Berkley Center

You could build a convincing argument that education opportunity remains key to success in the US just by using statistics: high school dropouts are three times as likely to be unemployed as Americans with a bachelor’s degree, while a Georgetown study found that even graduates from the lowest-paid undergraduate majors make hundreds of thousands more in average lifetime earnings after the cost of college than they would have done with just a high school diploma. Better educated Americans generally earn more – and given that increased income has been shown to correlate with life satisfaction, it’s a reasonable assertion that they’re happier with their lives on average, too.

Now, I’m a biased in favor of the overall argument: were it not for the educational opportunities I’ve had, I wouldn’t be in the United States. My brothers and I were fortunate to receive a subsidized private education in the UK, the full cost of which would have been far out of reach for my parents. As a result, I had access to both top teachers and dedicated mentors, who enabled me to aim high – ultimately, to apply for and win a scholarship to study at a university I love, on a continent that neither of my parents has visited. And as student, having educational opportunities, in the broadest sense (the chance to think, write, travel, empathize with others, and develop concrete skills), has undeniably left me in a good place – with a job offer I’m excited about from an employer who’ll sponsor me to stay and work in the US.

But if we can recognize the link between educational opportunity and success, the question remains – why? One obvious answer is that we live in a world which values (indeed, increasingly so) the skills that one gains in a comprehensive education, such as the ability to organize ideas and present arguments, a good grasp of numbers, and the discipline of completing assignments on time. I agree with that, but I’d go further and point to the many intangibles with come from educational opportunities. At the least, there’s a pride that comes from education that can be empowering, particularly for those who exceed what family member before them have attained. Add to that the polish that comes from interacting regularly with others who are both capable and aspirational, and it’s little wonder that a good education is so highly prized in the US.