A Problem of Preparation by Daniel

A Problem of Preparation by Daniel - January 2023 Scholarship Essay

Education is an outlet for opportunity. It is a pathway of preparation for adulthood, teaching you not only what to know but how to know it, and equipping you to successfully take your place in the world.

At least, that is its intention.

Last year, my senior year of high school, my friends and I were all faced with a dilemma: what to do after high school. Almost all of us wanted to attend college, but for what degree? What career should we pursue? And how would we know it was the right one?

I struggled with this problem a great deal throughout my senior year and during the summer leading into my freshman year of college. So did most of my friends. My friends who thought they had discovered their major ended up switching within the first semester. We were all intelligent, capable, and skilled students who did well in high school, but in reality, we were unprepared for the next step in our lives.

This situation was not unique to us. Students all across the country struggle with what to do after high school, and countless tests and questionnaires have been created for students to help them identify their skills and interests. Many of these students over-achieve in high school, taking several AP courses, with GPAs far above 4.0, and yet they do not know how to translate their intelligence and work ethic into a major that will suit them.

Every student should be prepared for what awaits them after college. Unfortunately, traditional classes are not designed for this. I believe that every high school student should have a “Careers Exposure” class that allows students to understand the details of different careers and give them a glimpse of what it would look like to live out those careers for themselves. I think it would be beneficial for students to also be able to witness people in these professions at work if possible and hear from them about their jobs.

I believe that a class like this will help students be knowledgeable about their future career options and allow them to make more informed decisions about their next step after high school.