Why should California's leaders save you and your peers a spot in college - Essay Example

Why should Californias leaders save you and your peers a spot in college? I love America for myriad reasons, but, above all, for the conviction thatevery individual is an instrument of change and has a give-and-take relationship with society. As the only child of a single parent, I have experienced economic hardships. As I savor the triumph of being the first person in my family to attend college, I am deeply aware of the debt of gratitude I owe my mother and my country. My education, my passion for music, my dreams of becoming an architect - all these are gifts to me from a society which has nurtured my talents, supported my education and made me what I am today.

I am no exception in this regard. Many of my peers, handicapped by economic status, have received the same benefits. It is a fact that education is the greatest instrument of change in life. As such, a college education is the greatest gift we can receive from our State. I firmly believe that when California’s leaders elect to save us a place in college, they are choosing to make a long-term investment in the future welfare of our society. Financial assistance for higher education will usher in many social and economic benefits, both to us as individuals, and to society as a whole.

On the individual plane, a higher education is obviously linked to better employment, increased salaries, financial assets and a higher quality of life, all of which will be passed on to the next generation. The betterment of the individual is synonymous with the betterment of society. In terms of public benefit, an educated workforce increases productivity and consumption, encourages participation in civic and community activities and will reduce dependence on government financial assistance in the long run.

In my attempt to give back to society, I have enthusiastically thrown myself into community service, as a member of the Earth Club’s recycling program, and as a volunteer at the Trinity Lutheran Church’s Food Bank, the Peace Vigil, the LA Marathon and Keep America Beautiful. Here again, I have not been an exception – my peers have shared my enthusiasm to make California a better place, in our own small way. We are deeply aware of the benefits we have received from society and are fully committed towards sharing these benefits with those less fortunate than ourselves.

A college education will help us to become true contributors to California and to the USA.