Since I was a young girl, I always knew that it was a familial expectation that I attend college. While I initially wanted to attend FIDM, Fashion Institute of Design Merchandising, my family discouraged me from going to "dangerous, gang plagued California". Growing up a bit sheltered, I followed the guidance and ended up doing something outside of my lifelong passion. This of course changed the course of my life. I never imagined that options besides college existed. While many people fight against a global state of conditioning, many of us do it to our children.
The majority of Americans choose to follow and promote the "Status Quo". Most people don't question large entities like they do mom and pop shops. People tend to have a greater trust in larger well established entities even without knowing people who work there or the CEO.
Some children have developed a sense of inferiority when in the presence of peers who seemed more focus and have a clear idea of what they want their future to look like. Some school districts across the country have caught on and have begun to offer trade programs.
On the other hand, K-12 focuses on college and college readiness as a whole and definitely tends to promote 4 year colleges as if they are the only option, most times. What about 2 year colleges, trade schools, apprenticeships, entry level jobs that promote from within and other careers that don't require a day of university time?
I can name 5 trade professions that require less time to learn and prepare for whose salary is more than the median $50,000 salary in the United States.
- Plumbers
- Welders
- Electricians
- Beauticians
- Facilities Managers
So, should every child go to college? Realistically, we need cashier's, garbage collectors, custodians, retail workers, parking lot attendants, bus drivers and many other careers that don't require an education beyond high school. Every child has a choice and not every child will rush off to college. This is one of the areas that "10 Ways To Be a Great Parent" discusses. It's important to allow your child to access experiences while they are growing up so that they can possibly determine where their interests lie.
You might ask, "Where do I go to find out what my child likes, is there a test?" "Should we read, What Color is Your Parachute?" Certainly a young person, probably in high school or college can go through True Colors to help them to learn about who they are as a person which can also give them guidance toward careers they should be successful in. STOZP
Other options are to contact your child's middle or high school to find out if they do any type of interest inventory. An important thing about this is to ask your child to take it seriously and to be honest on it. The results are only as good as the accuracy of the information shared during the inventory.
Of course there will be some students who read alot and eventually become inventors and entrepreneurs that contribute to society in great and positive ways. These people aren't always college graduates, but they develop great ideas or have fantastic work ethics that set them apart from some of their peers.
College is one route to learning things and helping to catapult individuals into specific career choices while the military is yet another platform for learning. Each person should be lauded for making positive life choices and choosing a life that doesn't adversely affect or take away from the way that other civil citizens choose to live their lives.
One thing I would tell my student athletes in the past would be, it's fine to be an outstanding athlete, but being a scholar-athlete is most important so that if offered any contracts, you can read them along with your attorney to ensure that you are getting what you've been promised. It's important so that you, as a scholar athlete can keep track of your earnings, investments and such despite having an accountant.
So, my answer to the question, "Is everyone supposed to go to college?" is a resounding NO. Every child should be encouraged to be their best self. They should be encouraged to play to their strengths while still building their academic and personal areas where they need growth.
If you have children or plan to have some, I'd love to hear how you feel about this topic and I'd love to hear what you tell your children about this topic.
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