I am Daja McLaurin Benton, a 20 year old student at the University of Maryland, College Park. As a student it has been my priority to place my education first and engluf myself in every opportunity that any program my school has to offer. Though the University of Maryland, College Park is where I desire graduating from with my B.A in Oral Communications in 2018 it has been extremely difficult, and now impossible for me to conitnue my education because of my inability to pay for school. As a resident in Balitmore City I come to you in dire need of assistance and an opportunity to further my education in order to be a leader of tomorrow. Though a current attendee of UMD, I first began my college carreer at Bowie State University. While attending …show more content…
Being a freshman I was acceptance into the R.A.D.I.E.N.C.E program. A campus wide organization geared towards the growth and development of young business women and future leaders. As the secretary of that program, I found it important to unify the ladies and orchastrate events that everyone would be able to contribute to in order to advance the betterment of the young women in the program. During my term as a Bowie student I was also able to find my passion for pageants. Competing for my first ever title of Miss Alpha Phi Alpha of Bowie State University I was introduced to a new world that I fell inlove with. After winning that pageant I went on to win the following title of Miss M.A.A.C of Alpha Phi Alpha and then placing 1st runner up as the queen of the entire eastern region. With the conclusion of my pageantry at Bowie I began venturing out into other pageant sectors. In 2015 I was able to compete for the title of Miss Maryland USA. Furthermore, I then went on to compete for various local titles leading up to Miss Maryland …show more content…
It has been very costly and my family and I simply cannot afford my education. After being able to Study abroad with the UMD in London Program in Fall 2016 I was able to experience an entirely different part of the world which made me appreciate the influences of cultural diversity that University of Maryland has to offer. While away, I was also able to join the University College of London Dance team and the University College of London Danceit Volunteer Project. Alongside performing in two shows on my London Campus I also taught dance to primary school children every week which was an amazing volunteer opportunity that I learned so much from. Through my experience I planned to use what I learned while studying abroad and applying it here in my own hometown. After returning to continue competing in pageants I changed my platform to The Next Step: Informing youth about the college process. I firmly believe that College is not an option, for it is simply the next step and hire education is a neccessity in order for us to learn and grow as a nation. With my platform I want to inform young students who may be discourgaed and let them know that college is an opportunity and an experience that can shape individuals for the future. I also want to take my knowledge about loans, and paying for
In my community, El Sereno, college is viewed as an option as opposed to it being the next step in life. Most people in my area either begin working or start a family after they graduate from high school. Not always by choice, but in some cases by circumstance. Students in my neighborhood either lack the knowledge, financial support, guidance or even legal status that would otherwise drive them to apply or even go to college. About eighty-percent of students graduated from my high school, but only about twenty-percent ended up attending a four-year university (NINCHE). One of the biggest reasons for student’s low college entrance rate has to deal with their family's socioeconomic
As the economy evolves and the job market continues to get more competitive, it’s becoming harder to have a successful career without some kind of college degree. This creates a belief in many young students that college actually is a commodity, something they must have in order to have a good life. There’s many different factors that influence this mindset, high schools must push the importance of the student’s willingness and drive to further their education. College isn’t just a gateway to jobs, but it is an opportunity to increase knowledge and stretch and challenge the student which in return makes them a more rounded adult and provides them with skills they might lack prior to
When thinking about college the same fear is established in just about every student’s mind. How am I going to pay for college? With an increase in college tuition in the past ten years, that question has become more frequent. Whether it is a private or public institution, the price is still no pocket change and how to pay for it has become harder and harder to accomplish. In today’s society, the average person can not get as far as they’d hope without a college education. With that accomplishment of receiving a college education, comes the dreaded loans that some students have and pass on to their children.
On stage, I anticipated third place, but was once again stunned when I placed second. This whole experience was life changing. Working for the National FFA Convention, I developed a work ethic to stick to something, and to do my best, even if it seems impossible. I also gained communication skills, and the ability to work outside my comfort zone. Even now it is hard for me to interact with others, but this accomplishment taught me that I can do hard things and I can communicate effectively. I learned how to perform research and express my findings. This experience was also very valuable for it directed me to my career path. It opened up doors as to my abilities, and gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams without fear. It taught me that failures happen, but enduring effort will turn failure into success. In my interviews, I learned that complete honesty is far better than false cover-ups. I became the person I am now because I was blessed with the experience. This project for some may be seen as a great award, but for me it's an invaluable occurrence which had more life skills and experience than a piece of paper can ever
When young adults complete high school they’re encouraged to enroll in a higher education program. With the constant talks of soaring tuition costs, in addition to the massive student loan debt, taking this step can be worrisome. Reyna Gobel, a journalist on financing college education and repaying student debt, states. “It’s easy to stop believing that a college education is worth it when the nation has over a trillion dollars in debt, but college graduates still earn more over a lifetime than those without a degree. Plus, they’re more employable.” More than three-quarters of all college graduates agree that higher education is indeed still worth the cost. Additional education in a field you’re passionate towards
Also, I have been granted spots in Alpha Chi Honor Society and Psi Chi Honor Society. This past year, I served as secretary at Alpha Chi. This position helped me learn how to work well with other members of a leadership team, and helped me create a successful food drive for those in need in Anderson. Being a part of a leadership team was an awarding experience, and I am excited to be a part of it again this coming fall.
For most young Americans, college has always been preached to them as being a vital part to their success in the adult world; but as they reach this educative rite of passage many find they must take out inflated loans, work part time jobs, or even become dissuaded entirely due to the exorbitant costs of higher education. We must forsake this current antiquated system in favor of government subsidized tuition. Therefore, college education must be free because of its benefit to the economy, creation of equal opportunity, and the resolution of the student loan crisis.
College life is a journey taken by many high school graduate in effort to explore a higher form of education, and most importantly build a new life outside the boundaries of their families to sustain a long path of toward successful career and to some, building a new family of their own. In the United State we are blessed with an education system that is never available worldwide. Laws are placed to allow every students regardless of ethnicity, gender or class a chance to pursue education in among the most prestigious universities in the world such as Ivy League school as well as many large public universities with many programs. This vast number of education institutions available of every type of students create this big diversity leading the U.S. to be the frontrunner of education in the world.
The stereotypical version of the normal life of a teenager proceeding to college would include high academic standards met throughout their high school career and outstanding outside testing scores resulting in automatic entry into the institution of their choice. Many of these individuals have the support of their accomplished family members in the form of financial support. There are those who have not had the luxuries of any easy upbringing but forced to decide between a life with a college degree or full-time employment. For myself I want to have it all and to achieve that I have taken on both.
College students, being the nucleus of a society, need the necessary tools to overcome the diverse barriers in life specifically the financial ones. This can relieve them emotionally, and helping them can push them to reach their goals. Since Obama administration had been working on this, there has been an increase in the financial aid. Colleges need to partner with organizations to leverage the access and affordability and the financial aid department can always work for example with the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Being a particular element in the economic field of a country, college needs to be cost-effective to college students. Since the future relies on them, helping those students at the financial level is not only helping them to do something meaningful with their lives, but is also
“College for everyone” dominates the minds of numerous Americans in the United States today. Much focus is put on the importance of a higher education in order to obtain levels of prosperity, culture, and well-being. Despite the possible truth of this idea, college education is not intended for all. Thus, although post-secondary education is generally considered to be valuable, it is unrealistic for all students to attend college due to lack of readiness, financial problems, and possible stagnant outcomes.
As stated earlier, the cost of college is too high and it needs to be reduced to a more reasonable amount. It is expected that young adults in this day in age would want to go to college or another post-secondary education school to receive higher learning and to somewhat better their lives. While this is true ...
College success has become a most desirable goal. However, many students struggle through college. In fact, according to the Website Ask.com, approximately 15 percent of college students receive a degree. Because I’m willing to earn a degree like many other successful students, I find that college is the stepping stone to my dream goals. I know that college is difficult, but I realize that attaining my dream of a college education will require me to understand the benefits of what I’m learning, to prepare for obstacles, to seek advice, and to create effective and reasonable strategies will help me achieve my goals.
Expanding College Opportunities A crucial problem that is affecting the growth of the entire generation is the the fact that many of our brightest young adults are unable to attend college, or if they do they cannot take full advantage of the opportunities offered. The basic reasons for this problem is that these underprivileged people were misinformed or not informed at all. The blame is shared by the school guidance counselors, schools and parents, who are failing to properly educate these kids about they are not informed about the financial aid and scholarships and application fee waivers that are easily available. This is a problem because due to lack of sources are not getting college degrees or dropping out of college early and therefore not able to get a decent job.
3. My first main point will convince the audience that there is no need for the increasing numbers of students crushed under high tuition costs and mountains of debt. It is time to break away from this long-term pattern that students fall into. Higher education should be widely available as it is becoming more and more a necessity for long term career success. 4.