edtechdev/chatbotfiles · Datasets at Hugging Face

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challenging times
How else does knowing your “why,” or your deeper reason for being in college, help you? According to Angela
Duckworth (2016), a researcher on grit—what it takes for us to dig in deep when faced with adversity and
continue to work toward our goal—knowing your purpose can be the booster to grit that can help you
1
succeed. Other research has found that people who have a strong sense of purpose are less likely to
2
3
experience stress and anxiety (Burrown, 2013) and more likely to be satisfied in their jobs (Weir, 2013).
Therefore, being able to answer the question “Why are you in college?” not only satisfies the person asking,
but it also has direct benefits to your overall well-being.

ACTIVITY
Try “The Five Whys” yourself in the table below to help you get a better sense of your purpose and to give
you a worthy answer for anyone who asks you “Why are you in college?”

1 Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance. NY: Simon & Schuster.
2 Burrow, A.L. & Hill, P.L. (2013). Derailed by diversity? Purpose buffers the relationship between ethnic composition on trains and
passenger negative mood. Personality and Psychology Bulletin, 39 (12), 1610-1619. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213499377.
3 Weir, K. (2013). More than job satisfaction: Psychologists are discovering what makes work meaningful--and how to create value in
any job. American Psychological Association, 44 (11), 39.

9

10

1 • Exploring College

The Five Whys: Your Turn

Why are you in college?

I am in college to . . .

Why do you . . .

I...

Why do you . . .

I...

Why do you . . .

I...

Why do you . . .

I...

What Are the Rewards and Value of a College Degree?
Once you have explored your “why” for enrolling in college, it may be worth reviewing what we know about the
value of a college degree. There is no doubt you know people who have succeeded in a career without going
to college. Famous examples of college dropouts include Bill Gates (the cofounder and CEO of Microsoft) and
Ellen DeGeneres (comedian, actor, and television producer, among her many other roles). These are two wellknown, smart, talented people who have had tremendous success on a global scale. They are also not the
typical profile of a student who doesn’t finish a degree. For many students, especially those who are firstgeneration college students, a college degree helps them follow a career pathway and create a life that would
not have been possible without the credential. Even in this time of rapid change in all kinds of fields, including
technology and education, a college degree is still worth it for many people.
Consider the following chart that shows an average of lifetime earnings per level of education. As you can see,
the more education you receive, the greater the increase in your average lifetime earnings. Even though a
degree costs a considerable amount of money on the front end, if you think about it as an investment in your
future, you can see that college graduates receive a substantial return on their investment. To put it into more
concrete terms, let’s say you spend $100,000 for a four-year degree (Don’t faint! That is the average sticker cost
of a four-year degree at a public university if you include tuition, fees, room, and board). The return on
investment (ROI) over a lifetime, according to the information in the figure below, is 1,500%! You don’t have to
be a financial wizard to recognize that 1,500% return is fantastic.

Access for free at openstax.org

1.1 • Why College?

Figure 1.3 Every education level brings with it potential for greater lifetime earnings. These are simply averages and may not apply
to all career types and individuals. For clarity, the “professional degree,” attaining the highest earnings, refers to degrees such as
those given to doctors or lawyers. Monetary values are in 2008 dollars. (Credit: based on data provided by Georgetown Center on
Education and the Workforce)

Making more money over time is not the only benefit you can earn from completing a college degree. College
graduates are also more likely to experience the following:
• Greater job satisfaction. That’s right! College graduates are more likely to get a job that they like or to
find that their job is more enjoyable than not.
• Better job stability. Employees with college degrees are more likely to find and keep a job, which is
comforting news in times of economic uncertainty.
• Improved health and wellness. College graduates are less likely to smoke and more likely to exercise and
maintain a healthy weight.
• Better outcomes for the next generation. One of the best benefits of a college degree is that it can have
positive influences for the graduate’s immediate family and the next generations.
One last thing: There is some debate as to whether a college degree is needed to land a job, and there are
certainly jobs that you can get without a college degree. However, there are many reasons that a college
degree can give you an edge in the job market. Here are just a few reasons that graduating with a degree is
still valuable:
• More and more entry-level jobs will require a college degree. According to Georgetown University’s Center
4
on Education and the Workforce, in 2020, 35% of jobs will require a college degree.
• A credential from a college or university still provides assurance that a student has mastered the material.
Would you trust a doctor who never went to medical school to do open-heart surgery on a close relative?
No, we didn’t think so.
• College provides an opportunity to develop much-needed soft skills. The National Association of Colleges
and Employers has identified eight career-readiness competencies that college students should develop:
critical thinking/problem solving, oral/written communication, teamwork/collaboration, digital technology,
5

challenging times

How else does knowing your “why,” or your deeper reason for being in college, help you? According to Angela

Duckworth (2016), a researcher on grit—what it takes for us to dig in deep when faced with adversity and

continue to work toward our goal—knowing your purpose can be the booster to grit that can help you

1

succeed. Other research has found that people who have a strong sense of purpose are less likely to

2

3

experience stress and anxiety (Burrown, 2013) and more likely to be satisfied in their jobs (Weir, 2013).

Therefore, being able to answer the question “Why are you in college?” not only satisfies the person asking,

but it also has direct benefits to your overall well-being.

ACTIVITY

Try “The Five Whys” yourself in the table below to help you get a better sense of your purpose and to give

you a worthy answer for anyone who asks you “Why are you in college?”

1 Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance. NY: Simon & Schuster.

2 Burrow, A.L. & Hill, P.L. (2013). Derailed by diversity? Purpose buffers the relationship between ethnic composition on trains and

passenger negative mood. Personality and Psychology Bulletin, 39 (12), 1610-1619. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213499377.

3 Weir, K. (2013). More than job satisfaction: Psychologists are discovering what makes work meaningful--and how to create value in

any job. American Psychological Association, 44 (11), 39.

9

10

1 • Exploring College

The Five Whys: Your Turn

Why are you in college?

I am in college to . . .

Why do you . . .

I...

Why do you . . .

I...

Why do you . . .

I...

Why do you . . .

I...

What Are the Rewards and Value of a College Degree?

Once you have explored your “why” for enrolling in college, it may be worth reviewing what we know about the

value of a college degree. There is no doubt you know people who have succeeded in a career without going

to college. Famous examples of college dropouts include Bill Gates (the cofounder and CEO of Microsoft) and

Ellen DeGeneres (comedian, actor, and television producer, among her many other roles). These are two wellknown, smart, talented people who have had tremendous success on a global scale. They are also not the

typical profile of a student who doesn’t finish a degree. For many students, especially those who are firstgeneration college students, a college degree helps them follow a career pathway and create a life that would

not have been possible without the credential. Even in this time of rapid change in all kinds of fields, including

technology and education, a college degree is still worth it for many people.

Consider the following chart that shows an average of lifetime earnings per level of education. As you can see,

the more education you receive, the greater the increase in your average lifetime earnings. Even though a

degree costs a considerable amount of money on the front end, if you think about it as an investment in your

future, you can see that college graduates receive a substantial return on their investment. To put it into more

concrete terms, let’s say you spend $100,000 for a four-year degree (Don’t faint! That is the average sticker cost

of a four-year degree at a public university if you include tuition, fees, room, and board). The return on

investment (ROI) over a lifetime, according to the information in the figure below, is 1,500%! You don’t have to

be a financial wizard to recognize that 1,500% return is fantastic.

Access for free at openstax.org

1.1 • Why College?

Figure 1.3 Every education level brings with it potential for greater lifetime earnings. These are simply averages and may not apply

to all career types and individuals. For clarity, the “professional degree,” attaining the highest earnings, refers to degrees such as

those given to doctors or lawyers. Monetary values are in 2008 dollars. (Credit: based on data provided by Georgetown Center on

Education and the Workforce)

Making more money over time is not the only benefit you can earn from completing a college degree. College

graduates are also more likely to experience the following:

• Greater job satisfaction. That’s right! College graduates are more likely to get a job that they like or to

find that their job is more enjoyable than not.

• Better job stability. Employees with college degrees are more likely to find and keep a job, which is

comforting news in times of economic uncertainty.

• Improved health and wellness. College graduates are less likely to smoke and more likely to exercise and

maintain a healthy weight.

• Better outcomes for the next generation. One of the best benefits of a college degree is that it can have

positive influences for the graduate’s immediate family and the next generations.

One last thing: There is some debate as to whether a college degree is needed to land a job, and there are

certainly jobs that you can get without a college degree. However, there are many reasons that a college

degree can give you an edge in the job market. Here are just a few reasons that graduating with a degree is

still valuable:

• More and more entry-level jobs will require a college degree. According to Georgetown University’s Center

4

on Education and the Workforce, in 2020, 35% of jobs will require a college degree.

• A credential from a college or university still provides assurance that a student has mastered the material.

Would you trust a doctor who never went to medical school to do open-heart surgery on a close relative?

No, we didn’t think so.

• College provides an opportunity to develop much-needed soft skills. The National Association of Colleges

and Employers has identified eight career-readiness competencies that college students should develop:

critical thinking/problem solving, oral/written communication, teamwork/collaboration, digital technology,

5