The value of a college education never crossed my mind twenty years ago. It wasn't until my then-girlfriend, now my wife, asked me, "Are you planning on becoming a physical education teacher for the rest of your life?" ¨ I replied ¨What's wrong with working in the sun and rain? Isn't it healthy? ¨ I had neither a degree nor the slightest idea how to get one. So, I decided to change this situation by enrolling in National University to study English language teaching. A few months later, the school I worked at downsized the physical education department and my option was to transfer to the English department (formal graduation coming soon). The experience was life-changing because being able to attend college helped me learn that formal education will not only open up opportunities in the career field, but also bring personal gratification. Making the decision to go to college was a challenging experience. Furthermore, the academic curriculum itself would introduce me to much-needed tools such as approaches to reading and writing, the principles underlying language learning and teaching,...