Higher education in the form of colleges and universities is likely the most common path students choose to follow in school. This stems from the common misconception that attending college guarantees a more prosperous future. The truth is that a college degree isn’t necessarily a ticket to a good life.
This comes in tandem with other options Eagle High seniors are now choosing over college. A great example of this is senior Joseph Hughes, who decided to go into the Navy over attending college.
Hughes decided to enlist in the Navy back when he was a junior in high school, coming to this decision because of his academic struggles in school and time spent at a military academy
“I’m not a huge fan of school; I’m not one that excels at school… I end up going to a military academy for about half a year, and I found that I really enjoyed the military structure,” said Hughes. Hughes also expressed the benefits the military brings to him.
“You get actual job experience… My MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) submarine electronic computer field… the experience I will get in the navy will get me a way better job in the future,” Hughes said. The firsthand job experience he will be getting in the navy isn’t the only benefit.
The GI bill is a benefit that veterans gain access to after they exit the military. Its main use is funding college tuition for veterans. This removes one of the main problems with college, which is the cost. If the veteran doesn’t wish to go to college, then they can save it and give it to their children.
“My general belief is that college isn’t for everybody,” Hughes said.“ The degree you get in colleges doesn’t translate to the job you’re going to get.” This belief comes from his own experiences throughout his life as well as what the people around him have gone through.
The military isn’t the only alternative to college. Trades like welding are also an option, but Hughes’ story is a great example of life paths that don’t require one to attend college.
This isn’t to say college is useless. In fact, there is data to support the idea that college students make more than people that didn’t attend college.
According to www.bls.gov, as of 2024 people with a bachelor’s degree earn a median $1,546 per week, while people with just a high school diploma make a median of $930.
This data isn’t totally telling as it doesn’t include several major factors, including the types of degrees people are getting and people’s initial investment.
There are many paths people can go down when exiting high school, and no one path is perfect. But the idea that college should be the goal for every student is false.
