Introducing The Next Generation Of Leaders And Thinkers

Do What You Love, Or So They Say

Throughout life, especially through the stage that many high school students and young adults are at, deciding who you are, what you stand for, who you want to be, and who you are becoming, all lead to this life long indoctrinated idea that you have to be somebody.

Regardless of what you decide for yourself, life will assign you a role, or you will simply fall into one. Most people are urged towards the path of college or some form of additional higher educational. Which is fine, but we are all aware of the average cost of tuition. It’s something Americans, in my opinion, much like when gas prices sky rocketed in 2008, just got used to and learned to roll with the financial gouging. When I say ‘Americans’ I’m really speaking for the parents and care takers of said future students. Unless you’ve had a job since you were a toddler- which still might not even make a splash in the sea of debt you will eventually endure, you don’t have a dog in the fight to financially support your education. Surely this is one of the most subjective matters EVER, to be discussing. So don’t lose focus if some of the examples given don’t necessarily fit your criteria for your future plans or financial situation. The issue at hand deals with the matter of the average student severely relying on the savings and bank accounts of their parents to depart on the journey of higher education and becoming a successful person into their adult years.

Now, more than ever before, future students whom are facing an impeding debt, are somewhat financially bound to their parents and parents’ decisions of their future. In a time of self discovery and natural rebellion, what do you transitioning teenagers-to-adults hate more than anything? Being told what’s best for them. It’s the easiest time ever for it to occur. Yes, you are the one who will endure the education, but will it be on your terms? If you’re someone with supportive parents, and both parties have great communication skills then the issue of selecting the path of your future could be foreign to you. To many, it’s not as easy as ‘Mom! Dad! I want to major in theater, you know it’s always been my dream!’ And them saying, ‘Okay sweetie!’ Some get a responses such as ‘I’m not wasting 40 thousand dollars for you to tap dance for four years. How will you get a job?’  I’m speaking from anecdotal evidence obviously. But, how common is the cliche of a friend of yours or someone you know facing the reality of something along the lines of ‘My parents want me to be an electrical engineer. But my true passion is graphic design.’ Think of how offensive it is to a child’s self esteem when their own parents don’t have enough faith in the idea of you succeeding in what you love to go ahead and make the investment into your education? The point being, a lot of future students have conflicting interest with the people that essentially have the tools to dictate your life. Sure you could go rogue and take out your own loans and find ways to support yourself while pursuing your dream. But it’s extremely difficult. It’s not like this is a ground breaking new issue, it’s just when the stakes are so high due to the extreme costs of education. Parents may be a little hesitant to toss around money of that magnitude. Even when it has to deal with their precious children.

Listen, don’t make your parents out to be the bad guys though. Imagine saving money your whole adult life, giving majority of it away to your children, and hoping they come out with a job in the end. Which isn’t always a guarantee. Especially if the child is adamant on diving into a talent driven field, which be honest with yourself, is predominantly the most appealing to young dreamers. So I leave this to the future college students. They say investing in higher education is an investment to yourself. But, in actuality, it’s your parent’s financial judgment of your future.

 

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