March 26, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 Stick with school: Graduates earn many benefits Graduation ceremonies and other events that mark the end of a school year are rife with tradition. Students know it is important to receive their diplomas, but may not have a full understanding of why that piece of paper can help open so many doors. Diplomas date back to some of the ear- liest schools, but were also conferred upon land owners in ancient times by kings and other authority figures. Some military per- sonnel were also given diplomas to signal land grants that were not subject to taxes. Today, diplomas have a different meaning and vary depending on where one lives in the world. Graduates who complete a specific course of study are issued diplomas. Diplomas were once written on Italian sheepskin. Although “diploma” translates to “folded papers,” paper was not always an economically viable medium for diplo- mas. In fact, animal skins were used as recently as the 1950s. Receiving a degree or diploma can be a point of pride in families where older members may not have had the same edu- cational opportunities as younger mem- bers. Many people move to North America for the educational opportunities, and a diploma can symbolize taking advantage of those opportunities. According to the organization Do Some- thing, roughly 20 percent of first-time col- lege students come from parents who have a high school diploma or less. The United States Department of Education says high school graduation rates have increased since the 2006-07 school year. Around 80 percent of student who enter high school now earn a regular or advanced diploma. Dropout rates are on the decline, and a growing number of high school students continue on to two- or four-year degrees. In Canada, the numbers are quite simi- lar. Canada is second only to the United States in the high school completion rate of its working-age population. Statistics Canada says that enrollment in Canadian universities continues to increase. Enroll- ments are now approximately five percent larger than they were just a few years ago. Community colleges are benefitting from this influx of students. Various sta- tistics from the 2010-11 year point to more than eight million American students enrolled in community colleges at that time. Community colleges enable students to take core curriculum credits at a less expensive institution and then move on to a four-year school later on to expand on their coursework. This presents a viable option to students who are looking to keep education costs manageable. The reason so many students continue to apply themselves and come out after four or more years with diplomas and degrees is that they realize how competi- tive the job market can be. Graduates have a distinct advantage over other candidates. Some companies will not even consider a job candidate who does not possess some college education. Other employers pay more depending on the level of education (continued on page 23)