"College, Not For Me?" - Time Out #37

Let's me say it quickly, "No"!

Living in Our Town with our principal source of everything economical going through OSU, this definitely could be fighting words.

Put another way, this "No" is also a "Yes"; Yes, college is NOT for everyone.

For as long as I can remember in Our Town, not long after one is graduated from elementary school, the conversation begins to focus on what your college major will be?? Lots of the answers are words difficult for a 12-year-old to pronounce. It is a definite right-of-passage to graduate from the playground directly to the college campus. It is certainly an ultra-accelerated way to grow up!

As many of you loyal citizens have learned via the school of hard-knocks, lots and lots of time, money, frustration, disappointment and anxiety have been produced because many have mistakenly gone from a high school directly to college.

There are lots of reasons for unsuccess in this immediate undertaking, with the most frequent being immaturity, financial, social problems, academic ill-preparation and previous background, and unreal expectations.

There is certainly enough blame to go around.

Near the top of the list are the helicopter parents who absolutely believe their child just has to have that higher education! They leave no room for their young offspring to choose Plan B and not attend college. Besides, it wouldn't look good to their peers. Oh, by the way, some of these helicopter monikers are being replaced by bulldozer (or lawnmower) parents. These folks clear all life's learning obstacles out of the way for their children, providing the kids a straight shot. In either case, of course," failure" is not an option for the offspring----not good for learning life lessons along life's path.

So if not college following high school, then what?

For years and years, I have been a strong proponent of government service. Yes, dear hearts, it would be the American example of paying-it-forward.

For every high school graduate in the Great U. S. of A. following their cap and gown 12th year of education, one would be required to spend 1 or possibly 2 years of government service to Our Country. It could be in any of the plethora of government jobs, VA or Public Health Hospitals, Post Offices, under served educational schools in a myriad of capacities, military, construction, maintenance, office work, etc. The workers would be paid a fair wage, and work the equivalent of a 40-hour work week. There would be NO deferments as there were with the former military draft system 4 decades ago, and it would apply equally to females and males high school grads.

This sweat equity concept is not my original idea, of course, as several countries, societies, religions, etc., require that of their citizens, followers, etc. They see no down side to these requirements, and neither do It is a sound system..

I think this is a very small price to pay to honor our great country. It is all about repaying the debt an individual owes for the right to be an American citizen.

The other great thing about this win/win theory is it would provide these young adults with a year or two to experience the real world. It would greatly assist the young adults in obtaining priceless experience in dealing with life outside the educational bubble. During this government employment experience, they might find employment areas of interest they previously didn't know existed, and, thus, later pursue these new found interests.

Don't forget, it has been estimated 75% of Americans do not like their current jobs. Wow!

Other options?

Sure!

One could pursue all types of practical training schools/educational experiences like the Oklahoma Career Tech programs, various private job internship-type training programs or believe-it-or-not, directly enter into the American work force. However, most students don't want to buck American society's pressure, and, thus, enroll in a college immediately following high school.

Therefore, the person goes to college by habit/pressure, and because the true desire in pursuing the education isn't there, the student is doomed to failure. This failure always brings a cascade of disappointments for all concerned.

It doesn't have to be.

We all have choices.

We all have personal responsibility.

Just sayin'................