Moraine Valley's textbook, "Cornerstone," states that students with a degree get paid about 85,000 dollars a year more than students without a degree. Having a degree gives an upper hand to many people, so why would I not push myself to achieve a goal of attaining a degree. When people apply for jobs, a person with a degree is given more attention and is more likely to get the job than one without a degree. Employers want to hire someone that is well skilled with computers, able to think analytically, along with being able to adapt to new things everyday. Employers look for someone that has a head on their shoulders, someone that has a degree and can behave well with others on the job or anything involved with the job. Going to college and earning a degree is the way to be that superior person. As they say, nothing in life comes easy! A person has to give it their all, if they really want to reach a particular level. All this puts me into finding my place in the world and working hard until I earn my degree in nursing! It is harsh to say, but I have always had a thought stuck with me that if one does not have an education/degree, then one does not mean much in the world and will always be looked down at. I have always taken it as in the superior people in the world are the educated people in the world, like doctors or engineers, or all types of careers that take time and effort to reach and receive the degree that really holds a title to a person. What is a manager at McDonalds, to a doctor who took about fifteen years of time and determination to reach where they are at? I know that there will be no one there to hold my hand and walk me through to where I want to reach and that college is the real deal, it is either I take on my own responsibility, or I will not succeed and end up working at a place where I know people will not give me respect most of the time and be worried, "what if I lose my job, where will I end up?" A career is something you own that enhances your life and brings internal rewards along with monetary satisfaction. (Cornerstone) In other words of my own opinion, having a degree I will more likely to be on a set career for life and receiving the respect that I have earned. All this makes me more determined by the day to really be successful in college. Knowing the fact that college will help me not only earn more money if I achieve a degree, but I will be more open minded about things, more adaptable to change and ready to take on whatever is coming my way. I know that if I want to reach my goal of becoming a nurse, I must be independent, and not afraid to ask for help when I am in need of it! I must have a positive attitude with the motivation of wanting to be successful. Everything that I have learned from the college resource has taught me that I must take pride of who I am, and I must keep trying no matter how hard the obstacles get. Everything I have been taught from the college resource has really boosted my confidence of achieving my goal. College is not easy, with college comes along a bunch of money I have to put in, lots of patience, stepping out of the box, and really realizing the real world. It has helped me organize the way I must do things, and organization is a key to success. To really succeed in college, I know that it takes self management to help lead the