Importance Of Not Going To College

High school graduation marks the start of young adults’ lives, a time where they are expected to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Many young adults are pressured into attending college, whether they have determined their goal or not, but is it necessary? “The Case Against College,” an article written by Linda Lee, a mother who has questioned the former belief that college equals success, claims that “not everyone needs a higher education.” College, though beneficial to many, is not for everyone and should not determine an individual’s life.

The article, Not going to College is a Viable Option, written by Lawrence B. Schlack displays the possible alternatives and outcomes of going to college. With the help of ethos, from a former superintendent, Schlack uses his own self as a credible source by providing examples of what he has experienced and witnessed throughout the course of his work. Schlack appeals to the audience on a personal level by exploiting the weakness of high school graduates, who don’t know what they want to study when attending college. Granted, Schlack uses logic to reason with the audience on why not going to college is a viable option. However, with the lack of credibility, facts, and statistics, Schlacks article is not effectively persuasive on reasons why

Lawrence B. Schlake, author of the article Not Going To College Is A Viable Option, suggest that there are many different opportunities that can lead to further success in life other than attending college. Throughout the article, Schlake references the European “gap year” and numerous other reliable options instead of college. As a superintendent, Mr. Schlake is a credible source when it comes to dealing with students entering the workforce or exploring career opportunities. The use of persuasive techniques and evidence displayed throughout the article is very effective in persuading the reader that college isn’t suited for everyone.

When it comes to embarking on post secondary education the views of it’s importance and relevance is controversial. In Murray’s Op-Ed piece, “Should The Obama Generation Drop Out”, he believes a college education is unnecessary. I, however disagree with Murray’s notion. College is necessary according to a person’s career choice and it’s requirements.

Graduating from high school is a milestone that forces one to make major life decisions. Whether you are ready or not to make those decisions is irrelevant; choices must be made and and steps must be taken in a new direction. In his article, “Not Going to College is a Viable Option,” former Superintendent Lawrence Schlack states, “high school doesn’t always prepare students to answer these important questions” (13). Schlack argues that too many students are told that college is their only option and they are made to feel failures if they don’t want to attend college. I am thankful for Schlack’s article because it validated my choice not to attend college right after high school. I plan to pursue a career as a diesel mechanic. My goal is to

“I’ve seen too many high school graduates who have gone off to college in September but are back home with mom and dad in December. And I’ve seen those who have made it through the first year but transferred back home to a community college for the second.” Lawrence B Schlack is a retired superintendent who strongly protests the idea that college is the only path to success and encourages students to take their time to decide whether or not they are ready to move on into the real world. In this generation, teenagers are made to think that without college, it is impossible to live a successful and prosperous life. Schlack claims that there are many paths to a successful life, and that seniors who can’t declare they are college bound are made to feel like failures. Schlack firmly supports his claims with multiple facts, examples, and statistics.

My opening movement revolved around the theme that college was a lost path, however it was the path I desired to endure to give back to my parents. Growing up in a Hispanic community, I was raised with a preconceived notion that college was not vital for my future. It was merely an alternative path to choose from. No one in my family had received anything higher than a high school diploma. Consequently, I lacked motivation to go to college. All I knew was that I didn’t want to struggle with an

My generation was told we could do anything we put our minds to. And if we wanted good high paying jobs we would have to get a good education. But over the years I’ve noticed that maybe that’s not completely true. Many jobs now of days do not require a college education just a high school diploma.

“Every year, over 1.2 million students drop out of high school in the United States alone. That's a student every 26 seconds – or 7,000 a day. 25% of high school freshmen fail to graduate from high school on time.” But this year, as I talked to my fellow seniors about their future plans, I never once heard, “I’m not going to college.”

Today, many students are settling for jobs immediately out of high school instead of furthering their education in college. Students should consider how necessary college actually is for their lives in the future. It provides one with a significant amount of opportunities, a greater knowledge about their career plan, and a better sense of responsibility.

Why go to college is a question many people debate with. The majority of people are not aware of the substantial benefits of attending college. With the rapid shift in today’s economy having a college degree is a major key. According to article written by Fatou Faal, “The United States has been transformed from manufacturing-based economy to an economy based on knowledge, and the importance of a college education can be compared to that of a high school diploma education forty years ago.” The benefits of college prepare and shape you for today’s world.

If I continue my education I will be the first in my family to go to college after high school.

INTRO: How necessary is a college education? College is now a day’s looked at as a synonym for success (Doyne), while a diploma wasn’t a piece of paper but it was an amulet (Doyne).

I had the opportunity to be part of a program at OSU called the Oregon Migrant Leadership Institute (OMLI), where I meet so many wonderful people with more or less the same background as me and whom I easily connected to.

For many, after graduating high school the next big step is college. I never asked myself why or if I even wanted to. Yet, since I was not yet ready to join the work force, and didn’t want to disappoint my parents, I simply followed the path that I was supposed to take. For a while I had no direction, but through the loss of my high school English teacher and my dream of making my family proud, I discovered that college was the place I wanted and needed to be.