It’s fall. In high schools, fall becomes a stress-filled time for many seniors. Many of their lives come to revolve around applications, application fees, recommendations, SAT scores, essays, scholarships and transcripts and on and on; all in hopes of being accepted into one college or university in the spring.
From about first grade until eighth grade many students I know, including myself, were considered “talent and gifted” or even among the group of the “smartest and most hard-working.” And when you hit high school you plummet from this sense of security that the educational system instilled within you, because you tumble from most intelligent to average (sometimes even below average). So high school, at least for me anyway, inevitably became a rigorous four-year camp with a clearly stated objective: get into a good school. A struggle to prove myself worthy, prove myself still to be “talented and gifted” by maintaining a 4.0 (or higher), taking AP’s, being active in extracurriculars, scoring highly on the SAT, to become the perfect student, with a perfect track record , because it seems to be what colleges want.
It took me and many others entirely too long, in fact many students still haven’t, to realize that the perfect student just does not exist, because life happens. You may not always receive A’s or B’s. You may not be able to maintain an active role in after school activities. You may not be great at standardized testing. AP’s may be too challenging. And maybe, just maybe, you enter the fall of your senior year questioning whether college is truly the thing for you. And then to began to question yourself and your self worth because of common misconceptions among many students, “without being accepted into a university, I am dumb. I won’t get a good job. I won’t amount to anything;” silly and false misconceptions. Alternatives do exist.
One of these, is community college (CC). You can attend for two years to receive your associate’s degree and then transfer into your junior year at a university. You enroll into classes similar to those at universities, but the transition from high school to CC is smoother and often less stressful. You save time and money, paying at most about $5,000 a year (in-state tuition,) and have great volumes of flexibility with your schedule. If you excel or join honors programs that some CC’s offer, you are often eligible for scholarships. CC’s are looked down upon by students but they offer a good opportunity to improve themselves and habits without putting a hold on their lives and a hole in their pockets. So why shouldn’t it be considered good enough?
Another option is trade school, a vocational school that educates on skills related to a specific career or occupation. You jump right into studying your profession, without wasting time or participating in unneeded classes.
Thirdly, you can take some time off of school. Some don’t recommend it because the assumption is that once you stop going to school you won’t go back. But if 13 years (possibly more) of schooling was an overload and you need a break, take a break. Determination will lead you back into schooling, if that is truly what you want. The “break” could be doing something productive like traveling or working, not necessarily lounging around all day. Some people need a breather.
Or maybe college just isn’t for you and you won’t go. Good for you. Maybe you will go. Good for you. The point is that we are all different and we all have different goals and dreams.
You should do whatever makes you happy, whatever fulfills you, and whatever is best for you. Don’t let your friends’ decisions to attend or not to attend college influence you, and don’t allow your parents’ aspirations for you dominate your life, because one thing I can guarantee is that if you do not take initiative and take control of your future, you will regret it.
Jimmy Kemgang • Dec 2, 2014 at 3:57 pm
Well said! I’m truly inspired .
Angelica • Oct 3, 2014 at 8:03 pm
Amazing article! Many students do need to open their eyes and see the many opportunities out there!