After high school, graduates are given many different choices to make for their future. Some include: going to college, entering the military, trade school, entering the job force, or not doing anything. The best route to take after high school is going to college or another form of education such as trade school or community college.
According to an article from the New York Times, 65.9% of high school graduates opt to go to college. This statistic has been falling over the last year. According to the same article, about 50% of those high schoolers who did not continue onto college ended up in the labor force with a job or actively searching for employment.
“It’s important for high school graduates to get out and experience more because it not only gives them relationships and knowledge that they can use in a future career, but it also allows them to form their own opinions and forge their own life away from their comfort zone,” said Sydney Bowman 18’.
The reality of being a part of the workforce is the cost of living and making sure a job can keep up with those demands. The cost of living increases every year and minimum wage does not increase with it. It’s important to see that and try to work towards a job with salary based payment. Most jobs that are salary based require some sort of college degree like an associates degree or a bachelor’s degree.
For people that don’t want to live paycheck to paycheck in your future, college is the best option. There are many different types of places someone can choose from. Trade schools are great for learning a trade such as plumbing, construction, or becoming an electrician. One can go into a community or junior college and earn an associates degree. One could instead choose to go to a four-year university or college. In each of these institutions, there is another layer of choices for someone to choose from with majors and other related things.
High school doesn’t last forever and it’s never too early to start planning for the future. College is a great option, but it’s not the only one out there. It’s important to choose a path where you feel comfortable while taking into account the reality of living in this society.