I was blessed in the fact that my parents paid for my tuition so I was able to graduate without any student loan debt, but that isn’t the story for many of my fellow graduates. And once you graduate whether you have a job or not, those lenders are expecting their money. In America, student loan debt has surpassed $1.5 trillion while the average student borrower graduates with over $28,000 in loans*. This isn’t something that only affects recent grads, but 43 million Americans have some form of student loan debt*. This is clearly a problem that needs a solution.
The Path I Traveled
When I graduated high school, there was no doubt I was going to college. I even knew what I wanted to major in, at least I thought I did. I jumped into college full steam ahead not truly understanding what it would take to get where I wanted to go or even understand where that was. I started out in a major that seemed like a no-brainer for me, but by the time I got near the end, I realized that maybe this isn’t what I wanted. Very late in my college career, I switched majors and found something that gave me a spark. I remember being so optimistic near graduation thinking “I’ve followed the formula so far, next I graduate, get a good job, get married, and buy a house with a white picket fence.” My “American Dream” was burst shortly before graduation when one of my professors told us “good luck, this industry is shrinking and there aren’t many jobs.” As soon as I graduated the recession hit, and what was once a thriving job market became completely baron. We were no longer in an era where a college degree would practically guarantee you a good job.
Considering Other Options
College isn’t for everyone, luckily there are many options for people to consider other than traditional colleges and universities that can help get you to your next step in life. For me, it was a combination of college and trade school that really helped me step into my career path. When I went to trade school, the thing that I liked is that we jumped directly into learning the information that would be valuable in that particular trade. I have seen others opt for community college, which is usually less expensive than traditional college but still allows you to get some of your educational requirements at a less expensive price before transferring to a traditional university or college. Today’s technology has opened many other doors as well. There are many free resources available online to help you learn a new skill along with paid courses that you can take at your own pace. One of my favorite things about today’s technology is that it has opened many doors for entrepreneurship. Things that once seemed out of reach are easier to pursue than ever.
Bringing it all Together
There are many options other than traditional forms of higher education, but I think the most important thing is figuring out what works best for you, giving yourself the grace to change your mind and make mistakes, and remembering that you are always in a state of growth. There are many ways to be successful, just because one person did it one way doesn’t mean that’s the only way it can be done. Figure out what success means for you, what that next level is, then go after it. I hope this helps you find the path that works best for you. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to succeed in life, just as there’s no wrong way to be successful.
* https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/student-loan-debt