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Benefits of Higher Education


 If there is one Nelson Mandela did not lie about, its education, especially higher education. I advocate for traditional avenues of acquiring knowledge and I passionately believe in academia. It is an amazing learning experience which prompts us to question, challenge and reconstruct knowledge. In today’s age of social media, Institutionalized Education is made to seem completely ‘overrated’ and not lucrative enough. Which is totally up for debate and subjective. In this blog post, I will provide my top 5 benefits of being in a Higher Education Institution and acquiring a degree.

Yes, we live in a country that has a 46.3% Youth Unemployment rate which makes Higher Education even more undesirable because graduates are standing in intersections with placards stating their qualifications to be seen by a potential employer and secure a job. However, we cannot all be entrepreneurs, content creators, youtubers and all other ‘nontraditional’ careers. The magic of education is that even if you choose a ‘nontraditional’ career, it can only elevate your skill set, career choice and income. For example, if you are an entrepreneur and have some sort of Business-related degree, it becomes a tad bit easier for you and you have the upper hand compared to your competitors who do not possess a degree. You may be able to monitor trends, interpret them and use them to the advantage of your business etc. Investors are more likely to invest in your business because you possess a qualification that has the ability to elevate your business when used. If you are a content creator and have a Marketing and or Advertising related degree, it is easier for you to leverage with brands and how much value you can bring to their business.

Benefits of Higher Education

1.     The Development of Critical Thinking.

Higher Education is not only about taking in what you are being taught and memorizing it for an exam. It requires one to critically engage with the material, question and dissect the thinking of authors in order to formulate your own ideas. It prompts independent thinking and thinking like there is no box. The ability to think critically is an incredibly useful skill to possess in society and the workplace.

 

2.     Identifying New Interests.

It is immature of us to think that a 17/18-year-old fresh out of High School knows exactly what they want academically and career wise. They most likely have an idea of what interests at surface level but 8/10 times they find new interests in these institutions. We always hear of people changing degrees mid-year because they found what genuinely interests them. Entering University my only interest was Politics, this changed to Linguistics and now Sociology which I want to study in post-Grad. I would have loved to merge Politics and Sociology in Post-grad, but it does not seem possible. Higher Education institutions offer a plethora of interests and through research and interacting with peers from multiple disciplines one can find their interests.

 

3.     Poverty Reduction.

An increase in the number of highly educated individuals who are afforded jobs is related to economic growth because they possess specialized skills that contribute to various industries. Persons that hold degrees have higher average salaries which enables them to break the cycle of poverty in their families and create generational wealth.

4.     Equality and Empowerment

Higher Education is empowering, it is an incredibly rewarding achievement and confidence booster especially for black women who in the past have had limited access to higher education due to stigmatization. Acquiring an academic degree empowers women to be independent and be in absolute control of their life. Being well versed in a topic allows one to confidently engage, showcase their intellect and partake in healthy discourse.

 

5.     Societal Benefits

‘An educated community is a united community’. It takes a village to complete a degree, I do not believe that one could go through this rollercoaster alone. The power of community and togetherness prompts the graduate to give back to their society or community in any way they know how. A Determined Black Woman is how I give back to my community.

 

There are multiple benefits associated with higher education, but it does not mean everybody will benefit the same. These are my top 5 and I firmly believe that one can only fully acquire these through the higher education system. Acquiring an education will always be fashionable and makes a huge difference in one’s life.

If you know that you have it in you to further your studies (financially, mentally, physically and emotionally) please do it. It is like a good workout, you will never regret it and unlike many things in life, absolutely no one can take it away from you. If you are in the process of getting your degree, be kind to yourself, manage your expectations, prioritize rest and PASS.

 

As usual, please feel free to comment down below how higher education has benefitted you, whether you will pursue it etc. Please continue sharing blog information with your family and friends and let us grow our family.

 

Love,

A Determined Black Woman

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