a high school diploma.

You�re not the only one who benefits if you have a college degree. Many others will too. First and foremost your family will benefit. You are better able to provide well for your family when you have a college degree. This improves their quality of life along with yours. Another way your family can benefit is that you can be a positive role model to younger family members.

Who else might benefit by your having a college education? Your tribe or community, that�s who! Some of the other findings reported by the Southern Regional Education Board are that people with college degrees tend to give back to their communities. This includes both volunteering to help the community and giving money to good causes (charitable contributions). Another way communities benefit is that the more educated people are who live in the community, the more that community is able to adapt to change such as the increased demand for people with computer and technical skills."

Get the Story:
Valerie Shangreaux: Why college is the intelligent choice (The Native American Times 10/12)