One of the most difficult experiences I’ve had in my life was leaving the comfort of the public education system.
I often hear reports about students staying in university longer, up to late 20s, stating the reason is because students now need a Master’s or PhD to make anything of themselves. I often wonder, though, how often students stay in school longer for the sake of staying in the comfortable school environment they have been in most of their lives.
I was in the public education system in California for over 18 years, and I loved it. I began public school in 1992 when I was 5 years old and left in 2012 when I was 24. I was recognized as a top performing student at a young age by school administrators and was placed into a smaller group of “smarter” students that did more busy work. I was favored by many teachers, turned assignments in on time and did my best to attend every school day.
In 2006 I graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA and walked away with a number of awards and scholarships. My teachers patted me on the back and said, “You are prepared the future.”
I am prepared, I thought at the time.
I went on to college where I continued to perform well and jumped through the hoops my counselor guided me to. Every day I would crack open my text books and study for hours and work on assignments. My life was very simple. It was rare that I ever thought beyond the next assignment or test I had to turn in. I obtained federal and state funding that allowed me to attend school without feeling pressure of taking out loans.
I knew at one point my school life would come to an end I would have to enter the rat race of real life, but I never gave it much thought. I did not think much about where I wanted to live, what would happen if I had a family, or any of those real life scenarios. I was simply following a path I was told to follow.
After being in university for a number of years, however, my plans began to unravel. I became disenchanted with the marketing program I was a part of after realizing I was being groomed to work for major corporations with headquarters in the bustling metropolis, the last place I envisioned myself living for an extended period of time. I held onto the childish fantasy of, “You can be whatever you want to be,” and decided to suddenly drop marketing and switch to geology.
Why geology? Because I had taken a number of geology courses to meet my college’s science requirement and became infatuated with studying the earth. I had exotic (unrealistic) visions of analyzing water and rocks and contributing to conservation efforts, but was eventually disappointed when I later learned that most geologists actually work in the petroleum industry. To this day I think the general education requirements, such as science, sociology, etc., can thwart students from obtaining degrees sooner, or even finishing their degrees.
Due to various reasons, primarily a federal grant being cut and being faced with the decision of taking out student loans, I gave more serious thought to my future and suddenly decided to leave the university I was attending in Northern California, which was far from my family based in Southern California. I was dealing with health problems and had no idea what my future was in geology.
I relocated back to my parents’ home and planned to continue my studies at a near-by college, but lost motivation when I was unable to register for one physics class I needed and learned I’d have to wait a whole year to get into the same class. In order to maintain my financial aid I would have had to fill my schedule with classes I didn’t need in order to meet the full time student requirement, which was something I didn’t want to do.
Now I was in uncharted territory in my life of not having a pre-planned schedule for next semester. I realized during my entire school career I was comforted in knowing exactly where I was going to be the next year, how I would be spending my time and having someone tell me what to do. Now that comfort had slipped away and my schedule became sporadic as I tried to find work that interested me.
Settling with a full time common job was something I could not come to terms with after envisioning myself being a CEO or scientist my whole life. For years school administrators drilled into my head that I needed to go to university to make something of myself, and that I was a woman who had to strictly focus on having an amazing career – who cares about family or settling?
Needless to say, I became a gypsy and began working part time jobs that fed my creativity demands. I rented rooms in strangers’ homes since it was all I could afford. I was fearful of settling into a dull life and instead would find ways to still make my life feel interesting and notable. Occasionally anxiety would creep up on me as I wondered if I am living life as I should?
Thankfully, I encountered a man I admire greatly and have been able to find peace in the thought of settling down. I am glad I left school when I did and did not take out student loans which would have burdened me and my relationship. As I learned more about the geology profession I realized it would have been considerably difficult for me to settle and care for a family, and I am relieved I did not continue to pursue it.
While I love school, and I can understand why people take out loans to cling to the agenda that has been drilled into their heads from a young age, I think it would be ideal if the education system actually made students think out the possibilities of plans changing. What if you don’t finish your degree? Where do you envision yourself living? Are you aware that most people obtaining this degree live a “nomadic life”? Are you aware you have to obtain a Master’s to get anywhere?
The more students ponder these questions, the easier it is to leave the comfort of the public education system and move on with their lives.
Lauren Ell is an American blogger born and raised in Southern California and is currently based in Sweden. She discusses Epilepsy, Politics and Fun. Professionally Ell is an Online Marketing Consultant and Virtual Assistant. She is also founder and president of Republican Atheists. Connect with Lauren on Facebook and Twitter.