Education System’s Push for College
Norco College in California
February 28, 2020
Being a senior in high school, I’ve been constantly bombarded by my peers and others asking “What college are you going to?” or “What major are you pursing?” Although it may be nice at times to be asked these questions, I never lack the curiosity of how people who don’t have answers to these questions feel. At one point or another, I was in the position to where I didn’t know what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go. I still feel like that at times, unsure of where I’m going or even if I’m on the right path. However, I know that many of my peers feel similar.
Since we were in elementary school, I remember always being told that college is the path for everyone. College is pushed so heavily on the youth it almost feels toxic. It is boggling to me that at such a young age we are told that we must decide what we want to do for the rest of our lives. It almost feels like we must make these decisions in a split instant. Senior Hunter Liu states, ” When I came to school in the U.S. I quickly noticed an extreme push for college.” He then further states, ” I feel like we are so young yet we are already deciding our future and it feels as though it is permanent.” The competitive push for college hasn’t just been prominent now.
Although there has been recent push for college, there has always been an emphasis on this path being the only correct one. Roosevelt Alumni Michelle Taing states, ” When I was at Roosevelt, there was a constant push for college even for the people who made it clear that they didn’t want to go.” Many people don’t want to pursue college but the education system make it feel as though it’s wrong that people are choosing different pathways. Taing further states, ” I know many people who didn’t see college as an option, there were some who wanted to go into the work force or military right away but people in the education system made them feel like they shouldn’t go down this path.”
Although college is a good route for many, it isn’t suited for all and is especially not suited for young 15-16 year olds to make decisions on. The constant push for college gives off a toxic type of stress which I think is extremely unhealthy.
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Danny Nguyen • Mar 7, 2020 at 7:35 am
I absolutely agree with Taing’s assertions regarding the education system’s push for college. While it may be the ideal path for some people with aspirations in certain career paths (i.e STEM fields, law, psychology, etc) it’s not necessary for other lucrative in-demand careers like, for instance, blue collar jobs: mechanics, construction workers, plumbers. You could just go to trade school or get your start in the workforce to reach those career goals.
College also doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get a job right away after you graduate and many people accumulate mounting student debt that makes it difficult for them to start their new adult lives. I mean, if everyone’s going to college to get similar degrees, it makes sense why getting a job is hard right out of the gate. Plus, you need more than just a degree to have the career you want. These can include work experience, recommendations, good connections in your field. All of these things are done outside of college, helping you build a great unique resume that makes you stand out in the crowd.
College shouldn’t be the end-all be-all option and high schools should do more to spotlight other career paths that don’t require a college education. There should be an emphasis on skill set so that students with a certain expertise or skill in something could find jobs that tailor to those strengths. High schools should also focus on network building, resume writing, and things of that nature in regards to navigating the job market.
I once had a conversation with a man at a Costco as I was studying for my college class, waiting for my car tires to be balanced and rotated. He told me that he had spent many years in college and ended up getting a PhD in Sociology. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find work for 9 months even with that prestigious title, so he have to reach out to his old mentors again to ultimately gain employment. He told me the best advice he ever got from his old mentor was that while thinking about your career is important, it’s also important to think about the kind of life you want to live and pursue a career that gets you that lifestyle. If you want to raise a family and afford to travel around the world and own a home, maybe you should consider this career that can make those things possible. Granted, it should probably be a career that you’re proud of doing and that’s able to get you to wake up in morning rather than one that makes you unhappy. This was the advice he wish he was aware of when he was still in school. It could have saved him a lot of time.
I would encourage high school students at this stage in their lives to think about what they want their lives to be like as they prepare to leave the K-12 education system and embark into the rough terrains of the real world. Having a career and a good life goes beyond college.
I appreciate Taing’s article and admire her willingness to discuss this important issue.
Joshua Dineros • Mar 7, 2020 at 8:18 pm
Thank you so much for your continued support Danny!