For many high school students, college is seen as the next step after graduation. However, some students feel pressure from their parents, teachers and society to attend college.
Kaden Blalock, a senior at East, said he does not personally feel pressured to attend college, but it is something he wants to do.
“I wouldn’t say I feel pressured, but I definitely want to go to college,” Blalock said.
Blalock believes students can feel pressure from their families and society. He also believes college is not the only way to become successful.
“I think if you go trades or if you come up with something that can make the world a better place, you can definitely become successful,” Blalock said.
Mrs. Slater, East’s college and career manager, also believes students face pressure to attend college.
“I do think they have a lot of pressure to go to college, but there are other options for them out there as well,” Slater said.
Slater said students can also compare themselves to others based on the colleges they attend.
“There’s peer pressure in terms of that, and wanting to go to a school that has a bigger, well-known name than others,” Slater said.
Ultimately, Slater said the college a student attends does not determine their future.
“Absolutely not,” she said when asked if a college predicts a student’s future.
Written by Senior Wyatt France. Edited by staff writers for the Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.