The Reach for Higher Education

The great equalizer is ‘higher education’. It is well known that not everyone will obtain a college degree. Today, higher education whether a degree or certificate program, is required to take advantage of the tremendous work opportunities that currently exist or that are projected to be available in the not so distant future. C-STEM emphasizes the importance of education because it helps students develop critical thinking skills, unleash their creativity, and figure out what they are passionate about in life. It is important for educators to encourage students to embrace the journey of knowledge expansion. More than ever before, I am witnessing low skills jobs requiring increased technology, communication, and literacy skills which in some cases are not cultivated sufficiently during high school thus requiring post high school training. Studies show that the median income of a recent college graduate is $17,000 more than the median income of a high school graduate. Unfortunately, the gap continues to grow larger and is the reason First Lady Michelle Obama is pushing her new campaign “Reach Higher.” Her new movement emphasizes on getting more people to pursue an education past high school, whether it be professional training, community college, or a four-year university degree. The First Lady’s initiative combined with many others such as the work UNCF and C-STEM is doing, will increase the number of students considering and seizing opportunities that are available post high school through higher education.

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