The Future of Education: Expanding Choice and Real-World Preparation by Ashton

The Future of Education: Expanding Choice and Real-World Preparation by Ashton - September 2025 Scholarship Essay

The most challenging part of my education has always been not having a real choice in what I wanted to study. I understand that schools need standard curriculums, but as I got older, I started to feel the limitations more. In high school, once I was finally at the age where I could choose my own classes, many of the options didn’t interest me. The classes I did want to take either weren’t available at my school or were only offered at the career center, and even there, the opportunities didn’t always line up with my goals. For example, when I was in 10th grade, I was interested in taking classes at the career center, but most of what they offered wasn’t relevant to the field I wanted to pursue. That left me wishing schools offered a wider variety of classes—something closer to what colleges do—so students could explore their interests earlier and build a stronger sense of direction before graduation.
If education is going to change in the next 10 years, I hope to see high schools expand their course offerings in a meaningful way. Imagine if students could take classes in psychology, business, health sciences, or graphic design before even stepping foot on a college campus. I believe this would not only make school more engaging, but it would also give students a clearer picture of what they enjoy, what they are good at, and what careers might actually suit them. Too often, students graduate still unsure of what they want to do, partly because they haven’t had the chance to explore their passions in an academic setting. Having access to a wider range of classes earlier could change that.
Another change I hope to see is more focus on real-world readiness. Right now, I don’t think students are truly prepared for what comes after high school. Kids go from being required to attend school for long hours every day, to suddenly having the freedom to choose their next steps—but without the skills or experiences to guide them. Many students leave high school still unsure of how to manage money, apply for jobs, or even figure out what they want to do in life. Over the next decade, I would love to see schools emphasize practical skills like financial literacy, communication, and problem-solving, as well as provide more opportunities for things like internships, job shadowing, and project-based learning. These experiences would help students connect what they are learning in the classroom to the world they will soon enter.
At the same time, I don’t think change is just about academics. One of the things that really helped me grow in high school was having access to counselors and advisors who weren’t just there to talk about grades or schedules—they were also people I could turn to about the hardships I faced. They helped guide me not only in my education, but also in my life. Their support made me feel less alone and gave me confidence in my choices about higher education. Ten years from now, I hope schools will invest more in counselors and mentoring programs so that every student has someone they can trust to walk alongside them. If every student had that kind of support system, I think the transition from high school to adulthood would feel a lot less overwhelming.
Looking ahead, the changes I hope to see in education all come back to one main idea: preparing students for life, not just for tests. Schools should give students more freedom to explore their interests, provide real-world experiences that connect learning to future careers, and make sure every student has access to supportive relationships. If those changes happen over the next 10 years, I believe students will graduate not only more confident in their futures, but also more capable of contributing to their communities in meaningful ways.