Walking through the halls, you notice posters hanging on every door, advertising “Upcoming Trade Days!” The counseling department is seriously pushing the idea of going to trade school, and many other options besides a four-year college. Why doesn’t our academic environment start out with this encouragement?
In elementary and middle school, staff and administration only advertise a future of attending a four-year college to their students. Four-year colleges are not for everyone, and kids should know from a young age that other options and opportunities are waiting for them after high school.
Instilling young kids that their success is dependent on going to college and getting a degree only worsens the stereotypes behind attending community college, or not going at all. Once these kids graduate, they may feel disappointed they did not follow the path they were “destined” for since they were little.
I work at an elementary school, and scattered across the campus are posters telling the kids, “You are worthy of a four-year college!” While they are worthy of this opportunity, they should know there are other opportunities. Only once they get older are these opportunities finally advertised to them, after thinking their whole life that attending college was the only choice. What I remember from elementary school, college wasn’t talked about much, because it becomes important once you get older. This was good because it didn’t instill pressure on me at such a young age.
Community college and going to trade school are amazing ways to pick a path toward a career, and it is also okay to take a break from school and go straight into working. These options are commonly frowned upon due to unrealistic expectations that everyone should go to a great college.
This is unfair to expect from everyone, and not everyone desires this path. Not to mention, not everyone can afford to take this path, and they should know about the other options before they enter high school.
It is important that young people in our school district know other opportunities are awaiting them, and if they want to go to a four-year college, that is amazing, but if they decide it is not their path, they can still have a successful future.
