The Value of Education

My mom has always told me that college was not a choice. She even said that graduate school was also not a choice, but a must. She even had the nerve to tell the parent's of a friend of mine who didn't go to college, that they were doing her a 'disservice.' I remember being shocked at the time at how strongly my mother felt about going to college. What was the big deal? I completely didn't appreciate that a) going to college is not something that everyone does (but the numbers are increasing). And b) going to college is more than a time in life to find yourself and have a good experience. It is furthering your education, making you more knowledgeable, which makes your more socially valuable. It is putting yourself in a different class of people. Which is definitely something I did not appreciate until now.
My mother has also said the importance of one's career. I had originally wanted to be a dentist going into SLU; however, I took one look at the curriculum and noticed a lot of chemistry...Chemistry and I aren't friends. So my plan changed, and I found myself in marketing. At the end of my sophomore year, my mom told me she thought I should change my major, to something that required more "skill." After biting my tongue and trying not to take offense at the comment, I realized what she meant. She continued by saying that if I wanted to have a life I had always talked about, I was going to have to make good money. People who make good money, have careers which other people can't do, because it requires more skill. That being said, she suggested I change my major to accounting or finance. These majors are seen as more valuable because they require a mathematical mindset, which is something not everyone can do easily; therefore, they are paid more. It is true that accountants make more money than a McDonald's employee, because handling the bank accounts for multi-million dollar companies takes a little more finesse than flipping a burger.
I realized my mother was saying jobs that less people are able to do or WANT to do- pay more. This is why jobs like being a maid or waitress pay so little in relation to other occupations. Because they do not require as much "skill." This is a reflection of functionalism. The idea Davis & Moore proposed that jobs that are seen as more functionally important to society pay more. For example, a Wal-Mart associate can be easily replace and disposed of. In society we reward people for hard work and more functionally important jobs.
What my mother has been really trying to get across is the value in education and how that will affect me for the rest of my life. I can have a hugely successful career in marketing, but it may not be as profitable as a successful career as an accountant or doctor. Because if you are in an occupation that is socially valuable, you will be paid more. Well hopefully, marketers will start being in high demand...because as a graduating senior, it seems a little late in the game to become an accountant now. My fingers are crossed.
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Colleen Dreger
dregercm@slu.edu
847.682.4614