Every student in high school has a unique path, especially here at Central. Our school makes it easy for students to explore different options and stay flexible about career choices. Students are told that if there’s something they are interested in, whether that be a trade, a gap year, or the traditional route of college, then they should look into it and pursue it. Central students have countless resources at their fingertips to help them find, apply, and attend the college that’s right for them. However, one aspect of college that may cause anxiety (or even deter people from attending) is the staggering cost. This begs the question, is college worth it? Deciding that is a very personal matter since it is YOUR future, not anyone else’s. With that being said, here’s a few experiences I’ve gathered from people in my life.
I’d like to start off by talking about a friend and former coworker who actually inspired me to write about this. When I met him, he was fresh out of high school and taking a gap year to work. My first thought was: “yeah okay, what’s the point in that?” 3 months later, my judgement quickly passed when he told me he’s quitting our job because he was hired by a construction company to run their projects around the country. Today, at only 19 years old and without a single college credit, he has a stable job, gets fully paid weekend trips home, and doesn’t have to pay for any living expenses.
Closer to home, there’s a girl studying cosmetology at the PolyTech program that Central offers. She’s never really enjoyed typical academic school, so it’s safe to say that she is thriving. A couple weeks back, I even trusted her to straighten my naturally curly hair. Her current plan is to finish the three year program at PolyTech, get her business degree, and eventually own her own salon. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s an incredible plan, especially for a 17-year-old.
Another example of going your own way is my mom. After high school, she didn’t go straight to college. She worked full time, got married, and eventually stayed home to raise my brother and me. Years later, she decided to go back to school and earn her associate degree. Two years of community college and a couple more of regular clerk experience later, and she is now manager of the radiology department at Coney Island hospital in New York. These three people are prime examples of how college isn’t all it’s hyped up to be and it’s certainly not the only way to achieve happiness and stability.
That being said, college is still the right choice for many people, including me. I’ve known what my path is since seventh grade. Sure, I’ve changed a few details, but the end goal has stayed the same. I’ve taken every psychology class Central has to offer. It’s not as hands-on as PolyTech, but it’s the closest thing to it. I plan to get my doctoral degree and become a clinical psychologist. That means several more years of school. Yes, I’m aware it’s expensive, but I think it’ll pay off in the long run, and for any passion, the hard work is worth it.
My brother is on a similar path; his dream is to become a defense attorney. This means he will need his bachelor’s degree and then will attend law school. At Central, he took Criminal Law, loved it, and is now majoring in criminology. He commutes to TCNJ a couple times a week. I couldn’t imagine him not living at home and I’m grateful everyday that he still does.
Another person who inspires me is my current coworker who has thankfully become an important person in my life. She’s one of the smartest people I know, so I was nothing but impressed when she told me her future plans. Sophomore year in honors biology, she loved the genetics unit. The punnet squares were her favorite, so her teacher told her there’s an actual career with them. Fast forward to her senior year, she’s going to be a genetic counselor. She would work at either a hospital or clinic and help patients with fertility issues. Since even the job title sounds smart, you can assume she has a couple years of school ahead of her. I asked her the specifics of her path and she explained she needs a bachelor’s undergraduate. She told me “I need a minor in psychology because it looks better, then I’ll get my masters degree, and it’s great because there’s no need for medical school.” I could tell she was excited for her plan just by the way her face lit up when presented with the opportunity to talk about it. My point is, whether it’s psychology, law, or medicine- college can be worth it. It’s all just a matter of what your goals and values are.
It’s also okay to not have it all figured out yet. The future can be scary. Even as a current junior, I know a lot of people who still shrug their shoulders when asked about their plans. For example, my blunt best friend recently asked me: “So how would you feel if I homeschooled senior year to study in Canada?” I looked at her with deep confusion, since the last time we discussed our future was two years ago when I called her crying at the thought of her leaving for college in general.
Overall, going to high school at Central is the first step of starting the rest of your life. I know some students say they feel uninformed about events or certain things that Central provides for a successful future. But I think the problem comes from not taking initiative. As I previously stated, nobody can control where you go in life except you, which is what I think Central tries to teach us by letting us take ownership of our own schedule and academic path. Everyone’s path is different and that’s okay. Whatever you plan to do is acceptable and valid, no matter how you decide to get there.
