Should everyone go to college?

Graduating from high school is a big feat in it of itself! Now what, don’t worry if you’re unsure of what you want to be or do in the future. You have just completed a major chapter in your life and now have the opportunity to embark on a new chapter and accomplish new endeavors. Will you go to college, start working or take a gap year? There is no one size fit all solution.

Some students even consider going into the military. You have to assess your current situation and make the best choice for yourself. Some things to consider while choosing are your grades, extracurricular activities, finances, and personal motivation. Are you ready to go to college? The worst thing to do is enroll in school, not be mentally prepared, disregard classes and leave school with thousands of dollars of debt that will need to be repaid within six months of leaving school. I’ve seen it happen to a good friend in college. He got a girlfriend, became sidetrack and left school with massive debt.

In reality, prior to enrolling in school, he wasn’t ready mentally and did not have familial support.

And guess what, he’s not alone. There is a high number of the students who enroll in school with tons of loans that need to be repaid whether school is finished or not. According to the National Clearinghouse, 55% of undergraduates who matriculated in 2008 graduated within six years. Not to mention, it’s the lowest graduation rate in the developed world. These statistics aren’t often spoken about beyond the educational world, but the drop out crisis is a real problem. As a high school teacher, I would often tell students that they were better off traveling around the world than enrolling in school, accumulating massive debt that would need to be paid without the income to support oneself.

Often chuckles and laughs would ensue, but this is a real issue. I am not here to discredit higher education, being an individual who has six degrees, a PhD in criminology included, but just here to say that the person needs to be ready mentally and financially. I came from a very modest home; my parents barely finished high school and neither went to college. For me, I had always known since childhood that I would go to college, so it wasn’t an option. When the time came, I applied for more scholarships than anyone I had known. My high school guidance counselor said he had never seen anyone apply for so many scholarships in his 20 plus years as a counselor. I was determined and had good people behind me propelling me forward. I was also fortunate to intern at the local news times and interviewed a woman who gave me advice on how to write an amazing college essay.

She said, “Show, don’t tell.” That is exactly what I did. I had been through many trials and tribulations including going from honor student in grade school to receiving my first F and hanging with the wrong crowd my freshman year in high school. I told stories of my high school administrator suspending me from school and calling my mom, which became a huge eye opener. My mother couldn’t believe I was in danger of failing 9th grade and to be honest neither could I. Was I the same girl who made the honor roll every year? I was, but just very confused. I eventually pulled it together and went on to teach high school and become a motivational speaker.

It wasn’t easy, but it took motivation and the three Ds which became my motto: Desire, Determination and the dedication to achieve in life. I was going to create a better life for myself than my parents and many family members had if I had to die trying. I came to learn that if you have the motivation and the desire to go to college, you can make it happen. If you are not a big fan of education, perhaps a trade school or background in plumbing, HVAC may be your thing. We need plumbers and service technicians in our society.

College is not for everyone and many plumbers make more than college professors. I remember my sociology professor pointing out that surprising fact to me my freshman year. Perhaps a gap year may be an option. When is the next time you will have an opportunity to travel the world or doing something extraordinary? You have your whole life to work. Take it from someone who has been working since she was 14 years old. If you take a gap year, do something instrumental such as a tour of Europe or volunteerism in a foreign country, don’t just sit home. The former will be life changing and far more informative than any book. If you have to work full time, be careful to not get in lured in from making money.

Making $30,000 may sound good when at 18 but not at 40 while trying to support a family. Nonetheless, there are options. Make a list of the pros and cons of going to college, the military or taking a gap year and go for it. In time you will figure out your passion and future career goals. The important thing is to make a decision on your next chapter. If you asked me in a high school if I wanted to become a teacher, my response would have been no. Life took its course and I followed with the three Ds. Remember you can do anything you put your mind to. “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, he can achieve,” said the great Napoleon Hill.

#college #photo #work #reasonstonotgotocollege #iscollegeforeveryone #students #education #advise