About 5 years ago, when my son graduated from high school, I suggested that he try community college, first. He enrolled in liberal arts. I told him that I would put him through college as soon as he told me what the marketable skills he would have upon graduation. He immediately transferred into engineering technology, but he struggled.
He got a part-time job, throwing feed at the local Tractor Supply. He parlied that into full-time, team lead. He is now 23 1/2 and a store manager, targeted as a rising management star. Eagle Scout helped him. Too bad the BSA has gone homo.
He’ll get a begree, some day, when he sees the need. His company will pay for it, I’ll bet.
One of my daughters is at community college, and I wish we would have encouraged my son with that route.
My son had excellent grades and a high ACT and seemed responsible in high school.
My daughter had okay grades and a low SAT. She said she wasn’t ready for college.
He’s struggled with classes and she has a 4.0.
My other daughter is doing well too. She got a great scholarship and has a 4.0. She didn’t know what to major in so she took classes to help her figure that out and she went to the career center her first week of school. She’s had several jobs that she’s found herself.
My son is only 21, so he has time to grow up. His degree is in economics with a minor in business. We just can’t enable him any more. No more money!
I tell people that if they are really wanting to work, starting at Mickey D’s at the fry station is a start. Show initiative, work hard, show up early, KEEP THE PANTS PULLED UP, be polite and customer service oriented and that can be flipped into an assistant manager position.
Work hard at that following the same rules and flip it into a store manager.
Work hard at that and flip it into a multi-store district manager and so on.
I know people who have done it, and I know people who had the work ethic, but not the desire. She’s in her mid-40’s making $16 per hour. Smart, but unwilling to put in the work to advance.