Are parents justified in pressuring their teenage children to get a college education?

by Joseph C. Alkire

Created on: July 16, 2009

Are parents justified in pressuring their teenage children to get a college education? If we take a look around us, the answer is quite obvious. Before we get into any debatable or questionable areas, let's take a look at what lies ahead for our childrens future. Job security is a scary thought today as most of us don't have any and will be a foregone thought not too far ahead. If upper management is facing the dreaded "Pink Slip", how many more of us have gone through the same. People are living off of their life insurance policies just to get by, what's next? If houses are being foreclosed by the droves today, will our teenage children be able to afford one later? There are people in their thirties who cannot afford the down payment on a house even as a first time buyer. Health insurance will be off the roof in the next few years or so. That is just to name a few.

The job market is so competitive today that people with many years of experience are struggling to stay employed. Employers are more stringent on who they hire these days as trustworthy prospects are becoming a rarity. In order to get any kind of a job today that has a somewhat decent starting salary, the individual must be degreed or licensed. Working off the books is not the answer because taxes are not being taken out for the individuals own good. The lower the degree, the less one can expect in pay. If a person is working at a low scale position, he probably have to work two jobs in order to afford rent and daily living expenses.

If done correctly, the pressure a parent applies to his or her child will prove positive if they are supportive. One cannot apply pressure and expect things to just fall into place. Too much pressure might cause the teenager to rebel and go the opposite way. The use of a guid-ance counselor is invaluable for the student in helping them decide where to go to college. A trip to the prospective college or institution would be advantageous for both the parents and their son/daughter. When was the last time a child saw the actual house expenditures? This is a very useful tool to not only teach them a budget, but also motivate them to excel with their future endeavors. This is especially true if they realize what it actually takes to manage a household.

If a teenager is self-motivated to forge ahead on his/her own, then adding pressure is not needed. It is when a child lacks interest and has no desire to move on, that parental intervention becomes necessary. We all want to see the best for our children and the last thing we want is to see them fail. A little assistance and alot of support goes a long way. The sitution today does not look good and the near future is not too promising either. With the right amount of encouragement and discipline, our teenage children will be well on their way to a better life in the areas of their expertise.

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