America's economy always has modernized and adapted to the many changes in society. Along with this, the quality of an education has also improved. Many of today's senior citizens held good-paying jobs while only having a high school diploma or even less. In today's society, it is almost a given that a person needs some sort of degree in order to receive a job that will allow them to support their families.

So exactly how important is education? Peter Keares, a 17-year-old senior at Penn Manor High School, said he sees education as a very important and influential part in any teenager's life.

"The economic, financial and technology-driven world that we live in is debatably the most complex so far in history," Keares said. "The amount and quality of education that someone has is oftentimes indicative of how successful their careers and understanding of the world are."

The job market in the present day economy is extremely competitive and teenagers and young adults are often put under a lot of pressure to attempt to set themselves above and apart from their peers.

Karen Myers, a 17-year-old senior at Penn Manor High School, said she thinks there is sometimes too much pressure put on teenagers. It can become extremely stressful for teenagers to meet the standards expected of them.

"In my opinion, a quality education can be attained from any type of institution," Myers said. "Many employers make the final decision to hire based off of the applicant's alma mater. Instead, they should focus more on the applicant's personal achievements."

In past years, personal achievements and experience were valued more than a person's education. Keares pins this down to the fact that today's older generation grew up in a society where factory work was highly valued.

"Today there is more of an emphasis on the educational, business and health career fields than when my grandparents were teenagers," Keares said. "This requires more education than the manufacturing jobs of their day required."

Not only does education after high school assist teens in their economic futures, simply just graduating high school may open up more opportunities for teenagers who may not think college or trade school is for them.

Keares and Myers both agreed that graduating high school can only make finding a job easier for a student.

"Finishing high school not only is a great educational advantage, but proves to a potential employer that you can finish something that you start," Keares said. "It says a lot about your character if you have finished high school."

On a larger scale, the quality of education a country has can often lead to a thriving economy with less poverty. Higher levels of education do not only lead to higher pay and economic stability, they have much larger impacts as well.

According to the American Human Development Project, "More education is also linked to better physical and mental health, longer lives, fewer crimes, less incarceration, more voting, greater tolerance, and brighter prospects for the next generation."

All of these factors combined make the overall society of a country more structured and allow it to function in a positive way. Of course, it is fairly obvious that a decrease in violent crimes and more voters choosing who should run the United States can only be good for America.

The American Human Development Project says the future of America is in the hands of America's children. By educating the children, the United States can ensure that America will be in good hands in the future.

"More education is good for individuals who stay in school to earn their high school degree or who enter and graduate college, but it is also good for all of us, paying big dividends in the form of increased civic engagement, greater neighborhood safety, and a healthy, vibrant democracy," according to the American Human Development Project.

Myers also has high hopes for the future of America and said she hopes people continue to take their education seriously in order to make the United States a better place.

Myers said, "Educating the country is the only way that the generations to come will have the potential to expand our knowledge of the earth, make great strides in cancer research, and allow our nation to grow as a whole."