When I weed, I need some mental diversion. I started my weeding marathon on Saturday, and was listening to WGN 720 AM Radio as I worked. Just before noon, the Paul Harvey Report came on. One of the last segments caught my attention. I've copied the facts down to hand to any of my young relatives who might have doubts about going to college.
If you do not graduate from high school, you are likely to earn an average of $18,826 per year.
If you graduate from high school, that figure jumps to $27,280.
If you go to college and earn a B.A. you will earn an average of $51,194.
If you earn an advanced degree, you are likely to earn an average of $72,824.
I'd say those statistics are pretty compelling when it comes to deciding what you want to do with your life. GO TO SCHOOL! Get an education, if only to raise your earning potential. I can think of a lot of other reasons for getting an education, but being able to make a decent living isn't all that bad.
The current Federal poverty line for a family of four is $18,850. If you happen to live in San Francisco, you'd have to hold down more than THREE minimum wage jobs to meet the minimum standard of living for a single parent with a toddler and a preschooler: $69, 241. Not all places have as high a cost of living as San Francisco, but the point is, without at least a high school education, you are guaranteed to be living at poverty level.
So, talk up education. If finances are tight, use the Internet to find sources of grants and funding. There are an amazing number of grants out there waiting for the student with the right interests. Surf....you'll see. And meanwhile... tell the kids to hit the books!
Comments (3)
Good advice, Buffy (unless one was more careful than I was in checking out the financial prospects when choosing parents!) Education often makes the difference between being in the middle-class and in being dependent.
Posted by Cop Car | July 28, 2004 2:02 AM
Posted on July 28, 2004 02:02
In trying to be funny (see the above comment) all I did was obfuscate. As I told Buffy, "Well, darn, Buffy. If you can't read my mind, how can we expect to communicate?!!" What I had meant to say was that a careful person chooses parents with at least a modicum of wealth. Thus, careful people needn't worry about the effect that education would have upon their future earning power. I didn't choose wisely when it came to pecuniary matters. (When a family lives in a truck, it ain't because they are wealthy!!) I'll not complain, however. My folks did OK by us! All of us kids had at least 5 years of college and turned into engineers--much to our mother's chagrin. My comment was a stupid thought that was poorly worded. Sorry. Maybe I can do better next time (you should hope--LOL!) If I could only stop trying to be funny....
Posted by Cop Car | July 28, 2004 6:47 PM
Posted on July 28, 2004 18:47
True words. My parents always told my sister and I that knowledge is power. And people get paid for having knowledge.
Nevertheless, things are all realtive and those figures you quote here are not near what we earn here...but life is not all about money and material things is it? Gets me into the why are we here deep thinking sort of mood and I am not in the mood for that now, so let me shut my trap.
Posted by Dr. D. | July 31, 2004 1:30 PM
Posted on July 31, 2004 13:30