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There was a recent thread about community college, and the fact that many students who enroll aren't ready. A few people commented that those students are better off starting work in a menial job rather than going to college, then possibly entering the same menial job.
Suppose that you're 16, barely passing high school, and have to decide between going to community college and starting to work. Which option would you personally choose? I know that I would never, under any circumstances, choose the second option. It's very emotionally difficult for a teen to accept that in a world of opportunities, and at an age when every career option seems wide open, that he's destined to be in the lower class of society. It's very depressing to have to think, "I could have become a scientist; I could have become a businessman; I could be the next Bill Gates. I could have made a contribution to society, but instead, I'm a janitor who just gave up the last chance I had at education." The temptation--or rather, desperation--to hold on to every possible opportunity is overwhelming.
I don't know how to articulate this feeling clearly. If you don't know what this feeling is like, the best analogy I can give is receiving a life sentence in prison. Parole is always possible, but you have no idea when, or how likely you'll be to get out. All of a sudden, your life becomes bleak and uncertain, with doors of opportunity closing every passing day.
I'm curious about whether you guys would have the same feelings, or make the same decision. Fortunately, it's not a decision I have to make; I'm not failing, and all of this is hypothetical.
Suppose that you're 16, barely passing high school, and have to decide between going to community college and starting to work. Which option would you personally choose? I know that I would never, under any circumstances, choose the second option. It's very emotionally difficult for a teen to accept that in a world of opportunities, and at an age when every career option seems wide open, that he's destined to be in the lower class of society. It's very depressing to have to think, "I could have become a scientist; I could have become a businessman; I could be the next Bill Gates. I could have made a contribution to society, but instead, I'm a janitor who just gave up the last chance I had at education." The temptation--or rather, desperation--to hold on to every possible opportunity is overwhelming.
I don't know how to articulate this feeling clearly. If you don't know what this feeling is like, the best analogy I can give is receiving a life sentence in prison. Parole is always possible, but you have no idea when, or how likely you'll be to get out. All of a sudden, your life becomes bleak and uncertain, with doors of opportunity closing every passing day.
I'm curious about whether you guys would have the same feelings, or make the same decision. Fortunately, it's not a decision I have to make; I'm not failing, and all of this is hypothetical.