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COLLEGE? WHO NEEDS IT! RURAL STUDENTS CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO!
In the heart of Wyoming County, New York, a bold young artist named Briar Townes is rewriting the narrative on education! Graduating high school in June and already carving his own path, Briar has ditched the college route for a more practical gig—leading an art camp!
STRESSING OVER OPTIONS, NOT OPPORTUNITIES!
Briar is on the hunt for a career, but he isn’t alone. This rural wild child brushes off traditional fears about the future—he’s just trying to decide between a super chill art camp job or the irresistible aroma of the infamous "cookie factory." Talk about a tough choice!
While rural students are graduating high school in droves, they’re giving the college dream a cold shoulder! Only 55% of rural grads enrolled in college last year, a stark contrast to their urban counterparts. It’s not that they lack potential—oh no! It’s that these students are flipping the script and questioning the “need” for college altogether.
BIG BUCKS, BUT AT WHAT COST?
Sure, having a degree can stack up your bank account—$900,000 more for men and $630,000 for women over a lifetime! But in the land of farms and factories, college isn’t the golden ticket that many make it out to be. Townes’ family didn’t emphasize college; after all, let’s face it—there are more cows than people in his neck of the woods!
A SCHOOL THAT GETS IT!
Perry High School isn’t just playing the college card anymore! Superintendent Daryl McLaughlin is in tune with the needs of the community, weaving vocational options into the curriculum like a pro! When it comes to career or college, these rural educators are just as eager to help students score a job as they are to pen college recommendations.
Instead of just pushing students toward degrees, McLaughlin ensures these future leaders grab hold of every chance to succeed! With college enrollment numbers on the rise thanks to federal funding, the winds of change are blowing through rural schools!
THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE!
But beware, the dark cloud of skepticism still hangs over higher education in rural America! Many students are jaded about skyrocketing tuition and political rhetoric slamming colleges. With more and more rural folks questioning the value of education, you can feel the tension building!
THOSE WHO BELIEVE: RURAL EDUCATORS FIGHT BACK!
In Florida’s Putnam County, Principal Joe Theobold is the ultimate champion for college! With only 14% of adults holding a degree, he pushes for 100% college admission! His motto? Explore the world AND yourself—because you don’t want to pigeonhole yourself at 17!
But not every student is aiming for the ivory tower. Devon Wells, a high school junior from Perry, is eyeing a welding career instead. No degree needed there! He and Briar share the sentiment: their parents haven’t pressured them one way or the other—freedom reigns!
WHO WILL WIN THE FUTURE?
As rural students boldly defy expectations, the question hangs in the air: Will they stake their claim in a world that demands higher education? Only time will tell! One thing is for certain—a new wave of thinkers is rising, and they’re ready to shake things up!
photo credit: fortune.com
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