It’s the time of year when we celebrate our young adults going out into the world. Whether they are graduating from high school or college, this is a big step towards their future.
I used to be a big proponent of college after high school, but I have since changed my mind. I like Dave Ramsey’s approach: If the career you choose needs a license, then get a degree. If not, a trade school or apprenticeship seems more appropriate. This idea of sending our kids off to rack up a bunch of school debt and get brainwashed in the process seems ridiculous!
One of my high school teachers shared a famous Mark Twain saying with me when I graduated: “Don’t let your schooling get in the way of your education.” I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but it didn’t take long to figure it out. This saying implies that schooling can even be a detriment to education. Imagine that!
I have a couple pieces of advice for parents and graduates who want to keep some sense of morals, values and health while attending college. Things to avoid – the dorms, cafeteria food, fraternities/sororities and the English department. Things to look for – a church group/Bible study, your own apartment and some open space.
For ranch kids, open space is a big deal. City life can be overwhelming. Find a local ranch where you can get away from all the noise and unwind. This was a big help for me when I was in college and turned into a good part-time job.
Dave Ramsey also recommends spending the first two years at a local community college to complete any prerequisites while staying at home and not getting into a ton of debt. Good advice, but make sure you have a discussion about expectations with your graduate. This will avoid a lot of unnecessary arguments.
Most of all, enjoy the time you have with your kids. They will be grown up and gone before you know it!