Ryan A.

Martinez
SPCH 1311 Introduction to Speech Communication
September 26, 2016
Dr. Brenda Washington
Education Impacting Us
[Good afternoon and greetings]
I am grateful to be present in this positive learning environment of Dr. Washingtons
speech class, a part of the educational institution of Houston Community College Central
Campus. My peers and I, as students, are attending this establishment to obtain an education by
acquiring knowledge. (Right, peers?) However, each one of us may have a different motive to be
here, but education is an end goal for all of us because it has different impacts on those who
pursue it, especially post-secondary education. This afternoon I will be discussing how education
influences the following three areas in our lives: economy, health, and civic duty.
Although the economies of the world have become more interconnected and
interdependent over the course of years, Americans still have different pathways, such as
education, to achieve economic stability in the growing competition for labor in the international
markets. Past generations of Americans enjoyed the availability of well-paid manufacturing jobs
after World War II, but, in our current America, most of those manufacturing professions are
overseas. However, the service industry has flourished in its place, but now requiring more than
just a high school diploma. A greater investment of time and money is required for postsecondary education, but the rewards are, also, greater. Those individuals, in our current
economy, with a bachelors degree make 1.7 times more income, in average, than individuals
with a high school degree, according to Adriane Williams and Watson Swail from the
Educational Policy Institute. The economic opportunities still increase for those who pursue an
even higher degree, such as a Masters or Doctorate degree.

Ryan A. Martinez
SPCH 1311 Introduction to Speech Communication
September 26, 2016
Dr. Brenda Washington
Nevertheless, the impact of higher education do not just reach ones pockets but also
ones well-being. What good is there in someone having money to spend but not being healthy
enough to enjoy all of it? Goldrick-Rab and Sorensen in 2010 state that on average, college
educated adults are said to live longer, healthier lives and to have better access to healthcare.
While we may not determine exactly how education lengthens and improves our quality of life,
we can analyze the ways education changes our behavior. With a more advanced instruction,
individuals have better probabilities of taking beneficial decisions affecting their lifestyles such
as engaging in physical activity, refraining from smoking or drinking alcohol often, eating a
balanced diet, just to name a few. A longer life does not guarantee an enjoyable life, but
education may help that be achieved. Having better access to healthcare allows us to monitor
sickness and employ preventive measures for the safety of our health. Overall, higher education
is linked to a longer and improved quality of life. With all this said, we see that those with
college degrees can relish longer in the fruits of their hard work while still healthy.
Furthermore, citizens with a higher quality of life may engage in more civic duties and
participate in their government. Society is made up of all individuals within it. For a society to
improve, the individuals whom are part of society must take actions to improve it and
themselves. Educated individuals are more likely to take action for the societal well-being.
William Doyle and Benjamin Skinner in 2015 found that that individuals with postsecondary
education were more likely to vote in elections in America when analyzing the correlation
between education level and voting behavior. Under our system of governance, voting is an
expression of the will and interest of the individual. For our government to truly represent our

Ryan A. Martinez
SPCH 1311 Introduction to Speech Communication
September 26, 2016
Dr. Brenda Washington
interest, we must show our interests through voting, and higher education levels permits that.
Additionally, Doyle and Skinner suggest that more educated individuals are more likely to
volunteer and contribute to charities. Community involvement is integral to society as the more
actions we take for others, the better our society.
In summary, postsecondary education improves the income, well-being, and engagement
in society of individuals. These three aspects are a few of the many impacts that higher education
has on someones life. However, we can see the reach of the influence of education, and many of
the benefits directly involving our well-being and position in life. As I come to an end, I hope
that we all realize the importance and the meaning of the actions and decisions we take regarding
our education and our future. At this moment, we are planning the direction we want our lives to
take. Behind the wheel is education. Although higher education is not a guarantee of anything, it
is the key to many doors and windows of opportunities throughout our lives.
Thank all of you for listening and for your welcoming attention. Enjoy the rest of your
afternoon.

Ryan A. Martinez
SPCH 1311 Introduction to Speech Communication
September 26, 2016
Dr. Brenda Washington
Works Cited
Doyle, William R., and Benjamin Skinner T. Does Postsecondary Education Result in Civic
Benefits? Rep. N.p.: n.p., 2015. Print.
Goldrick-Rab, Sara, and Kia Sorensen. "Unmarried Parents in College." Fragile Families 20.2
(2010): 179-202. Print.
Williams, Adriane, and Watson Swail Scott. The Impact of Postsecondary Education on the
Economic and Social Well-Being of American Society. Rep. N.p.: Educational Policy
Institute, 2005. Print.