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Most of your adolescent life has been spent in school and from elementary to high school, you are preparing yourself for whatever comes after. But, after high school, what really is next?
A lot of people assume that there is one thing, and one thing only after high school. That would be pursuing a higher education, whether it be at a university or a community college. Whichever you choose, earning a degree is a must. Sadly, a lot of students feel pressured to go to college, and they end up going just to please others. At the beginning of senior year, most people are thrown into a hectic whirlwind of college applications, work, school, and whatever else may be going on. Throughout all the years in school, the “C” word is seen as the end goal. After spending most of your life in school, you have to attend even more school, except you have to pay for it. College is extremely expensive (at least in America) and if you are going to go, why not do it for yourself. It is better to pursue a career that you enjoy that does not require college, then put yourself in thousands of dollars in debt just to please others. When people discuss their future in education, they may panic because the adults in our lives can sometimes make it seem like college is a necessity. Is it though? College is defined as an institution one can go to when they want to pursue higher education. As you move on up in the ladder of education, it becomes stricter and they blame it on “preparing you for college”. College provides much more freedom than high school ever could. That is most likely due to the fact that this form of education is optional. The main difference between college and high school is the fact that one chooses to take part in a university. You will not see the majority of your graduating class at your school (if you choose to attend) because everyone has a choice where to go. Some choose universities out of state, and others will choose not to go. Whatever you choose for your future is right for you, you know yourself well enough to know what works and what will not. Teachers are going to promote college because they have been there; they needed to go to even teach. Many of the classes I take in high school make college seem as a necessity to life. In high school, especially during senior year, you will go to meetings that talk about college. There are incentives for those who fill out the form for financial aid, so it is easy to feel as though college is necessary. To battle this close-minded assumption, I think that schools should implicate some sort of lesson or class for those who do not plan to attend college. To be quite frank, college is a necessity for me. However, I do have a friend who has decided that college was not for her. She is very strong for going against the majority and choosing a life that does not put higher education as a priority. If I want to follow the career path of my desire, and be the best at it, college is inevitable. However it may not be for you, and that is more than okay. By taking the time to sit down and really think about your future, you are already taking steps towards it. There are too many career options out there to just have to conform to the “normal” and seek a higher education. It takes time and research to find a job that truly fits you, and does not have a prerequisite of college. High schools spend too much time advocating for college when it may not be the best option. Going to college next fall is my choice–I got to choose what college to go to and my area of study without judgement. Those who do not choose college should be able to have the same experience; they should be able to pursue their desires without feeling as though they are being judged for it. Unfortunately, many high schools do not provide an alternative for those who do not wish to attend college. By simply researching careers that do not require higher education, you would be surprised at the variety of jobs that pop up. I cannot speak from personal experience, however I can provide information that made me realize that not going to college is okay. In the list below, I have provided websites that discuss any careers one can have without going to college. · thebalancecareers.com · fairygodboss.com · nwi.com · military.com · army.mod.uk These are just a few websites that give a little more details on the careers included in the articles. These careers do not require a college degree, however you may have to attend training or an internship. I could provide many websites to direct those who choose not to pursue college, but at the end of the day it is their preference. My suggestion would be getting a mentor, a career coach and visiting job fairs whenever they come around. A career coach’s job is to find jobs that fit specifically with their client’s resume. They can be extremely helpful especially for those a little hesitant about their future. Job fairs are events that allow students to meet with professionals and establish a relationship with their possible future employers. If you do not plan to seek higher education, a job fair is the perfect place. The main issue that teenagers face is the pressure to go to college. That is extremely unfair to the kids whose creativity goes beyond higher education. It is time that we put the shame of not going to college to rest. To put it into perspective for those who think college is a necessity: why put yourself thousands of dollars in debt just to have a job that makes you unhappy? Success does not equal college, anyone can become successful with hard work and dedication. Nobody should have to pay thousands of dollars just to prove they are well–off. Different people come with different skill sets that can be put to use in a variety of careers. ~Camille
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It’s fair to say that I’ve had a hectic first term of Sixth Form and my A Level choices alone can show you this much. Starting off, we had a line up of English Literature, Biology, Chemistry and Drama. First, let’s just appreciate that I’ve never done any form of drama before in my life and, two weeks in, when asked to bark like a dog when my teacher took the register… I realised it wasn’t for me. Okay, one down and three left, I should’ve just left it like that, right?
Wrong. I then decided it would be smart to take up another subject I’d never tried before: Psychology. I would say ‘big mistake’, but it wasn’t. I mean, I hated the subject; I found it boring and dull and time-wasting, but it wasn't a mistake. If I hadn't taken it, I wouldn’t have known I hated it, and I would have spent the rest of my life wondering if I was secretly a Psychology genius. This leads me to my first, and probably most important, point when it comes to choosing your A Level subject. Do not do a subject you hate because you’re good at it. I faced a massive (well, massive relative to me) decision when I was taking Psychology. Grade wise, I was getting full marks in Psychology and Bs in Chemistry, BUT, I enjoyed Chemistry more. And, ultimately, that’s what won the battle: my love for the subject. I knew dropping Psychology would give me the time to focus more on a subject I actually enjoyed so I could boost that grade, rather than sit in misery every single Psychology lesson. Look, I know it’s difficult and feels really naive, but I am so much happier now than I was before, so I would like to stress the importance of doing what you enjoy. Cliche, I know, but this one’s from experience, so at least you know I’m telling the truth. As you can probably tell, I was indecisive about my choices (to say the least) and that’s totally fine! My school gave us an arguably long time before we had to fully commit (until November 2nd, if I remember rightly) which gave all of us ample time to change, switch, go back, and do it all again. It doesn’t matter if you're not feeling comfortable with your subjects; no one will judge or think differently of you if you simply realise that something isn't your cup of tea (in fact, some of my friends are jealous that I made the choice so quickly). Of course, there is ‘the future’ to consider (I know, I know, I don’t want to either but it’s better to be prepared). If you want to go to University, you do need to take a look at what A Level requirements they have (if any). I am hoping to attend Oxford to study English Literature and, surprise surprise, one of their requirements is English A Level. One thing I want to let you know, in case you also are looking at Oxbridge Universities, is that they prefer you to be taking the ‘traditional subjects’ (English, Maths, Science, History, Geography), and they probably won’t consider you if you are only doing one of these. It’s the harsh truth, I’m afraid. So, when choosing A Levels, I would recommend having Uni or whatever you want to do next in the back of your mind. It’s taken me a while (three months, to be exact) to feel comfortable with my A Level choices, but I don’t think this would have happened without the many obstacles I faced on the way. Just remember, A Levels are just another qualification, and it’s also important to do what you love outside of school as well. I hope this helped, Chloë College applications seem to loom in front of you for your entire high school career. They’re always there, waiting to stress you out with the work and time that you have to put into them. But they’re not as scary as one might think, and all it takes to get started is that first click. If you take the applications one step at a time and give yourself enough time to complete them, the stress and anxiety that surrounds the entire process isn’t as bad as you would think.
I’m currently a rising senior and will be graduating in the spring of 2021, so I’m in the midst of applications. However, I’ve been working towards these college applications for what seems like forever since I’ve been going on tours and worrying about my SAT score for over a year. It’s been a lot to keep track of, especially during the middle of a global pandemic, and college research and applications have taken up a lot of my summer. I’ve had a list of colleges that I was interested in for awhile now, but there’s still so much that I’ve had to do and still need to get done. I’ve also struggled with getting started on my writing because I don’t like talking about myself, so thinking about the things I’m going to share about myself in the different essays has been intimidating. I’m lucky enough though to have a great support system behind me, including my parents, my older sisters, and my college counselor. They’ve helped me to slow down and take everything one step at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed with all of it. Now as I’m going into senior year and applications are starting to open, I feel a lot more at ease than I did at the beginning of the summer. I know what I need to get done and I know I can do it, and those are the two most important things to remember. Here are a few things to remember when you start the college process:
The college process can seem overwhelming, but if you take it one step at a time, it doesn’t have to be as stressful. Give yourself time to work through each part of your application, including research, and remind yourself that you can and will get through it. The future may seem scary but remember that you can do anything you set your mind to- including a few pesky college applications! ~Madeline |
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Teenagers With Experience is an online organisation created to provide teenagers worldwide with an online platform to share their own experiences to be able to help, inform and educate others on a variety of different topics. We aim to provide a safe space to all young people. You can contact us via email, social media or our contact form.
Please note that the content on this website is created by teenagers. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, it is important to remember that we are not professional experts. If you are experiencing a crisis or need professional advice, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or a helpline. |