Education can matter

By Matthew Mohr

We hear a lot today about excessive student loans and the high cost of education. Somehow the value of getting an education has been lost in the noise of its high cost. Education is intended to allow individuals to learn or enhance their skills. The more education one has, the more skilled the person is presumed to be at a given profession.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes statistics on employment earnings compared to the level of education achieved. As one would expect, the more education one has (on average), the more income a person generally earns.

In 2022, the average person with a doctoral degree earned twice that of all workers and about 50% more than one with a bachelor’s degree. The average worker without a high school diploma earned about one half of the average of all workers. The unemployment rate is also much higher for those without a high school diploma and as the level of education increases, the average unemployment rate decreases as well.

A recent NBC nightly news report was based on how more employers have stopped requiring college degrees. The report shared that 62% of Americans over 25 years old do not have a bachelor’s degree and one in five employers are reducing or eliminating education requirements for some jobs.

Some individuals do very well in school, but for whatever reason, don’t do so well on the job, creating a mismatch between expectations and actual earnings. Over the years, I have known many straight A students, graduating with accolades, who were not strong performers on the job, simply because they lacked common sense. Similarly, some people are able to get through almost any type of educational training – probably even earn a doctoral degree without being able to function well on the job. In some cases, employers find out their skills do not equate to their claimed level of education.

During a snowstorm not so long ago, I observed a prominent local medical doctor clearing his driveway; no matter how hard he tried or throw the snow he didn’t seem to realize it was not going to work if he kept throwing it into the wind! Having grown up in the area I found this rather amusing. This highly educated person couldn’t figure out how to clear snow from his own driveway. Instead, he kept getting it right back in his face. As a doctor, this man is known to be one of the best in his field and probably earns thousands of dollars in a month. As a snow removal person, he is not worth anything! After a few storms with no success, he hired a snow removal service. He is smart enough to realize his best use of time is being a doctor, not cleaning snow from his driveway.

Matthew Mohr

Regardless of their education, individuals who possess good strong work ethics, desire to succeed, and defined goals, are generally very successful at whatever career they choose.

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“She’s passionate about nursing, the profession, the patients and the family members — she’s got some personal connection there,” said Mollman. “I think that always makes a really good nurse and student because when you’ve seen the issues firsthand, and that’s affected you or perhaps your family, then you are even more dedicated to being a part of the solution.”

Fitch has already accepted a position to work in the critical care unit at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, where she has been an intern, after graduation. Fitch said working in critical care seemed daunting, but her internship changed her mind.

“I kind of fell in love with it – the acuity and the critical thinking, and working with patients that much closer because you have two patients and get to know them a little bit better throughout the day,” said Fitch.

Someday, Fitch hopes to go back to school to get her Doctorate of Nursing practice with a focus in palliative care, or pursue a PhD.

“There are so many opportunities in nursing, which is so fun,” she said.