What Am I Suppose To Do? by Philben

What Am I Suppose To Do? by Philben - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

"You are going to college!" says one high school student parent. "My child is going to be a doctor!" says another parent boastfully to another parent without consolidating with their child. "You need a high paying job and the only way to do that is with higher education!" says another parent to their highschool child. To all of these students, college is very important in fact, it's their whole future. Like the first statement made by the parent to their child, the student might not have a choice, or like the second he/she might already have expectations set for them. Then comes the third statement where the child is sort of pressured and limited to the options available can now only see through the lens of their parents. To decide whether or not college is important you would have to ask if one's decision immediately shapes one's future.
As most people know college readily puts most efforts into getting admission from students who are fresh out of high school and ready to learn. During this time students are expected to earn good grades, earn high scores on the SAT and ACT, and hopefully have been guided by counselors to take AP courses and pass those exams as well. More scholarship money is awarded to students who meet those relatively high requirements, essentially discouraging the lower end of the spectrum of students who are not able to get those high scores or take those classes. To them, college is not important because of loans and credit that all must be paid back, forcing them to stay and complete it all and hopefully have some of it forgiven or drop out and deal with the debt already collected. To students whose parents pay for it all through saving money, the student may feel a bit obligated to put their parent's money to good use and learn something.
Another type of student is one who knows what he or she wants to do in the future and decides to go to college. That student may look for the opportunities available at schools and how can they afford to go there. College is very important to them. College is not the only option for successful futures. Which some students might look at as a better option for them, as the military and vocation school.
If what you aspire to involve you to achieve higher education with no expectations then you must attend college and its importance will be at the top of your list. But if there is another way and it is less costly in your eyes then lean towards that side of the boat, in all you will reach your destination.