Every person deserves a chance to make something of themselves regardless of their societal rank at birth. Democratic societies revolve around this notion; that all are created equal and should therefore be afforded similar opportunities. And while a successful argument could be raised that those with large amounts of money can afford better educational standards for their children, other factors help to keep the playing field level. Thanks to entrepreneurs such as Andrew Carnegie, laden with guilt over amassing a fortune based upon the labors of children and underpaid workers, free public libraries were created which house information on virtually everything.
When it comes to career availability and choices, education, on average, is the ultimate deciding factor between those who succeed on a large scale and those who perform at a more moderate level. While the internet makes virtually all knowledge available with the correct search technique, advanced degrees demonstrate one’s ability to learn, retain, and apply knowledge. In this way, an education is vastly different than having all the answers at one’s fingertips via a search engine found on a computer.
Time spent studying allows the brain to rewire itself in ways that employers find useful. Information retrieval speeds are enhanced when one is practiced at studying and regurgitating facts and figures, as well as synthesizing concepts for ready dispersal. This is why employers seek those who have applied themselves towards attaining the highest level of education possible in their respective field. Whether that be the study of literature or computer science, it is the educated who are first offered jobs when it comes time to select a new employee from the vast numbers who have applied for a position. Additionally, where a college degree once implied that one could anticipate immediate hire upon graduation, the modern era has made a college degree a necessary component of even the most baseline jobs. Further study resulting in an advanced degree is the new standard.