When I thought about writing this blog, I thought about my younger years as a child attending school. For me, school has been an exciting journey because I can envision days I entered into the doors of a classroom. I sat at a desk, pulled out a chair and listened to the teacher's voice speaking to myself and others. My ears perked and were open to every word the teacher said because she gave valuable information about the work that was going to be taught throughout the day.
I learned for five days a week. When I entered the classroom, I expected to sit in the same seat assigned and to prepare for another day. I discovered Saturday and Sunday were free days but I thought about Mondays. I recall days my great grandmother called my name in the morning and said "time to get up for school". I immediately responded like a soldier who responded for duty call. I already knew I was going to return to the room I left two days before and I was going to hear the voice of the woman who was going to give me more information. The scenario I described about school was from my point of view through my journey in school.
Growing up, I always heard the words college and secondary education. Recalling when I attended school as a child and growing up to be a teen, I took my subjects seriously and completed assignments timely. Making connections was purposeful because I liked connecting with other students who shared ideas like mine. As a student, I was the type of person who paced myself when I was given assignments. l preferred to allow myself enough time to read and understand the work. I didn't like feeling rushed to complete my work. This was the mindset I had throughout my earlier journey in school.
My first attempt in college was for my Associate degree. I was certainly in the wrong field the first time. The second time, I looked for a program and thought about flexibility. I found one but , I enjoyed the program so much, I didn't pay attention as to whether or not it was flexible enough. I applied for my first student loan. I received a miracle, the school reimbursed me the student loan. I promised myself I would not take another loan. Watch your words, you might have to eat them.
The second college, where I pursued the Bachelors degree, was getting tough but I was able to take courses the way I wanted to. I was working and attending college. I paced myself in the courses. I was able to get another degree but the second degree took longer. I was able to pace the time I attended. It took a few years but finally it paid off.
Now the rough part was surfacing and I took notice of it. I was rejected from first choices in graduate programs. In fact, I had to leave my home state to pursue the chosen school. I still had the mindset to pace myself and not take student loans. In the beginning, I was able to pace myself taking one course and then another. The shock came after I was confronted by administration regarding how I took my classes. I was told I had to take courses according to the designed curriculum. I was like whoa, how can this be, I paid for my classes up to this point and never was told I had to take courses a certain way. I was also coerced to take a student loan.
This is where the problem started. The question became why are students restricted from taking college courses at their pace? Why are curriculums set up in specific ways in colleges ?
The way the curriculums are designed are also costly. No wonder why many students drop out of college . They can not afford the tuition. Unfortunately, they are pushed into applying for loans that have high interest rates that increase.
How did this become a problem ? The problem began in high school and comtinues into adulthood. Are college plans really thought out ? Finances are the essential part of the education process. If finances are not in order, failure is inevitable. Attending college at a slower pace can help the student make a wise choice for a major as well as focus on financial planning. Many students are unprepared for college due to unreadiness to handle academic work. Regrettably, student loans are a major reason for college dropouts.
The Education Data Initiative are from August 2024 reports the following:
Report Highlights. College dropout rates indicate that 39% of first-time, full-time bachelor’s degree seeking students do not complete their degree program within 8 years.
First-time full-time undergraduate freshmen have a 12-month dropout rate of 23.3%.
41.9 million Americans were college dropouts as of July 2022; 943,169 of them re-enrolled that fall.
College dropouts make an average of 35% less income than bachelor’s degree holders.
College dropouts are 20% more likely to be unemployed than any degree holder.
The results are staggering regarding college dropouts. I began researching about students going to college while pacing themselves. Students could benefit from proper guidance from high school counselors. The time frame counselors spend with high school students, is not enough to help them make the appropriate decisions regarding attending college and processing the financial obligations.
Adults, like students, need guidance also around the financial obligations of earning a degree. They could benefit from taking one class a semester or perhaps two but definitely should not be pressured to take a full case load.
The question arises, what can be done about this issue concerning attending college, getting the proper advisement regarding attendance and avoiding debt ? This is a policy question among education regulators who address curriculums in colleges. Curriculums need to be changed to suit the individual's needs and financial situations.
Let's hope in the future, that college can be looked upon not as a burden but as the intended purpose for achievement for the student.
LaRenda Jones, PhD
