I think that telling kids they can be whatever they want in life is a positive thing. Telling all kids they should go to a university and pursue higher education. Terrible idea. They can be whatever they want but that may not make them much money. (Especially if they get into debt going to a university.) That's what we should say.
To give a bit about my background. I am graduating this year with my bachelor's degree from a university in the U.S. I could have received it in four or five years, but I decided to take it slow, study what I wanted and six years later, I am getting my four-year degree. I've worked at the tutoring center there for five years which also gives me some more perspective. When I am finished, I will have $40,000+ in debt with daily interest accruing. (A small amount compared to most U.S. college students.) Also, my parents took a $7,000 loan out for my education and have helped support me throughout the whole experience. I have always had one job, two jobs for most of it and even three jobs at one point and have been poor as fuck.
I am getting a degree in city planning which will get me $17-$27 per hour ($31,000- $49,000 per year) when I graduate IF and WHEN I can get into an entry level job in my field. Minimum wage in my state in the U.S. is quite low at $7.25/ hr. I've worked for this slave wage at many jobs. These days, it is hard to get $7.25/hr jobs without graduating high school.
Enough about me though. You guys are right, many degrees cost buttloads of money and do not allow the graduates to earn much at all in their field. Additionally, they allow 18 year olds to sign a paper saying they will pay back thousands of dollars in four years, or whenever they drop out. Some people have moral struggles about whether or not they should masturbate at 18 and they are asked to make that kind of commitment.
The truth is that not everyone is smart enough for academia, even fewer are disciplined enough, and an incredible amount of people can never do their best when they get into college because they struggle just trying to eat, have confidence, pay rent and survive daily life.
That's three qualifiers right there and I could go on.
I would tell my kids definitely DO NOT go to college right after graduating high school. First try living on your own, see how that is, get into that rhythm. During that time volunteer for things you like, go on road trips, find out who you are, do some drugs, haha. Become confident in who you are, what you are good at, and what you like and try your best to support yourself.
THEN consider going to a technical school or vocational college where they actually teach you real job skills, not just theory and history.
If you are pretty sure you want to be a doctor, geologist, engineer, or something that requires a higher degree, then go for it.
That's how it should be done. Instead, most kids are rushed into college right after high school not knowing themselves or what they want to do or what life is like supporting themselves. They decide what they want to do while they are in college, switching majors which is costly. Now, they are pushing to get rid of the first two years of general classes needed for a bachelor's degree. So, the time they have to make a thousands of dollars decision is even shorter. Its scary and insane.
I know that was a shitload of text, but humans are insecure and self conscious as it is and the education system in the U.S. is set up to get you into debt and make you feel shitty about yourself if you can't cut it at a university. So, you can be poor and insecure.
