College is not for everyone

It was on the way back from watching my cousin graduate from high school that I had an epiphany while talking with my aunt. We were discussing what colleges Sam (my cousin) was accepted to and what he was planning to major in. Sam is incredibly intelligent, with knowledge about almost everything ranging from the Electoral College to grizzly bears. Of course I did not even have to ask the question to know that he was on track to go to a university. My epiphany came when I realized that not everyone could or even wanted to pursue higher education.

I wrestled with the concept. Not go to college?? How would you make a living? High school is not enough education to thrive in the real world! It perplexed me to no end and until now I have not had a chance to really explain why.

I have always loved to learn. In second grade when my mom asked my teacher if I could have extra homework because I was so interested in the material and she declined, I cried like a baby. I was constantly asking questions, exploring topics deeper than just what was taught in class, and I loved to read.

For me, more school was an obvious choice when I was confronted with high school graduation. For some, it was a job working construction for $13 an hour. For others, it was the maritime academy so they could work on boats. There were also people who decided to go into the military after high school. I admit that for a while I did not understand how anyone could think there was a different option than going to a university, it seemed like the next logical step. Being in the car with my aunt after Sam’s graduation that day was an eye-opener.

My aunt explained to me that without people working the minimum wage jobs, we would have not a lot of the restaurants, retail stores, or movie theatres that we have now. Without people that are willing to get their hands dirty, we would not have the houses, roads, or offices that we have now. Without the drive of our soldiers, we would not have an army to protect us. So while going to college was the obvious and best choice for me personally, I now understand that college is not for everyone. We need citizens to expand our infrastructure, fight our battles, and keep us happy. Without them, most of the white-collar jobs that require a college education would not even be available in the first place: like the CEOs of major chain restaurants or the owners of massive construction companies.

So for those of you that went to college, congratulations because there are numerous benefits to affirm your choice. For those who were deterred from higher education to pursue a different dream entirely, congratulations as well, because the best thing about this country is our freedom to choose. And there is no wrong decision when it comes to this choice.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FOR THE ODYSSEY