Things aren't the way they used to be when it comes to higher education and pursuing the career of your dreams. The world around us has changed, when it comes to technology, global communication, competition, and so many other factors. College has become more expensive, but also more necessary for future success in the work place.
What do you see as the major issues your generation faces when it comes to college and careers? How are things different now than they have been in years and generations past? What is your plan for adapting to a changing society and world? What do you think will be most difficult? Exciting? Important?
I think that no matter what some one plans to do; go to college or just stop after highschool, they should complete highschool. I think that even no matter what job some one wants or what career some one dreams of having, graduation from highschool will give them a headstart when it comes to getting that job/starting that career.
ReplyDeleteI that in order to succeed in life these days; a High School diploma followed by a bachelors degree is the smartest choice. Our generation faces a few struggles not seen before along with many that have been apparent in the past. As the economy grows worse and worse school tuition and general fees are increased in order for the school to gain more income while they are losing money from the state funding. This in return creates a problem for students and families who are earning less because of pay cuts and spending more to send their child through college. In order to get ahead of the pack and keep in college instead of having to drop out scholarships are a necessity. Scholarships help give you money, some even renewing every year to help you financially through college. Also grants and student loans are great ways to keep yourself enrolled in college so you can better your education, in return giving you more job opportunities which may provide with more money. The most difficult part about this will be putting yourself through college, keeping your head straight, and applying yourself. Although this may be stressful it will be excited and give much gratitude to learn that all the hard work has paid off. The most important part of this is to make sure that you don't give up. Just because you don't earn one scholarship or don't qualify for a student loan or grant doesn't mean you want if you try for different scholarships or other programs offering grants and student loans. In order to succeed you must push on.
ReplyDeleteI also think that if you have the money and the time, get two different degree's. In today's world, getting and keeping a job is not easy; having two degree's not only is good for applying for the job you want, but also gives a backup career that some one can turn to if fired.
ReplyDeleteThe major issues I see that can be faced for my genration at Colfax High is the the lack of motivation. From what I have heard from many adults in their pasts, that they had a better idea on being independent and supporting themselves. Comparing that to how sheltered most kids at Colfax are, going into the real world will be a reality check. Prepearation for going away to college, is very little for me alone. I admit that I am one of these sheltered children. I depend on my parents for mostly everything. Some kids dont even make their own lunches, or attend to their own laundry. They better learn fast. My plan for stepping up to my life is to work on my own independence. I need to get a job and understand what its like to handle my own salary. I have no idea what its like to pay bills, let alone a tuition. Money issues will be the most difficult for my future. Keeping a solid job, and my school work will be a great challenge in my life. I have a feeling I will struggle alot with my time management also. However though the struggle is, college life is the most exciting part in my opinon. Having my own apartment, and being my own person is what im looking foward to. I plan on finding who I really am in college. I feel that working my hardest and acomplishing good grades, whilst having my own life, is the most importent part of my future college years.
ReplyDelete-Mary Garner
Block 3
I agree with Jimmy's statements about how the economy we are living in today makes it more challenging for many students to go to college. I also believe, however, that is entirely up to the student and the amount of will power they put toward their school work for what the future holds for them. Money is a huge issue for most families sending their kids off to college, but if you work hard enough during high school and engage in student activities and programs, you can get the support and financial aide you need to get a college education. My plan to adapt to the changing society and world is to take responsibility of myself and create more independence in my school work. Leaving my family and support system while attending college will be very difficult if I don't have confidence in myself and the work ethic to stay focused. Being on your own, taking college classes, and meeting new people will be extremely difficult without preparing yourself now. You need to be ready to take on the world on your own, which is both scary and exciting. I look forward to college, and plan to be ready for everything it has to offer.
ReplyDeleteObviously, college is the best choice overall. The major issues concerning our generation seem to be family and peer pressure, though the choice is entirely up to the individual. I think the message is still clear to most that college is the way to go if you want to have a successful future. In the past, college was still portrayed as an education that will make you more successful. However, I think that it was seen that college will make you more successful, but you could still be well off and support yourself and your family with just a modern high school diploma. As our world and society progresses and changes, that is no longer the best option. Now, and in the future, technology and competition for jobs has made it harder and harder to get jobs that require less education and focus more on manual labor and factory jobs. Machines are beginning to be able to do all of these tasks for us, making those jobs decrease more and more. For me personally, college has never been an "up in the air" topic as I became older. When I was younger I didn't want to go to college, but priorities change. You begin to realize that it is a necessity if you want to have a successful life. After all, with our society growing so rapidly, who knows what could happen in ten years from now. Going onto college for me will be difficult. The work load will triple in college making it hard to keep up with, but I know that I can do it and in the end, it will be well worth the time, sweat, and money. The college experience is something that I think most see as exciting, yet scary. Adapting is never easy. You have to keep with it and persevere through it. Overall, a college education is very important if you wish to succeed in life.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Mary Garner's post:
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I know that I am one of these "sheltered" children. Let's face it, I don't do my own laundry (You know that, that was directed towards me I'm sure.. haha). Though work will need to be done, I think that teenagers strive to be independent. No matter if it is in Colfax, America, or the World. It's just a part of being a teenager. You want to "be on your own". As I'm sure many can handle it, I think many think they can handle it, but don't realize the proper way of going about it. No one expects you to make a change or grow up over night. These things take time. They take effort. And most important, they take motivation and encouragement. A lot of people think of college as a road to success while not realizing the amount of work that needs to be put into it. They think it's all about parties every night. Though college does in fact have parties, you need to find a way to balance that with your schoolwork. After all, that is the reason while you go to college – to have a better education and make something of yourself. I think you put it perfectly when you said "reality check", as I'm sure that most, if not all, need some sort of one. But that's just my opinion.
I think that while you may not want to go to college after high school you should still have some job experience and find a job that suits your needs don't take any job that looks like it will pay high you may not know after high school so look to your interests and not just at the payroll because you can be miserable for the rest of your life if you pick a job you don't like.
ReplyDeleteCheyanne celoni
ReplyDeleteThird block
I think that the two major facts with the lack of college applicants is motivation and expense. College is hard work and expensive and people may get discouraged and decide to give up. With the expense people may not think that they can go to college but if they did research they would soon find that there are many places to get financial aid. I think that people need to plan ahead and prepare for what's going to come.
I would have to agree with Jimmy and Alexis's statements that due to the recent economy it makes it so much more difficult and challenging for students to go to college and obtain a higher education. It costs an excessive amount of money for tuition, books and supplies, and room and board, most students do not have this type of money and lately neither do the parents. The difference between or generation and ones in the past is that now a days going to college is the only way to be successful. In years past getting a higher education was not always the answer, many students could obtain an apprenticship or just start in the work force, but now it would be very unlikely. My plan to adapt to the changing society and world by taking on the responsibility myself by working and obtaining scholarships and grants to help pay for college. The most difficult part about going to college is not having my friends and family for support. I belive thatthe freedom and new responsibility will be extremely exciting;indeed, making new friends, being a college student, and becoming your own person. The most important thing is to be ready and not take this new freedom and use it in the negative; also, you have to be able to grow up alittle for mom and dad are most likely not going to be there (close by) for you. I hope that college lives up to the dream I imagine and I hope to succeed while there.
ReplyDeleteWhat i think will be most difficult/hard will be adapting to college life. At colfax, there arent as many college-prep classes as other schools in our area. Also, our high school classes dont necessarily prepare us for what college classes are like. Going from a small-town school to a huge college is a major difference. I dont feel like many of us are prepared to go to college and live on our own. As juniors, half of kids parents still do their laundry and dont make their children do chores. When these people go off to college, they will have absolutely no idea what to do on their own. Many students are very dependent on their parents. Not only will this be difficult in college, but classes now are alot harder than they have been in the past. With the economy the way it is, more and more jobs are being lost everyday, making it that much harder to get one. Many courses are being cut out of college because there isnt enough money to pay teachers/professors, and there isnt enough demand for certain careers out there. The competition in the job market today is exceedingly high. Hopefully problems will get resolved fast so by the time im out of college, i can get the job of being a doctor like i plan.
ReplyDeleteSarah H. said:
ReplyDeleteThe major issues that i think about when i think about my generation is the issue of the economy. Even though the economy has gotten better it is still suffering badly. When my generation is ready to start going to college or begin their lives with their new careers it is going to be very difficult because of the current circumstances. From previous generations it has been easier to make a living and survive because the standards were not set so high, but for my generation and all of the generations to come the competition is only going to get greater. See for this generation it is getting harder because there are limited jobs and there is a lot of competition, so it is like a double whammy! Because if we do not keep up and complete years and years of schooling, we are not going to have that great of a chance of becoming very successful non like the generations before us. My plan for this situation is to do as well in high school as i can so that i can get into a decent college and be successful in my life. My goal is to become radical at what i do and not have to worry too much about money issues, but just focus on life. I want to try and get as many grants and scholarships as possible so that it will be easier both on me and my family. It is going to be very difficult, but i think that in the long run it will be very exciting to get on with my life after high school and go through all of the obstacles that life gives me!
I feel that in today's world it is almost one of the most important things that you could do by going to college. I think that it is kind of stupid how now that it is more important to attend college that the cost has gone up by so much. Even though the cost has gone up in the long run it is by far worth it because after college you will be making more money then if you didn't attend a college and get a degree. It is very important for today's generation to go to college. Jobs are not easy to get in today's world and they will just be even harder to get if you don't have a college education.
ReplyDeleteThe economy has made college a hesitant option. More and more students are shoving away the idea of a valued college education because of the costs. However, college is something that will pay off in the end. Even though there is more competition than before and the standards are set high, we mustn't give up. I will fight to get my college education and reach my career goals. Sure, finding a job will be a challenge, but with the right drive and mind set, anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteOne of the major issues that nowadays generation faces are inability to choose a career path, linked with abundance of the profession world. People don't know what they're good at, and their parents, who probably switched a couple of jobs, let alone the college majors, can't help their kids anyhow except for saying 'it might be good/bad for you'. You can't rely on someone who is 20 or more years old than you because the world around is constantly changing. Another is issue is that adolescents who think that some kind of job suits them, may be discouraged by their parents or friends, as it doesn't suit them or their family have a 'generation by generation' tradition to specify in some certain field and so parents don't want their kids to be anyone else but a doctor, teacher or marine. Also, they might not be able to access the ways to pursue some certain career or they think they can't find a job with some particular degree they eventually get. There are lots of other personal issues which arise every time an individual tries to think about his future, too. Hopefully, all of the questions will be answered and less people will hate they everyday job.
ReplyDeleteThere have been numerous accounts in which a student was completely eligible to get into the college of their choice, but could not attend due to financial issues which have been the result of today's terrible economic downfall. Many other issues come into play when applying for colleges and hoping to be accepted, such as the ongoing issue of ethnicity. Ethnicity should not count against a person or act in a positive way when applying for colleges; however, there have been accounts when colleges picked a person who was a certain race so they could have more of a cultured college. One of the bigger problems for students that may not have been as big of a problem in the past, is that there is a significant increase in students applying for colleges in this era. Many people are raised where there parents have told them that after high school, college is the next step in life. This calls for a larger group of teens applying for college which then results in a more difficult and competitive application process. Although, this competition makes some students work even harder in high school to get good grades, be active in school clubs, and do whatever they can to 'one-up' the next person.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the best part about going to college will be to get away from this small town and move away to a place where there are many new people and experiences to be had. The most important part of adapting to a new society is to live with an open mind. If you go into the real world judging people and not being open to try new activities and befriend new people, there is a great chance that you will not be able to conform to the new place you live in and have a good time. College and the following career will be quite the adventure and there will be many hardships along the way, but as Jimmy said before me, one must never give up and always try their best to succeed.
Most likely one of the biggest problems my generation faces rite now is the issue of money. Our nation is in some serious debt which affects our schools, mainly our public schools. Now many students give up after high school is over. Many of them do not have money to continue on to higher education. Another major issue my generation of students face is a strong competitiveness in getting into the rite schools. There is also more of a stricter more strenuous process to receive scholarships or grants. In past generations there was not nearly as much competition or these tight of money problems. These all effect the way we live today. I plan on going to a community college and then moving on from there. Making sure i keep my grades up to help me with the competition out there in the world of education.
ReplyDeleteThe major issue is that it is hard to find a career without a college education but it is also hard to pay for college and that is why some people drop out. Years ago you could get a nice job that pays well without a college degree but now people need a college degree to get a decent job that pays well. I plan on going to college and at least getting a bachelors degree. I think the most difficult would be paying the debt of college, getting through college, and finding a good paying job. The most exciting is going to college and have that total experience of college. The most important would be getting my degree, getting a job after college, than paying off the debt.
ReplyDeleteI think the most major reason that our generation faces is mostly because of the economy. Everything is going up in prices so college isn’t attainable as it was 10 years ago. Our generation has noticed that and because of that they try to find another way to make a lot of money and not put all the moneys worth to go to college. Kids our generation also realizes that a lot of cannot make it financially anymore even with a college degree. The most money making job is mostly in technology and a lot of kids either are not smart enough or are not interested in technology at all. Kids do have the effort to push themselves to a higher education but its not the only thing that will guaranty you into having a steady job in the future or even going to college. Because of that reason the see no way of even trying to go to college.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest issues our generation faces is the economy. Although the war is "supposibly" over, I do not believe that this will lessen the stress with in the debt out nation is in. The debts that our nation has effects the newly graduates after high school to either give up on trying to make it into college or go into debt from trying. This many times happens because of the money issue, even though you can get grants and loans from the state it still doesn’t take care of the whole situation of college. There are always more expenses. Although if you work really hard in high school keeping your grades up and taking advanced or college prep classes you may be eligible for a full ride scholarship. This encourages me to try my best so one day I may be eligible for these advantages. Another major issue my generation faces is the stress of getting into the best school. Now you have to compete with others just to get the highest quality of learning at the best of best schools. Not all may be accepted to all colleges therefore meaning your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores were not high enough to meet there requirements, this is why it is important to study and make the most of high school while you don’t have to PAY for it by yourself. Money issues I believe will be the most of my troubles in the future. Therefore meaning I will need to keep up with all my schoolwork while having a steady job to pay for all my bills. Schooling will be very stressful and long to be a registered nurse, but in the end I think it will be worth my time when i end up with a good paying job that I love. What I think will be most exciting is getting the full action of the "college life." I hope that college is all that everyone says it is and it turns out amazing for me!
ReplyDeleteI think the major issues when going to college and focusing on our careers is all the money problems that people are going to have to deal with. The economy has erratically decreased causing the cost of college and many other things to increase. This has become a major issue for unemployed parents because they may not have enough money to send their kid's away to get a good education. This is sad because in order to succeed in life, an education needs to be involved unless you plan on living on the street. There have many many changes throughout the generations and there also have been some similarities. The differences mostly lie in the cost of everything. It is all so expensive now because the economy hasn't controlled anything. Some similarities are the amount of applications towards all the schools. Many kids have applied and been accepted but others haven't and that's something that hasn't changed throughout the years. The new world of college and adapting to it will be good for me because it will allow me to pretty much start a new life. What will be hard for me is making some new friends because I am not a very social person but eventually it will be easier. One of my most important goals that I am planning to keep while I'm away is to still keep in close contact with all my family and my high school friends. At the same time, I will mostly be focusing on my major and career and, if I play a sport, then that will definelty be another thing that I will apply myself too 100%. I am really excited to start a new experience in college because I have been around the same town for a long time and because it is so small, everyone knows everything about everyone, so going away will be a good start for me.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the economy is the main issue with people's decisions to go to college or not. Back in our parents generation, kids would not go to college because they didn't want to. But, nowadays kids don't go to college because they can't afford the skyrocketing expenses that a good college education entails. I believe that getting that bachelors degree and that good career will pay off in the long run. But, most are not willing to take that risk, which is completely understandable. The plan of action that people should take is to research which college options will be the most affordable and also the best education they can find. This will include many long hours of hard work but it will pay off when you aren't using your parent's and/or your life's savings to pay for one year of tuition at a university. Also, it is a good idea to apply for financial aid and grants as much as possible in order to lessen the cost. Good decisions in the beginning of your college education will help to avoid spending loads of money. Having that great career, exceptional college education, and money in your pockets will pay off all of the hard work spent.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest issue by far with teens wanting to attend college after high school would be the money problems. Our economy had definately taken a huge fall from generations before. My parents both went to four year colleges right out of high school with descent grades and not much money at all. Kids these days cant afford an apartment, let alone books, classes, tuition and all the extras. Although college is very expensive, it is much worth it in the long run. People who go to college are more successful i life then someone who slacked off their teenage years and got a part time job out of high school. You may be paying off student loans until your dead, but atleast you have a good roof over your head and a solid job to fall back on. College is a whole new experience then anything we have ever been through. All us high school students have only known one thing, and that is going to school monday through friday at seven in the morning till three. We have grown up and learned to deal with this life style. Moving out and gaining independence by living on our own and pushing ourselves throught the rest of our days is something we have never been through. College is a scary thought but is also the better decision in the long run, we need to learn to grow up sometime.
ReplyDeleteUGRH this blog has deleted my comment 3 times! What the heck! Anyways i think that the biggest problems for potential College students are means and money. Many students have aspirations and dreams of going to college and becoming succesful but it takes alot of hard work. Colleges look at everything from grades to behavior. So if you want to get into college, generally you have to satisfy their criteria, which sometimes can be a tallorder.And second this economy is so bad right now that the proces of everythings price has shot through the roof. This makes it extemely difficult to obtain entry into college. I think the thing thats different toay than in the past is that today; we have thousands of more people in and applying for college. To survive the chaning world i will adapt and become what is neccesary at that current point in time. I think the most exciting thing is finally starting college and the scariest thing would be the same.
ReplyDeleteToday in our generation finding a good, reliable job that pays well is hard for anyone to find even with a bachelors degree. Though no matter what having any degree in college will be better for a person in the long run. Now days though many students wanting to attend college find out they can’t due to the prices being raised. Even though they can receive scholarships or student loans it seems it is not worth it especially for the people who can barely make enough money to pay for rent or food. But today it seems having a degree will help you strive in our society and make a better living for yourself. Pushing yourself to go to college and get a good degree seems to be the right and smart thing to do.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard for our generation to find a good paying job that they enhoy for years in the future. Going to college is the first step and so many people can't afford it. Colleges are getting more and more expensive and this cuts back on students. Scholarships will be very helpfull for most students that want to attend college. More scholarships are being made each year to encourage the students of today attend college. I think the most difficult thing will be finding the money for college. It will be exciteing searching for the right college and future career.It is important to reaserch a career that is stable and will be able to support you in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think that one of the major isssues that this country faces involving colleges is the debt factor. Most people can't just go off to college and pay it off in a week. Lower financial familys whos children go off to college take a very long time to pay off their college loans. I agree with shannons post because of the fact that some people don't even try to go college because they or their familys can't afford it. The cost of college has gone up much that like I said earlier people are just giving up on the idea of going to college and not even trying to get into even a community college. When people can get into a good college they have a better chance of getting a good job and contributing to society. People that can't get into college they have a lower chance of getting a job. If college cost less so that everyone could go and then later go on and get a job it would help society alot. Kirsten Beninga Block: 3
ReplyDeleteZoe C. said:
ReplyDeleteI believe, that yes, going to college is a smart choice! Although costs are expensive, in the end the education can help you in the long run. Yes it is true that many people that have not attended college have lived a good life, gotten a well paying job and all that. But mainly the percentage of people that attend a college and get their bachelor degrees can get a well paying job so they can live a good life own a home and such. One of the reasons some people do not attend college is because of money, it is too expensive for them to be able to send their children away to college. This leads to people not being able to get that college experience. Basically, the most difficult part of getting into college for most people is the money! With this economy, its almost hopeless for some people. College is a tuff situation for many people.
Marcella T. said:
ReplyDeleteI believe that the major issue that gets in the way of a student deciding to expand their education, is money. In our generation, costs have grown in such a dramatic way. Going to school and pursuing our dream job is out of some our reaches due to the financial struggle that it takes. Also, another issue is motivation. Some students parents have not gone to college and are financial stable. Although this is rare, many think that they can do the same thing by not going to school. This by far is not a smart move at all. I plan to go to college right after high school and do whatever I have to in order to complete my dreams. I believe the most challenging thing will be adjusting to the different life style that I will have to take on; along with the responsibilities. To me, this is very exciting and important.
I believe that the major struggles of our generation is that too many students think that they can go to college with no problem at all and get a great job right out of college. The truth is whatever career choice you have chosen it isnt a s easy as it seems. You first have to have enough money to even get through college. And then you have to deal with getting a job. You have to look at the outlook on the career you want. If you go through college but then cant get a job then it is kind of a waste of money and time.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion money is one of the biggest issues getting in the way of education. If it is not money then it would have to be drive. Truth is, most of today's teens are just, to be simply put, lazy. Many people that I have met have heard of the ways to get around having no money or not being accepted to the right college but they believe doing so would be too much work. American citizens all believe in the grand idea of growing up, getting married, traveling around the world, and basically achieving all of life's dreams. This is everyone's American Dream and it is perfectly possible (alliteration). We just don't realize the work it would take to be accomplished. Things have gone downhill lately. I believe that the reason so many people are choosing against college now is because of the economy. Most families do not have enough to help their children go to university. I plan on doing everything in my power to attend University after high school. I am willing to work for the extra money, apply for as many scholarships as possible, apply for grants, and anything else it takes to get me there. The most important thing for me to do is to not loose focus. The most exciting is for me to move on to a new area filled with new people and encounter new experiences.
ReplyDeletein the world of 2010 technology has begun to rule as a "work force." this simply means that instead of having 200 workers assembling cars, we have 20 highly trained workers monitoring the giant machine doing the job for us. (not to mention jobs overseas) through this we loose hundreds of jobs and gain a few that require more education, thus increasing the necessity to go to college. luckily we have grown up in this technology age and are used to this idea rather than witnessing vast changes mid-career. more than likely however sometime during our lifetime a new breakthrough will emerge and change the world. the best way to adapt and prepare for these changes is to go to college and get a career in which you cannot be replaced by technology or you create the technology. but do not forget what kenny said about finding a career that makes you happy. i only suggest that it be in one of these two fields.
ReplyDelete-Joseph Rogers
I think that the largest obstacle getting in the way of an education is the state of the economy. The cost of college continues to increase while people have less and less money. I think that if possible, teens should try to pursue a college education because you need some type of education after high school to succeed in life. A high school diploma alone won't cut it in today's society. Many families don't even consider sending their children away to college because they simply do not have the money for it. I think that if teens are not able to go to college, they should try to receive a higher education in some other way; trade schools and apprenticeships are reasonable secondary options. In today's economy going to college is a difficult situation for most families.
ReplyDeleteweather you finnish high school with a diploma, go to college after high school, or dropout of high school is up to you as an individual. but i believe the smartest thing to do is to finnish high school and go to college for at least a year or two. if you just have some sort of college education it is easier to find a good job. something better than flipping burgers for the rest of your life. with all the new technology we have today, looking for a job is much harder than it was before. we have all these new machines that can do our jobs. for many families paying for college is an issue. but in the end i believe its always worth spending money on. its up to you what you want to do with your life, how far you want to go with your education; but if you want to get a decent job, you will need the education.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the major issues that my generation faces when it comes to college is that many more people are trying to get in because they know the importance of a college education. That means that more people are qualified for the same job so that makes it harder to stand out in a crowd. Now, only the best of the best will get jobs in even simple jobs that may not necessarily need a college level education. Which leads me to how things are different now than they used to be. Things have changed significantly by more people are trying to attend college and that means more people are going so that means that companies almost expect people to have a college degree which doesn't allow for people that are more qualified than other look to be so. This being said, my plan to adapt to a changing society is to just prove myself to be more qualified than the average Joe by trying to achieve top grades. I believe that getting high grades will be the most difficult aspect because college is significantly different than high school and elementary school and you are required to be more responsible. On this note, I think the most exciting part will be the college life; meeting new people, taking challenging classes that I actually like, and starting to be more self dependent. Finally, the most important part is to actually graduate. This is, well, obviously essential in proving that I am more responsible, reliable, and qualified than the rest and excel in the job I choose to pursue.
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