English composition

Running head: PERSUASIVE ESSAY 1

2 Running head: SHOULD COLLEGE BE MANDATORY

The biggest decision in a young persons life for the most part is what are you going to do after high school? The answer for most kids in “I am going to college” but that is not practical for everyone. For some kids they cannot go to college because of financial reasons, and some kids just do not have the mindset to go to college. Regardless, everyone is going to take a different life path and get to where they want to be a different way, but do you think college should be mandatory?

This argument of “should all kids go to college” has been going on for some time. It seems to be drilled into young peoples heads from a young age in school, that your only option is going to college. That is extremely false, the school system does not consider what these kids might be going through and what their mindset is. College is not for everyone. For some kids they do not have the financial support to pay for college, that can be very deterring. Some kids do not have the mental maturity at eighteen years old to pick what they want to do for the rest of their lives. An overwhelming number of kids have no choice but to jump right into the workforce, to help financially support their families.

There are so many different career and job options out in the world that it would be a shame if some people did not get to experience the world outside of college. One big option that these kids have instead of college is the military. The military is not for everyone, but it does help thousands upon thousands of kids every year find their purpose in life. The military is such a great alternative to going to college right out of high school. The military teaches you discipline, maturity, and structure. The military also offers you free college and so many great opportunities to build a highly successful career. The military also offers you and unbeatable retirement plan, you can do twenty years in the military and if you work hard enough you can retire and never work again, only after twenty years on the job. The military is a great option and kids should be taught more about this option in school.

If the military is not for you and maybe you just want to jump right into the workforce, there are many options for you to pick from. An incredibly great option is joining the workers union, joining the workers union is great for people who are indecisive about what they want to do. When you are in the workers union you are basically doing any job they hire you to do, you could be laying carpet one week and painting houses the next. It is great because it shows you and teaches you many different jobs, that way you can pick one you like and run with it. Another great option is to go to trade school. Most trade schools teach you a very particular skill that is vital to the workforce of the world, such as HVAC and even mechanics. Most trade schools are much shorter than going to a University, and a lot cheaper. By choosing this path you can gain a skill, get into the workforce faster, and make good living.

With all of these great options it is ridiculous that getting a college education seems like this “life or death” scenario, when it absolutely is not. There are so many jobs and skills you can learn outside of college. By not going to college, you save money, time and you can even make more money in the long run. College is still a good option, but it is not for everyone, with trade jobs such as mechanics, HVAC, flooring and welders, we need these people to make the world go round. So, to answer the question, no, I do not think it should be mandatory for kids to go to college.