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Working hard at getting a good education has long been seen as the right thing to do, because education is the key to success. But why? Find out more here.

Working hard at school and going on to further education or college has long been encouraged by parents and teachers for generations, as most people believe education is the key to success.

Civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education." His words still ring true today. Even at a high school level, students are encouraged to analyse texts, numbers and trends to allow them to see society in a new light. This broadens the mind and helps us to see the world afresh. But there are many other fantastic reasons that education is good for us — and many ways in which it can be the key to professional success.

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1. It helps you gain personal control of your life

You might not have been born into the life you want to live forever. And that's where education can help. By getting an education, you give yourself the chance to change your life for the better. You might graduate and become a manager instead of an entry-level employee. You might become a CEO or shareholder and take home profits at the end of the month instead of just a salary. Over time, your whole world can open up and new, exciting personal and career opportunities can develop. University of the People offers lots of options to get educated at a university level. And as UoPeople is tuition-free, coming from a family that can't sponsor your studies is not a barrier to getting started.

2. It helps to make the world a better place

As you gain your education, you'll be gaining a deeper understanding of what's right, wrong, fair and unfair. As you develop your reasoning and critical thinking skills, you'll be able to apply these skills to situations in your life. You'll be aware of your rights and responsibilities as a citizen. You'll make more balanced personal judgments and over time, you'll apply these to society and help to make the world a better place.

3. If gives you the skills required for employment

As you progress through a college degree, you'll learn how to manage your time; how to juggle several tasks at the same time and how to interact with all kinds of people, from fellow students to professors and industry professionals. These skills are vital for the future. When you go into the workplace — or back into the workplace if you're a mature student — you'll take a more carefully honed set of interpersonal and organisational skills with you. All of which will help you shine at work and cope with the challenges that the professional world throws at you.

4. It gives you increased earning power

A recent study from Georgetown University found that, on average, college graduates earn $1 million more in earnings over their lifetime. Another study by the Pew Research Center found that the median yearly income gap between high school and college graduates is around $17,500. Of course, if you're paying back student loans not all of this will be profit. But studying with a tuition-free university such as University of the People you can forgo this problem, as you won't have to borrow money to pay for tuition as you learn. There are also many scholarships available to cover the minimal assessment fees.

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5. Education allows you to turn your dreams into a reality

When Mark Zuckerberg was at college, he dreamed of a more connected society and invented Facebook. The rest is history. But even if you don't invent a website that will change the world, college can connect you with the chance to live your dreams.

If a higher salary is on your wishlist, you're in luck. According to the American Institute For Economic Research, college grads aged 25-32 earn $17,000 more each year than those who didn't go to college, and 72% of millennials of the same age say their degree has already paid off. And if you're over 32? Don't worry! There's no upper limit on your earning power. Get the degree under your belt, and whatever age you are, you may find your dreams become one step closer to reality.