Low Expectations

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.