第6章 Lesson 6 Education vs Experience

Many people tell you that without a college education, your life is going nowhere. This motivates a lot of students to strive for straight As in hopes of getting into a good college. In support of this view, many employers are now requiring that prospective employees have college degrees. They say that they get a better return on investment from college educated people. So if you spend your college years aimlessly wandering the country in a van, then it may be true you will have little interest to employers. However, if you spend those years doing internships, working your way up in a company, or managing your own start up, you may actually end up with an advantage over your college educated peers.

College itself will not teach you how to be successful. Success comes to people with leadership skills, maturity, passion, and drive. It comes to people who have learned how to negotiate and apply themselves. Therefore, success has very little to do with education. Successful people learn by doing. They aren't necessarily the most talented people, but they don't give up. Many companies want to hire smart people who already know things. They are also looking for people with certain personality traits. They want people who are responsible, approachable, and punctual. These people should also communicate well.

In short, you may stand to gain more by becoming a well-rounded person than by focusing on getting straight As and securing a scholarship. Certainly you should study, but you should also join clubs, travel, and volunteer, as you seek your special place in the world. Meeting various types of people will enlarge your world, and help you see it through the eyes of others. If you pursue your own interests, have a diversity of experiences, and never stop learning, you will always be a desirable job candidate.

I. Word List

prospective: possible

aimlessly: with no goal

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What advantage do college graduates have over those without a college education?

___________________________________________________________.

2. What kind of people are many employers looking for?

___________________________________________________________.

3. According to the reading, what makes people successful?

___________________________________________________________.

4. What kind of experiences are valuable for a person to have?

___________________________________________________________.

5. Do you agree that it is important to never stop learning? Why or why not?

___________________________________________________________.

III. What's the word? Find the correct words in the reading.

1. post secondary school - c _ _ _ _ _ _

2. people who are around the same age as you - p _ _ _ _

3. having a lot of skills - t _ _ _ _ _ _ _

4. on time - p _ _ _ _ _ _ _

5. to go after / try to get - p _ _ _ _ _

IV. True, False, or Not Given—Write T (true), F (false), or NG (not given) for each sentence.

___ 1. Going to college makes you successful.

___ 2. Having different types of experiences can help you get a good job.

___ 3. More employers require a college education than they did in the past.

___ 4. Getting straight As guarantees success in the future.

___ 5. The most successful companies are run by college graduates.