Is College For Everyone?

With the 2019 school year coming to an end, graduation is just around the corner. My sister will be graduating this year from McClatchy on Friday. I've watched her grow in high school and now she is leaving the nest and going to Hawaii. While observing her process of applying to colleges and scholarships it made me think, is college for me?

Ever since we were kids our parents and adults around us stressed the importance of going to college. Now, I am not saying it isn't important, just that sometimes it isn't suitable for every kid. Also, in our current day and age, you do not need to go to college to be successful in life, though it will probably make it a little easier. Take Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, for instance, they both were college dropouts and are now one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world. This proves that the college path is not always the right one. Your idea of success and happiness could be a life/career where college is not part of the picture. In addition, to attend a college is now more expensive than ever before. Students are being left with huge amounts of student debt after finishing just 4 years of college. What happens if your major requires extra school...that means deeper debt. By the time you finish schooling, you'll be left with an excessive amount of college debt, and instead of being excited about the new job you may or may not be able to get with your diploma/degree, you will have to worry about paying off all your student loans. 

In addition to expenses, one reason why I feel some kids may not want to go on to college is that they just don't like school. When college is stressed and engrained into our brains the way it is by adults and parents it's common to want to revolt against them. I feel like we are taught from a young age that is you don't go to a college then you will fail at life, which isn't true at all. Sometimes having a break from formal education is what we all need to reflect and appreciate it a little more. 

I think that if college is not something you're crazy about you should consider other options. Maybe take the time to look into a junior college or take a year off until you decide what you want to do. Overall, at the end of the day, I believe that you should do whatever makes you feel fulfilled in life, whether that includes college in the picture or not.