The fifth most common topic for my students during the 2023 * 2024 season was education. Fifteen students covered some aspects of the topic, including taking a gap year, education reform, the general cost, and the benefits of learning a new language.
Gap year – 5
What is a gap year? A gap year is a year or two that students take between completing high school and going into college. Most students believe this is beneficial during this time period and focus on the positive aspects.
Mental health was a main idea mentioned. They discussed the ability to build up their work experience and understand working with money, financial planning, and personal growth by going out there and working. Some students mentioned that after stepping out into the normal workforce, they realized the value of getting an education and having more choices.
Cultural immersion was another main idea. They were also encouraging travel. Again, many of my students are international, so they may have taken a gap year where they traveled to another country. The final idea was burnout in general, which students going directly from high school to college might experience.
Education reform – 2
This has been a common topic over the past few semesters. The focus is on shifts in the topics covered in K–12 and college classrooms and being able to prepare for life; they didn’t feel like what was being taught was preparing them for their lives after.
In particular, they wanted more information on financial literacy, critical thinking, and career readiness. They felt it was outdated and not really focused on the current experience of life. There was also concern about unequal access, with some students having more access to higher levels of education, as well as a teacher shortage.
Cost – 2
Concerns included the cost of education in general and access to higher education. To make this easier, they are worried about long-term student debt.
The suggestions around economic benefits relate to the benefit for our country if we are educating our students to invest in their future. In a related topic, they mentioned accessibility. The concern is ensuring that everyone has access to it. I work for cost-effective schools – state-supported schools intended for students to provide education at a lower price point. This leads to social equity and the availability of good education, which I believe to be a great equalizer by helping students create a different life for themselves. Two other main ideas related to the cost of education are student debt burden and economic advantages.