Difficult times weigh on college graduates’ choices

  Economic turmoil. Mortgage crisis. Government bailouts. Foreclosure. Unemployment. The list can go on as the frustration and failure seemingly mounts. Does this sound familiar? People see and hear these phrases and terms everyday, while recent graduates and young adults feel the pressure and tension associated with such negativity in the economy.

     It almost seems as though we’ve grown callous to such news, as though we’ve been sensitized to hearing the same downfalls reported day after day. Yet, these are the realities that college graduates and young adults across the nation are facing as they attempt to embark on careers and life-changes. And now, among the negativity, reporters are focusing on why college is not worth it anymore.

     In a recent “New York Times” article, it was reported that, for the first time, “student loan debt outpaced credit card debt.” It has been argued that because students have been borrowing more heavily and unemployment rates have been so high, it simply does not pay to have a college degree because many recent graduates have not been using their degree in the jobs they have obtained. CNNMoney has even launched a feature that highlights college graduates with stories about why their degrees have not been worth the debt.

Difficult choices ahead

    As the mountains of debt continue to loom higher, college graduates find themselves with difficult decisions, and their choices may be very different from those of their parents and generations before them. Decisions to continue on to graduate school are on the rise as students attempt to prolong having to repay loans. Many graduates have returned to live home with their parents to save money for upcoming lifestyle changes: marriage, children, buying a home, etc.

     So, what’s a college graduate, or even a high school senior beginning to decide whether to attend college, to do? As a recent college graduate, I can only offer my experiences. I attended a four-year Catholic university and, upon graduation, I decided to obtain my master’s. Now, I’m in the process of looking for doctoral programs. My reason is simple: my career choice demands it. I have also heard from friends who have had difficulty obtaining jobs, some opting to join Americorps or Jesuit Volunteer Corps to gain experience in service, while others have had to put their dreams on hold and accept positions that may have nothing to do with their degree. Ultimately, the decision comes down to answering “Where can I find a job?” rather than “Where can I find a job that utilizes my passions?” Those jobs may have to come down the line.

Yes, college is worth it

     And yet, if I could go back and relive my experiences, I would do it the same way again. Why? People without a college degree are struggling just as hard as those with a college degree. The evidence remains conclusive that college graduates historically have earned more on a rising basis. People need to understand that the college experience is not just about obtaining a degree. It’s about the relationships forged between professor-student and student-student, which mime the professional relationships of boss-worker and coworker-coworker. It’s about the experience gained from extracurricular activities and working on-campus and off-campus jobs. It’s about learning to grow up away from the watchful eyes of parents and guardians and becoming your own person.

     College is an education in itself, and it is an important asset that is a preparation for today’s dismal outlook. Things may not look that promising right now and it may be more difficult to begin a career, start a family and begin a lifestyle, but the college experience is a source of pride and accomplishment. Walking across the stage, diploma in hand, gives graduates a sense of pride at their ability to accomplish such a difficult task – and it proves that college graduates have the stamina it takes to wait out the difficult economic situation and reap the rewards of the future.

   Heather Bozant can be reached at [email protected].