The College Monster by Kayli

The College Monster by Kayli - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

Ah, college. What every high school senior dreams of, right?
Wrong.
College is great, and for me, it is essential, but it is not for everyone.
My parents had me at the age of 22, and when my mother left college, her life improved drastically. Now, she could take care of me, work, and put her family first. For this, I am eternally grateful, but I can tell that she wishes she completed her college journey. Her story is all too familiar on campuses nationwide. From the moment we enter the school system at age 5, with our bright eyes and hopeful smiles, we are told to dim our eyes to everything but one: college. College is the outcome of playing into the system; we take the tests, pay for the applications, write the extra essays, wish upon the stars. By the time "application season" arrives, college is not every seniors' dream, it is our nightmare. On top of taking high school classes grooming us for college, we are expected to do the applications entirely on our own. And for those who do not wish to extend their education, they are blacklisted by their own high school, with every single collegiate event hinging on the words of every 4-year institution they can find. 2-year institutions, vocational schools, and any other type of post-secondary education are considered "college", but any high school senior will be hard-pressed to find any information about these vital parts of society. Less than a quarter of jobs require a bachelor's degree. Our world needs plumbers, welders, nurses, carpenters, and more.
The COVID-19 epidemic only furthers the necessity for these programs. Many jobs requiring Bachelor's Degrees have been sent home, but the graduates of these "less than" schools--and even people who did not pursue higher education at all--are keeping the world running in the midst of the chaos. College lives in this mist of credibility that makes it inaccessible for many lower-income students.

For these people, college is a monster. It bares its teeth and beckons us to join. For some, the monster is on their side, but for many, it is not. College as an institution thrives on the illusion of cultural importance when, in reality, it is a moneymaking pool where all of the players lose.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT COLLEGE IS UNIMPORTANT. Potential employers look highly upon college degrees, and, if college does not put you too far into debt, you will be making more than the average person.
The conversation around college needs to change. High schools need to place importance on what is best for the individual's goals, dreams, and where they will best be prepared for a job and life. College is not the end, college is a new beginning--a beginning of adulthood and career preparation, just as high school should be. College was never meant to be a monster, it was meant to be an inviting friend, an experience designed for each and every student that walks through its doors. Who knows? Letting a student decide their experience may just lead to happier, healthier individuals in the long run, even if traditional colleges will not profit quite as much. My mother recognizes the mark college left on her life, but it never defined her. She chose what defines her. She chose me. In choosing to find happiness, she beat the college system, despite never having a graduation. Emphasize the importance of all types of education, and the output will look better for not just the average high school senior, but for humanity.