As if it wasn't difficult enough having to deal with hitting puberty, changing hormones, growth spurts, awkward and uncomfortable physiological and psychological changes all coalescing like never before while at the same time dealing with cool clothes, bullies, mean girls, social status, clicks, gangs, alcohol, drugs, sex, parties, and Facebook updates. Then having to navigate life while doing homework, studying, playing ball, cheerleading, dealing with irate teachers, irritable administrators, untrusting parents, and a society that just doesn’t understand, I am amazed students have anything to look forward to other than graduation day or dropping out to get away from the convoluted life of high school.
Surprisingly after graduation the majority of students I come across haven’t even dabbled in the idea of what college is, why it is so important, where a college is, or what is required to get there. To put the cherry on top, parents blame them, teachers blame them, and society blames them for not knowing better. So whose fault is it anyway? Please tell me why we blame these young students for not knowing the importance of college? Especially when many have been lead to believe college is not for them. And to top the cherry with a cherry, this past weekend I called an inner city Phoenix High School to ask for time to recruit students for college and the response was, “sorry they just don’t have the time.” They don’t have the time?…Really?…high school students are too busy to make time for college? Well I guess that answers that.
And again, who’s fault is it?
Hopefully in the case of the Phoenix high school it was more the case that you were talking to the wrong person rather then they wouldn't enjoy college reps visiting.
ReplyDeleteIn general though I've come to understand that students who are in lower income public schooling are not aware of the wide array of post high school schooling and training that is available to them besides "COLLEGE."
What a sad commentary and a real injustice to the youth of america. I am a bit surprised that more kids don't have a better idea about the importance of higher education. In my opinion it really starts and ends with the parents.
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