Is it just me or
does it seem to be a lack of expectation in this world? Or at least in the
United States of America. When I was growing up, I wasn't pushed to make
better than my "average" grade. In fact, I was told that as long as I
graduated high school, that would be all my mom expected of me. I was okay
with that answer as an adolescent, but being in my late twenties now, I wish she
(or anyone else for that matter) would have pushed me harder, pushed me to
strive for something better than what I ended up having.
Like a college
degree. Even though I did get a college degree, it would have been nice to
have someone expect that from me from an early age. Maybe things would
have been different, like I wouldn't be so deep with student loans because
someone could have guided me on what I did need and what I didn't. Maybe I
would have completed my degree in four years instead of six. Maybe I would
actually be in my field of study instead of working for the same company for the
last ten years (I have the certificate to prove it). But maybe none of
that would have happened and I would have been a college drop
out.
I know a lot of
young people, when going into college straight out of high school don't have any
clue as to what they want to do in life. This wasn't the case for
me. I wanted to be a psych major from the start, and that did happen for
me, I graduated with a BA in Psychology from Metropolitan State College of
Denver.
Unfortunately, when
I was in high school, college seemed unattainable to me. I wasn't a great
student who could pay my way through scholarships. I also didn't have a
rich dead uncle, or even rich parents who were willing to help pay. I was
on my own, if I wanted to go to college, I would have to pay for it (and that I
did/am still doing). Like I mentioned previously, I had no one to let me
know what to expect with the costs of college. So I did what any early
20's kid would do, I took everything that was offered to me, even if my classes
cost about half of what I took. I didn't know how much books would be and
any other expenses college would take (what if I needed a computer?). So
now I am sitting here with $60,000+ in student loan debt (my
condo didn't even cost me that much!) and the stress of knowing that I have no
job in my field (which I should get bookoo bucks in, right?) to pay for my
education.
I think my entire point is this: when I have children I am going to expect them to strive for greatness, not just what is average. There are too many average people in this world, and I'm sad to say even more less than average people. It's unfortunate, too, because it doesn't have to be that way. And you can't say that I'm wrong, for proof see People of Walmart.
I feel it is also important not to be stagnant. It is important to always strive for a better you, whether it be through diet and exercise, or finding a new hobby, spending more time with friends, or experiencing different cultural experiences, one can always strive to be better. It's never too late to go to college, either. I didn't get my college degree until ten years after I received my high school diploma, and my aunt didn't go to college until she was in her forties. Don't expect to get a college degree in four years, don't expect that you can't find ways of paying for a higher education, don't be afraid of failure. College is such a different experience than high school, I succeeded in areas of college that I failed miserably in high school.
