It is no surprise that those members of society that have accumulated wealth within the span of their lives would use their influence in order to benefit those that are closest to them by paving for them a direct path to financial success. Throughout the span of the last few decades there has grown an emphasis on higher education, specifically that of 4-year programs at university systems, as the sole path to building a lucrative career in life. I do not suppose to underestimate the value of an educated mind, as it often allows one to open oneself to possibilities perhaps not previously thought by that individual as being in the realm of possibility. However, it seems that the educational system has made a shift from an entity encouraging the process of learning disciplines through personal achievement in order to expand individual scope to an authority which can launch career paths for anyone who is willing to contribute more substantial amounts of their personal wealth.
With a system that values these contributions over merits earned from mental growth, we have created an environment in our workforce that creates exclusivity and very well breeds elitist suppositions that only further the personal gains of a few. Parents with the means to pay large sums of cash can be sure that their children’s futures are taken care of despite not having done the work that less fortunate others would have to put in. It may be an immediate guarantee for those few, but I will argue that it hurts society in the process. These privileged individuals are taking the spots from others individuals that, through learned dedication, could effectively cause positive change for the benefit of society. The indictments of the parents involved is a step in the right direction towards inclusivity, discouraging corruption that impedes progress. However, larger scrutiny towards the institution itself must be pursued in order to achieve a greater momentum to the advancement of human ability and understanding.
This is the purpose of higher education. Cultivating knowledge gained over many generations, across many regions, to further the expansion of the collective human mind towards innovation and enterprise that maximizes possible happiness. But it has become a cycle where the system assures only it’s own happiness while granting the happiness of those that have wealth and status for the highest dollar amount. This type of expediency is truly slowing down the process of progress for society because it creates a bubble in which many cannot enter and therefore cannot prosper.