Adviser’s Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this opinion article belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views of The Colt Chronicle Staff, Kinnelon High School, or its students and staff members.
Can’t drink. Can’t vote. Can’t drive with more than one person in the car. Yet, students are expected to choose a career path and commit to it for the rest of their lives?
With little to no real-world experience in professional environments, 17-year-olds bear the unrealistic societal expectation that they will have the capacity to decide their career path without hesitation at such a young age; if not, they face the consequences – peer pressure, rejection from society, and the burden of not having it all figured out yet.
But no one does.
Kinnelon High School Counselor Lauren Biggins often plays a key role in the application process for seniors, and she reveals the truth that no one wants to admit. “The latest data that I saw is that 80-90 percent of students change their major at least one time in college.”
High school should be viewed as a time for growth and exploration. At an adolescent age, students are still finding themselves and, in the process, discovering their interests. Not only should students have a variety of core classes and extracurricular activities, but they should also be exposed to a variety of electives. The National Center for Education Statistics said, “Extracurricular activities provide a channel for reinforcing the lessons learned in the classroom, offering students the opportunity to apply academic skills in a real-world context, and are thus considered part of a well-rounded education.”
The incorporation of classes that are not as academically straining helps students take initiative to further discover their interests, yet another crucial step in the application process; however, throughout this growth period, most students are not adequately exposed to classes other than their core classes, as the emphasis is on building an academically rigorous application, rather than a list of extracurricular activities and electives.
Senior Kaitlyn Kispert said, “I do not feel very prepared because a lot of classes in school are not geared towards specific majors or jobs, only core subjects.”
Core subjects like math, science, and English are often prioritized as colleges view them as a more significant and academically rigorous aspect of a college application.
Furthermore, the initial perception of these careers is often inaccurately portrayed on TV or the internet, and high school students do not fully understand the extent of the work associated with the career they are choosing, or the other opportunities available for them that best suit their own interests. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said, “What television presents isn’t always true to life. TV’s image of the American Workplace is a prime example.”
Those who are fond of the iconic 2000s show, Grey’s Anatomy, for example, may not be fit to pursue a career in the medical field. This classic portrays the hospital setting as drama-filled, with gossip often being the focal point of most episodes. It does not show the hard work and dedication required to become a surgeon. This ease can be taken out of context by students, who are not yet exposed to the full extent of professional work.
Biggins said, “I think colleges have the expectation that you’ve explored a lot of coursework pointed in one direction in terms of being a competitive applicant in certain areas.”
Society is putting an excessive amount of pressure on these kids when, in reality, people should be guiding them through. It is unrealistic to expect that children will choose classes tailored to their major in their freshman year when they’re still navigating a new bell schedule.
