By the time that I had gotten to my freshman year in high school my dreams had shifted once again. I had my college all picked out with my major and minor all ready to go. Of course, my ideas changed again and again, I have gone from wanting to be a nurse, to a veterinarian, to a public speaker, to a horse trainer. Now that I am nearing the end of my junior year in high school, I have no idea what I want to do, once again.
Parents, teachers, and adult figures will pressure this generation to go to college, because that “is the only thing that makes sense”. Not many adults will tell an 18-year-old high school graduate to start their own career upon graduation day. 87% of high school graduates will attend college in the fall following their graduation, and be full time students. That leaves only 13% of young graduates to go immediately into the work field and they indeed do find jobs. Yet, adults will tell us that college is the miracle for all young people, and that in this day and age, if you don’t have a degree, you don’t have a chance for a well paying job.
However to challenge that statement, I would like to point out that just because you have a degree, it doesn’t automatically give you a free pass in life. For one you now have a lifetime of college loan debt to pay off, and probably a house or apartment, and maybe a car too. As if all of this pressure wasn’t enough you are now responsible for your own taxes, health insurance, and other “fun” adult responsibilities. Growing up sucks.
So the main message that I am trying to reach to you today is that you should enjoy your childhood. Growing up isn’t all that its cracked up to be I know that some of you who are younger than me, may not take this advice seriously, because well, you want to grow up. Don’t grow up, it’s a trap.