So..What are you going to be when you grow up?

Such an innocent question…that suddenly becomes very real at the end of high school.

The age-old rhetoric is spewed: that success = University.

Yes University Graduates  do in the long run make more financially.

But the path to success isn’t as simple as making it to University.

The first step is choosing a path of study.

You’ve taken all the career personality tests…

You’ve followed your passion…. You’ve followed your inherent skill set.

But have you considered ROI (Return on Investment)?

ROI 

How much debt will you take on over your 4 year study period?

How much will you be making right out of school?

How long will it take to pay off your loans?

What does the job market look like in your particular field?

Asking these questions is important….

it allows our youth to understand where they are heading & think about what it takes to get there…or even if it’s what they expected!

To many of the youth are getting lost down the university path.

“In fact, the institute of education statistics estimates that 40% of attendees at a four-year college drop out before completing their degree” 

&

“A whopping 64% take longer than four years to graduate”

Statistics taken from: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/why-you-should-consider-trade-school-instead-of-college/

….

Taking in this information you see that…

The vague statement of “I want to be a blank when I grow up”  with the notion that university = success;

Leaves out all the guidance and support to navigate on how to get from Point A to Point B.

Now of course, we have so many different kind of counselors at schools for this very reason.

But that leaves out all the students moving as numbers through the school factory that do not reach out to these counselors.

Even if parents could get through to their teenagers to teach them preparation…

It’s unlikely to stick because these are the first experiences of freedom for teenagers.

I think, with the money that you have to pay for your degree, there should be mandatory career/school counselling!

To help keep students on track.

…

This is just a couple of thoughts I’ve gathered through hindsight & research.

We are not giving our youth the proper prep work.

A person’s career path is hardly ever a straight line from point A to point B.

It is winding and sometimes our end path changes into point C or D.

I believe, teaching our youth to think of ROI, and by having mandatory counselling will help ensure success by giving them the skills to navigate their career path!

…

Thanks for reading!!

I would love to open up a discussion below if you have any further thoughts! 🙂

xoxo