While in high school, I was often asked the usual question, What are you going to do after graduation? I decided to go to Saint Louis University as a pre-med student.

People asked me why I wanted to waste my money at an expensive school when I could go to the local community college, like many of the graduates of my high school did.

When I changed my major to communication, many people asked me what I could do with a communication degree. Their reaction was usually an “oh,” generally followed by a version of, “Why not be a doctor? They make good money, you know.”

Why choose to get higher education? Why spend a small fortune on more classes? Why devote four years of your life to something that doesn’t even guarantee six figures upon graduation?

The answers: education, experience and enlightenment. You can’t put a price on these. This reminds me of a good idea for a new MasterCard commercial…

Four years of tuition at Saint Louis University: $80,000.

Four years for housing at Saint Louis University: $20,000.

A 2003 graduate’s contribution to the new student union: $200.

Four years worth of parking at Saint Louis University: $1,600.

Approximate cost for books at Saint Louis University: $2,400.

Round-trip ticket to Madrid, Spain: $950.

Learning about Plato, Socrates and Mill: Priceless.

Reading Twain, White and Woolf: Priceless.

Dorm life: Priceless.

Knowing that you can sleep in the day after your 21st birthday: Priceless.

Buying SLU sweatshirts for your parents: Priceless.

Spending four months in Europe: Priceless.

Finding mentors that change your outlook on life: Priceless.

I may not ever make six figures, perform a life-saving operation or develop the cure for AIDS, but my education will always be my best investment, my greatest source of pride and my most valuable possession. My parents always encouraged me to learn all that I can. They tell me that no one will ever be able to take away my education. They were right.

Jen Fuhler is a senior studying communication.