Higher Education cost money - lots of money. Why are we encouraging young adults to go in debt all across America? When more than 73% of college graduates don’t even go on to use their degree in their future workplace, it is time to re-evaluate what the actual point of college is. Our youth deserves more than society pressuring them to fit the mold that is prescribed for them. The issue here isn’t whether or not college is worth it, the question is: Why are we forcing people to take paths they aren’t passionate about?

For as long as I can remember, there has been a stigma surrounding the work of blue-collar employees. It was something that I accepted without question for a good portion of my life. However, I was being denied the raw facts and success that blue-collar workers experience all over America. As I learned, and became more educated on the topic, I realized that 21st Century America had forgotten what classifications of hard work got us here. That's what made me begin to appreciate the dedication of blue-collar workers everywhere.

I’ve been blessed to have been raised in a family where college is not the be all, end all for our lives. It’s a tool you can choose to use at your discretion, but is by no means required to live a successful and fulfilled life. Anyways, back to the original question...

When young adults are beginning to search for guidance within their counselors and superiors during their final days of high school, they are so often pointed in a single direction: the college route. In the past years I have seen a great number of students forego this guidance to indulge in the white-collar world, and instead take on the jobs that are always in demand! Truth is, it is vital that as a culture we get back to pushing people to purse what their passionate about. Our society is so consumed with their yearly salary and overlooks what it is that inspires them to get out of bed each morning.

In the words of Mike Rowe, America is in the midst of a skilled labor shortage, resulting in wage increase among popular blue-collar jobs like plumbing, welding, bricklaying, and many others of that sort. With that being said, there are a vast amount of blue-collar jobs that are also consistent in employment and valued that I didn't mention and the odds are, your white-collar workplace has contracted a blue-collar worker to fix what no one else had the education to...

Let's get past this idea that College is for everyone.

It is not and never will be.

Pursue what you're passionate about.