Education will pay huge rewards for the rest of your life.
With more education, you're more likely to get a job you like, earn more money, and be satisfied with your life.
Watch Lonnie's story below to see how getting an education opened up a whole new world for him. Then use this section to learn more about your options—whether you need to finish high school, find short-term training, or apply to college.
I never had any intentions for higher education. A high school diploma would have been great, and I was just going to go to the workforce. I really didn't know anything about college. I was from a pretty low income family so I really didn't have the money to go to college.
So First Generation College Bound opened that door for me. They showed me all about you know, the financial aid. The first time appearing on college and seeing all those mountains, I cried like a little baby. I mean, I always try to be the tough guy, but when I first got to that college campus, I cried, and I cried, and I cried.
And I'm so glad that they sent me away from here because when I came back a lot of the friends that I grew up with, a lot of those guys were incarcerated. I got a sociology degree, but it didn't put any limitations on me. I've been at IBM for 13 years in the sales and technology field.
I was the first in my family to attend a 4-year university. But now as I look over the years, I have several family members that went beyond their 4-year degree; went beyond the bachelor's, got doctorals, got master's degrees. So, I was just like a springboard for my family.
Don't worry about what your mom did, or your dad did, and don't force yourself to any major because once you come out of college, it's just not a job, it's a career.
In your career, you want to be happy every morning you wake up. Do what's right for you. Do what you feel that you are led to.