Keep your options open. Check out those “Now Hiring” signs wherever you go!	Photo by Kylene Vessel

When I was finishing high school everyone told me I should be thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. But it wasn’t that easy. My friends and I truly had no idea what to do with ourselves.

The significant piece of advice I didn’t get at the time, which often escapes those who should be helping us, was that you don’t necessarily make or break your life based on what you know in your junior and senior years of high school. And these days, the pressure to fill life after high school with college is intense.

American education changed greatly in the early Twentieth Century, author Claudia Goldin said. High school graduation rates soared in the 1950s, and with this came the focus on education at the college level. A U.S. Department of Education report released in 2000 revealed 62 percent of black students and 69 percent of white students enrolled in college immediately following graduation.

Although college provides a great opportunity to get an education and learn about yourself, there are a couple realities you should know: college isn’t for everyone, and there are other options out there.

Entering the workforce after graduation is not only an option—for some people it’s reality. Robert Gile began working at Hot Topic Retail stores in his sophomore year of high school. Today, three years after graduation he continues to work his way up to management positions.

“I’m not always happy with what I do, but I’m happier with my career choice than if I was stuck in some classroom,” Gile said. “I believe now more than ever that college isn’t for everybody.”

High school guidance counselor Dave Reidt said that for some students, taking time off from education following high school often gives them the chance to focus on what they need to accomplish if they seek higher education.

“We see a lot of students just going to college because they feel like they have to,” Reidt said. “I think this leads to a lot of unnecessary indecision once they get there.”

Reidt said students who enter college without a purpose are often subject to changing majors more often, which can lead to later graduation dates and lower academic performance.

For those who face pressure to move directly from high school to college, Reidt suggests remembering there is no rule for success.

“There’s nothing wrong with taking time off to figure out what you really want to do,” he said.

Reidt said the common mantra “If you don’t go now, you never will,” doesn’t always hold true.

“My gut feeling is that sometimes people take college more seriously when they take a step back from it and decide what they really need,” Reidt said. “When my own son took those early years off, it became clear to him what it means to take an education away from college.”

Reidt warns, however, of the financial dangers young adults face. He said the biggest fear he has for students entering the workforce is that they often find themselves with more money than they’ve ever had, and soon after, more expenses.

“It’s easy to get locked into payments, and therefore locked into work,” he said. “You just need to keep in mind what your goals are, and how to keep yourself on path to achieve those goals.”

After his first year of college, twenty-one year old Ian Jacoby found that taking a break before continuing education helped him focus his skills. When Jacoby finished high school, he had the option to go to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on a free ride to pursue a performance music major. He did well in school, excelled in music, and it seemed like things would work out based on this path, which was somewhat chosen for him when he was eighteen. But Jacoby said sometimes knowing everything one year can mean nothing the next.

“I had this opportunity to move towards playing music for a living,” Jacoby said. “It was pretty much my life up until graduation, but that didn’t really translate into my freshman year of college.”

After taking time away from school and learning more about what he wanted, Jacoby said he now feels more aware of what he wants from school.

“Taking time to work gave me time to do other stuff like write,” he said. “When I go back to school I know exactly what I want to do.”

Joining the military opens doors to experiences beyond higher education.	Photo by Kylene Vessel

But what other options are out there? Maybe you’ve heard about other students enlisting in the military, or had an older brother, sister, or friend join up. The military can offer great benefits. You have a chance to serve your country, learn discipline and skills that will serve you your whole life, and explore new possibilities. It’s even possible to get the funding for your education.

Lt. Colonel Tim Donovan of the Army National Guard said the military offers opportunities you might not find anywhere else. While many recruitment officers and enlistment programs boast about the financial and college benefits the military offers, those interested should keep in mind the real purpose of the military–service.

“It’s really a commitment to serving your country,” Donovan said. “Our incentives are great to those who serve, but it’s primarily working for your country in ways that most citizens are not suited for.”

In the past four and a half years, Donovan said, Wisconsin’s National Guard deployed more than 70 percent of its volunteer to areas of global conflict. Realistically, if you choose to join the military be prepared to serve in serious and often life-threatening situations.

Reidt said if students enlist, they should pay special attention to how much funding they’ll actually get to attend college.

“I’ve heard some horror stories about prospective college students who don’t get what they’re hoping for as far as financial aid,” he said.

Whether you’re entering the workforce, going straight into college, or thinking about joining the military, it’s important to keep in mind the options out there. Take it from Gile, who said life offers strange possibilities.