The common consensus is that education is the path to financial success; you hear it in movies and see it in commercials. The message is simple, “stay in school.” The conventional view of college education is that if you go through the process you are less likely to be headed down the wrong path, and the reward is a well paid position with a fancy title.

Is there more to higher education then obtaining a job and eventually making tons of money? Yes, because what the conventional view fails to take into consideration is that education is empowering and can be rewarding for those that chose to take control of their it.

Growing up in a traditional Chinese household, I was always lectured about the importance of doing well in school. Ever since I was a kid I was taught about the conventional view of college, and dreamed of one day being a big shot businessman. To reach that dream, getting into a good college was the first step.

During my college selection process I chose schools based on rank and the average starting salary post graduation. At the time, I saw only financial benefits in obtaining a college degree.; The numbers don’t lie, and according to Liz Pulliam Weston, Is Your Degree Worth $1 Million or Worthless, the average holder of a bachelor degree earns about $51,000 a year. (payscale.com).

I was fortunate enough to be accepted into Babson College, one of the best business schools in the nation, and thought I was one step closer to being a big shot businessman.

Even though I enjoyed the subject of history in high school and did well in the classes, I could never pursue this in college because that’s not where the money is. When I got accepted into Babson my mom decided to pay all $50,000 a year from the savings of her retirement account. She made a big investment in me and it would have been too selfish to not consider what she wants from my education.

After years of taking classes I didn’t enjoy, I was getting bad grades and unhappy with everything. Eventually I realized that people go to college for the experience, to pursue their passions, and to discover new ones. Those who graduate are supposed to leave with a better understanding of themselves and those around them, and skills that can make a positive contribution to the workforce.

Mei Zhen Lee, junior at Babson says, “I always knew I’m passionate about math and want to learn more at Babson. I noticed friends who are choosing their concentration based on money. A lot of people have switched into accounting, because it pays well and they are likely to find a job after graduation. I just see something wrong with that.”

It disheartens me to think people are only learning for a better pay check, because education is liberating. You have the power to choose what you want to learn and develop the ability to think for yourself. This is powerful, because having thoughts, beliefs, and opinions makes you an individual. One person that realized this truth is Frederick Douglas.

Douglass, a famous abolitionist, once said: “Education is power.” He further stated that, “To educate a man is to unfit him to be a slave.” Douglass was born into slavery in 1895, when it was against the law to educate slaves. Denying education was a way for slave owners to keep control of their property.

Douglass was taught the alphabet by a mistress of his owner, and when his lessons were cut short he took it upon himself to further his education. Eventually Douglass became an avid reader; and used his knowledge to become an important anti-slavery speaker. His influence was instrumental to ending slavery. Therefore, education’s true power is freedom from oppression.

If everyone attends college for financial reasons, then they are controlled by the pursuit of money. These people deny themselves a golden opportunity to learn and prevent themselves from discovering their true potential.

Will you be like me and go through the education process by taking countless classes for financial reasons? Or will you be like Douglass and take control of your education, immerse yourself in a wide variety of subjects until you discover your true passion?

~ Hao Feng