Welcome to our beginners' guide to a better future

By: Agnes Diggs - Staff Writer | Monday, October 23, 2006 7:02 AM PDT ∞

There's one overwhelmingly good reason to earn a college degree -- you will make a lot more money during the course of your life if you do than you will if you don't, said educator Jack Tierney, recently retired from the San Diego County Office of Education after 27 years of service.

Tierney, discussing ways to motivate young people to achieve a college education, said it's also kind of interesting to find out who Plato and Aristotle were and what they stood for. And you'll just have a better life, enjoy life more. Appreciate more, he said.

But love alone won't get a kid into college. Students and parents must team up with teachers and counselors to reach a young person's education goals. Getting there will require careful planning and preparation. The journey should begin as early as possible. The wise traveler will expect lots of traffic, learn as many shortcuts as possible, ask for help and directions when needed -- and have a roadmap to guide him/her along the way.

Teacher-parent support

Parental involvement is crucial, but not always available, said Olita Harris, associate dean in the College of Health and Human Services at San Diego State University. The culture of education is very new to some groups. Some students are the first in their families to go to college.

"The parents have no experience in the process, so the parents can't help them," Harris said. "College is a whole cultural shift for a lot of kids, and the kind of pressure they're getting from their families sometimes is not supportive. The kids can become conflicted, and this can interfere with their ability to pay attention in class to their own learning. A lot of kids come to college in spite of their parents. They're not encouraged at home, but there's a teacher who believes in them."

Cost and effect

Now, getting back to Tierney's first point, which he made last year but which still holds true.

Level of education affects earning power, according to a recent report from the Office of Education. The average annual wage for a person with a two-year college degree is more than $40,000, while someone with a bachelor's degree can earn an additional $9,000. Nationally, a high school dropout might average $19,000, a high school grad will earn about $27,000, and someone with a bachelor's degree can earn more than $50,000.

The report, prepared with the San Diego Workforce Partnership, an organization that works to match qualified employees and local businesses, puts the numbers in perspective. It figured that in San Diego County, the cost of living for a single adult is about $2,000 a month, including rent, food, transportation, health care, taxes and personal items.

In pretty much every instance, some form of training or education beyond high school will be necessary for those who crave the good life. Right now isn't too soon to start making plans. A great many colleges and universities exist, but competition among students to get into them is fierce, Tierney said.

Another factor to be weighed is the technological revolution. Most of today's jobs will require some technical training, including computer skills, he said.

Many options

Higher education or training beyond high school could be a two-year school, trade and technical training, a four-year college or university, a military academy or military service.

Expenses vary from school to school. Amounts to count on paying include tuition -- basically, the cost of instruction; lab, library and athletic fees; housing, food, books and supplies; transportation and possibly health insurance. Costs are subject to change without notice.

Get ready

Lillian Adams, an Oceanside Unified School District board member, advises high school students to take an active role in their academic success from the word go.

"Read the materials provided, and follow through on assignments," she said. "Get involved on the very first day on campus by knowing your counselor. Learn how to access information through the career center. Be attentive in every class. Don't fall behind in your classes at any time from the first day at school. Get involved in extracurricular activities. And establish a good rapport with each of your teachers."

A head start

The quest for higher education should begin in the middle-school years, or sooner. Simple things, such as getting a Social Security card and an identification card, should be first steps on the journey.

For those looking to get an earlier start on the road to college, some schools offer the Advancement Via Individual Determination program, also known as AVID. The program, used by educators in 24 states and internationally, is an option for students in grades 5 through 12. It prepares those in the "academic middle" to be eligible for college and is especially geared to those whose families don't have a tradition of college attendance.

"AVID was designed to take the average kid and make sure that he's successful on the college track," Jack Tierney said.

Contact staff writer Agnes Diggs at (760) 740-3511 or adiggs@nctimes.com.

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