By: Isabelle Kaneza

It’s a new year here at Collegedale Academy, and no matter which grade level we belong in, we all should have similar nagging inquisitions in our minds. Where do I go from Collegedale Academy? Which friends are worth keeping, and most importantly, what will my career be? Many complain there is not enough time given to accurately make the decision of their career, but who is to say it is the truth?

Higher education in the past used to not be of utmost importance, so career choosing was very much a secondary priority. In recent years, the demand for a proper college degree has risen rapidly. Georgetown University Center on Education predicts, “The economy will create 55 million new job openings over the next decade, and 65 percent, or 37 million, of these new job vacancies will require post-secondary education and training.” This emphasizes the significance of choosing a profession early in our youth because we now see that we must be prepared for the education to come.

In all honesty, we have plenty of time to determine what our future in the work force might be. The real problem is that US school systems do not stress the importance of that decision in our early years. Once we are aware of potential career opportunities, it should not be difficult to always be on the lookout for occupations that appeal to us. Once programs are implemented on campus to assist children in exploring their options, the stress some of us are experiencing now will lessen and we will have one less unanswered question to worry over.