Thursday, September 12, 2013

"I don't know if I want to go to College"



If you are like the lady above and do not know what you want to go to college for perhaps you should not waste time, effort, energy and a lot of money on being unsure and enrolling in a school "anyways". 

The good old "I'm not too sure what I want to do I'm taking some classes here and there", can cost you thousands of dollars. By the way I assure you if you ask any college student if the classes they are taking is helping in the long term decision making of what they want to eventually graduate with, the answer will most likely be no. According to finaid.org - On average, tuition tends to increase about 8% per year. An 8% college inflation rate means that the cost of college doubles every nine years. For a baby born today, this means that college costs will be more than three times current rates when the child matriculates in college. 

Note to Parents: If your child is not sure what he or she wants to go to college for do not force them into enrolling "anyways", besides when they graduate they will most likely not be working in their field of study. This is especially important if you parent do not have a college savings plan for your son or daughter. If you don't they will take out student loans. Take this opportunity to talk and communicate with your child, let them know that there are other options of learning, in fact is probably an even better investment of their time if they use some time to think about what they want to do, while being proactive of course. Oh and this will save you a lot of money.

See giving children, or should I say young adults options is probably a bigger learning investment of their time versus being stuck in academia. Here is why, when we enroll in college, we spend four years of learning systems and theories that after graduation we hope to put into practice, which now a days happens to 2 in 10 college graduates, if they have "connections". 

Now lets take a look at what can potentially happen if we reverse it. Why not spend a year or two volunteering in different organizations while perhaps working a part time job to have some income coming in and time to volunteer. Getting exposure is a far more valuable investment of their time, getting to know different issues within their community, church, schools, nursing homes etc... See if they find an injustices and a solution for a problem they will have a bigger incentive to one, become knowledgeable and get educated, and two to become entrepreneurs.  So my question to you is why not invest some time in the practical direct experience which the cost is none to being inexpensive, and then let the young adult decide what he or she wants to do? 

By giving the young adult the experience first, they not only do better academically because they see value, and they avoid giving up too soon in college. But they also built a sense of belonging, character and humility.    

Note to student: Don't waste time and money in the "I don't know, invest your time and some money in helping and serving your community, there are enough issues and big challenges and the world needs young entrepreneurs to come up with solutions. I challenge you to go out and serve others volunteer and find a need, because the world needs you!

If you disagree let me know I am open to other opinions. 

-Be the leader God intended you to be- 

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