Mr. Andrew Culberson of the Fredericton High School Guidance Department. (Photo by Ryan T.)
By KATE H.
Indecision and anxiety are common themes among the graduating class of 2012, as they are presented with a variety of Post Secondary options to choose from.
“The largest percentage of students do go on to university, but not necessarily the majority. There are other options to consider.” says FHS Guidance Counsellor Mr. Andrew Culberson. While many students are pushed towards University by parents or pears, those ‘other options’ are not to be discredited. There are many publicly and privately owned college programs, both locally and internationally to consider. Some students may choose to enter the work force directly. Still others may opt to take a year off, to travel, to work in order to raise fund for furthering their education, to take up an apprenticeship, or to enter a community service program such as Katimavik.
Each option, although varying in popularity, offers their own set of advantages and disadvantages. University, while widely considered to be the most popular path and often said to lead to higher paying jobs, is an expensive choice, and one that may leave you with a very general education. Many college programs offer a more specialized education, but can also be costly, and not always as widely accredited as university programs. Taking a year off is a great chance to learn more about yourself and what you want to do with your life, but often students get too comfortable in their life, and don’t continue on to accomplish the higher level of education that they had originally intended on completing.
All these options are equal in value, and entirely dependent on the personality type of the student. At the end of the day, remember that the decision is yours. “Whatever option you choose to pursue after High school, it’s important that you know yourself well and know your interests and abilities, ” said Mr. Culberson. “Know what things are really important to you in life.”
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