GUEST COLUMN: 3 Reasons Why Actors Choose To Go to College

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3 Reasons Why Actors Choose To Go to College

by Lewis Robinson

The importance of education cannot be overstated. Today, more and more high school graduates are doubting the value of a college education. It might surprise them to know just how many famous performers have taken the time and made the effort to complete their college degrees even after they have become stars. 

Hollywood is full of superstars who value their framed degrees as much as they value their Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. The reasons why they choose to complete their studies even after fame are moving and they reveal the value of a good education.

To Be a Role Model

Some of the biggest names in the entertainment field chose to finish their degrees long after they had become famous in order to provide an example to young people around the world.

In 2001, the prolific director Steven Spielberg finished the degree he had begun 37 years before. When asked why, the iconic creator stated that he wanted to do it to make his parents proud and to stand as an example for his family and all young people about the importance of higher education. He chose to walk across the graduation stage with all the other students, although it's unlikely he had to worry about student loans to get him through.

Nick Cannon is one of the brightest new stars in television, hosting the popular shows America's Got Talent as well as The Masked Singer. He is pursuing his Ph.D. in legal studies at Howard University. He says he wants to be an example of the importance of education to all youth, but especially for his own young children.

A Passion for a Cause

Many stars discover passions beyond performing as they build their careers, and choose to pursue a degree to investigate those passions more deeply.

Ashley Judd has had a successful career in both music and acting. She is known for her outspoken political opinions and is widely expected to run for office in the future. Due to her career, it took her 17 years to complete her undergraduate degree and she is now pursuing a Ph.D. in public policy at UC Berkely.

One of the most talented young actresses of the day is Dakota Fanning. Fanning has been working in film and TV since she was a young child and has received critical acclaim for her acting prowess. As an influential young woman in the midst of the "me too" movement, Dakota chose to attend the NYU Gallatin school to do advanced studies in the role of women in film, stating that she believes how women are portrayed in film is of great importance today.

To Enrich Their Art

Many stars understand that a greater perspective on the world will enhance their skills. Several famous actors hold degrees in psychology, philosophy and business.

Julia Stiles has maintained a successful career since her break-out role in 10 Things I Hate About You in 1999. Stiles was always known as an intellectual actress and during her appearances in the Bourne series of films, she began attending Columbia University where she majored in English. She has said that education makes an actor more diverse and more interesting to watch.

Poppy Harlow is a popular news anchor on CNN and has chosen to get her master's degree in legal studies at Harvard University. She was inspired by the late Chief Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and knows that a greater understanding of legal issues will enhance her work as a journalist.

It is known that a degree will open doors to employment that would not be available without it and that a college graduate can expect to make nearly a million dollars more than someone without a degree in their lifetime. But what these stars and many more understand is that there is value in a degree beyond income and career advancement. A college education can allow you to investigate and pursue your passions as well as make you a deeper thinker and more complex and interesting human being.