A college education isn't cheap. Neither is a house, a car, medical insurance, or any other life expense. Maybe I'm being naive, but I would like to think a college degree would help pay for all of them...someday.
After I obtain my hard-earned Walter Cronkite journalism degree, I expect to make around $21,000 the first year in my job field.
I've already started making a list of my real friends, before I dip into such envious wealth.
Although I value the opportunity I've been given to attend this university, I can't help but feel uneasy with the thought of what my peanut-paying career has cost over the last four years and what its return will be thereafter.
Unfortunately for myself and other journalism students, it seems that our society has placed a low value upon their knowledge of current events and issues that ultimately affect their own lives.
I can't help but wonder who comes up with a job's value and what does this person have against journalism? It is obvious that we cannot point our fingers at one person to blame. Or can we?
Maybe we should be pointing the fingers back at ourselves.
Newspaper circulation has been declining for years, thanks to the almighty Internet. When you really stew on it, what would the Internet generation (that's you and I) do without this resource?
We bid for Coach bags on eBay, research everything on Google, flirt on MySpace, and make a few clicks to check the weather and news on azcentral.com
Why would people sign up for a subscription to The Arizona Republic when they can get the same material in an easier format online? It's sad (for us journalism students) but true. If no one is willing to pay $32.80 for a 3-month subscription, then why would the head honchos at Gannett want to give out generous salaries?
The post-college salary is a little disheartening for all the time and work that has been put into a degree.
Unfortunately for those expecting to make big dollars after graduation, many are in for a big surprise.
You might be reflecting upon how great your GPA is right now, but employers aren't going to care about the grades that your parents keep nagging you to get. Basically, those scores are to keep you in college.
A college degree is a very expensive piece of paper, but it is not an "I owe you."
Nobody's guaranteed a salary worth bragging about just because they have a diploma. In fact, there are many extremely successful people who never obtained a college degree but are making more money than I'll ever have stashed in my underwear drawer.
When it comes down to it, we are our own destiny and that applies to every ASU student. You shouldn't walk out of college with your degree and expect to instantly land a job that will make you six figures, although some might be so lucky.
What really matters is the experience you are able to get during or after college.
College is just a stepping stone. Back in our parents' days, a college degree was surpassingly impressive to employers. But with so many young people attending college today, it's all too common.
Sara Sturges is an obvious journalism major who prefers cards sent through snail mail but still accepts e-mails at: ssturges@imap2.asu.edu.
