Degree= Meal Ticket. Where's My ROI

When most teenagers turn 16 they look forward to things like a driver’s permit, a big party, and a cool new gift. To turn 16 symbolized so many things for so many people.

For me turning 16 meant independence. It was the legal working age for minors in the state of New Jersey.

I remember putting on navy blue slacks, and a striped collard shirt. I was a proud employee of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and I was ready to make some money.

It’s been nearly a decade since I served meals to hungry patrons. Back then life was simpler, and it didn’t matter that I worked for minimum wage. All that mattered was getting a check.

Now that I’m older and wiser, earning a check for minimum wage will no longer be sufficient. My life had become more complicated and working long hours to contribute to someone else’s dream only to earn ends just below the poverty level was unacceptable.

With the encouragement of my mother I was able to finish college and earn a degree. That degree was supposed to be my meal ticket to a better life and more opportunities. It symbolized the physical manifestation of an accomplishment. It showed that I can work towards a task and complete it successfully.

That piece of paper meant so much to me.

But after two years of a diligent job search it seems as if it’s not “good enough.” The familiar mantras of “knowledge is power” or “education is the key” turned out to be a lie.

Let me be clear that higher education is a great thing and everyone should set out to better themselves. In this life when everything is said and done education is the only thing left to build on.

But the truth of the matter is the cost of education is rising at an alarming rate. Institutions of higher education once stood as the portals to a better life, with great paying jobs, and more opportunities. Now they’re big business, only concerned about their bottom line.

In this current economic climate I’m also concerned about my bottom line. Where is my return on investment?

I believe that every college across the country should implement a job placement program to ensure that their graduates are able to achieve what they set out to do. This program should feature services like career counseling, resume writing, mock interviews, and a total assessment of the student’s potential to gain and keep employment.

It is the least that can be offered by a school considering the fact that most graduates leave college with debt of over $60,000.
Thanks for Reading,

Toni Hall