College-bound: Putting the eggs in one basket

Only the educated are free. ~ Epictetus

Is that right?

College isn't the place to go for ideas. ~ Helen Keller

Oh really?

No one wants a good education; Everyone wants a good degree. ~ Lee Rudolph

Hmmmm...

While I am proud to be a college graduate and am thankful for the opportunity to pursue a college degree(s), the older that I have become, the more I realized that it takes more than a college degree to get ahead. Yet, we as a village, especially educators, feed into our children that college is the ONLY way to go, if you want to succeed. That is not always true. In fact, released last month, a new book entitled Launching Points profiles 50 career paths that don't require a college degree, as well as several high-prolific people who became successful without attaining a college degree.

To the village, this is your daily dosage of reality check for today:

COLLEGE ISN'T FOR EVERYONE!

Therefore, more post secondary options should be offered and pursued by students besides going to college. There is nothing wrong with learning a trade, serving in the military, following your dreams of becoming famous, or even becoming an entrepreneur. Of course, there is a risk of failure and disappointments. That's life; no one simply can avoid it. Then there is the potential of successful outcomes. You will never know unless you explore your options. We don't allow our kids to choose the path they want to pursue. This is a part of a looming problem with the college-bound mantra being fostered in K-12 schools.

• With the current unstable economic climate, as college enrollment increases, the debt accrued will increase. Thus, the more difficult it will be for college graduates to pay it off, especially since the job market is in a slump
• More incoming freshmen are required to take remedial courses, while budget cuts in remedial education is increasing
• According to one article, the current college dropout rate is approaching 50%
• According to another article, 1 in 4 (25% of ) college students will drop out during their freshmen year.

Apparently, K-12 schools are doing a poor job in preparing our students for college. Is it perhaps due to the  increasing pressure from the village and the society as a whole we place on ALL children to pursue a college education when it may not be for them? It is a times like these where the STUDENTS' voices and inputs should be considered, not dictated or coerced. As a village, we should stop placing our children's future in one egg basket; allow them to take risks in following their own dreams and ambitions, as well as supporting them in their endeavors.

In closing, I would like to quote the late Dr. Dondra West, mother of the hip-hop superstar Kanye West, as she described  her feelings in retrospect when her son dropped out of college:

It was drummed into my head that college is the ticket to a good life... but some career goals don't require college. For Kanye to make an album called College Dropout it was more about having the guts to embrace who you are, rather than following the path society has carved out for you.

My sentiments exactly! College is not the only pathway to success; the village needs to stop spreading such propaganda onto our children. College (as well as the other options mentioned earlier) can only open doors, ultimately it is up to you to go through them and make something happen.