Prep Work.

Planning too early for College causes burnout and puts too much pressure on children. Not all children enjoy school and to set that expectation at a young age makes them feel like that is the only acceptable path. I firmly believe that a student should decide on their own, when the time is right for them. If they don’t know what they want to do after High School, it’s not the end of the world. They can decide to go to College at any time. Not all students want to go through life with that kid of debt. They will end up paying it off when they are in their 40’s or 50’s. I would recommend that parents allow students to decide for themselves. The average person after College has debt of over 50 thousand dollars. The average person who works right after school stars their life with zero debt. To top it off, I know more successful people who didn’t go to College, then successful people who did. Lastly, success is different for everyone. Being successful does’t mean you make lots of money, some of the happiest people I know work with their hands and don’t break the bank.

I believe that conditioning a child too early for College causes issues between a parent and child if the child doesn’t want to go to College. I know, myself, that I do not want to go to College. I want to work right after High School. The reason I want to work right after High School is because I will immediately make money and I won’t have the debt College incurs. It would be a terrible feeling to feel like I let down my parents. Too many people think College is the only option, but some of the most successful people I know didn’t go to College. To be that focused on what you want your child to be, isn’t beneficial and causes unneeded stress on the student. On top of that, most people do not want the burden of College debt. Working right out of High School can provide adequate income without owing all that money.

It’s up to the parents on how to raise their children, but I will not give those expectations to my children. It’s too early to decide. I believe the child should decide what they want to do holistically. To be so hyper focused on your child going to College won’t do anyone good, unless they actually do want to do and succeed. The problem is, most students who go to College, drop out and end up owing a big sum on money. In the end, let your child decide how they want to live the rest of their life. Don’e give them one path to success, give them several.

I believe that preparing children for College at a young age causes undo stress if the child doesn’t want to go go College.

“College” by jacobroeland is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.