After high school graduation, alumni can choose to attend college, work, take a break, or serve in the military. It’s important to consider your own desires and not just the expectations of others. Higher education is recommended, but successful people like Bill Gates and Mary Kay Ash are college dropouts. Living arrangements after graduation vary by culture. Joining the military is also a common option.
It’s common to feel insecure after high school graduation. Many people may have expectations for you that are not in line with what you want to do. Some alumni choose to apply to colleges or universities and get a job to pay for their continuing education. Others decide or are obliged to serve their country for several years, and sometimes even make a career out of it. Other alumni still take time off from school, put off work and relax. After a decade or so of compulsory education, depending on the country, there’s usually nothing wrong with taking a breath to decide what’s next for you.
Some parents encourage their children to enjoy themselves for six months to a year before moving on. Other parents are against the idea because they believe that delaying post-secondary education makes future participation less likely. While it’s important to consider your parents’ thinking on the matter, the decision is yours. On the other hand, rushing into a level or career that isn’t what you want can feel like a waste of time, but it can turn into a learning experience that leads you to something more substantial.
A significant portion of young adults apply to college after completing high school. Often, they don’t know what they want to learn, but they know they can choose a course later or even change courses. Again, there may be people who expect you to attend college right after high school graduation, but that’s your choice too. While higher education is generally recommended, successful people like Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Mary Kay Ash of Mary Kay Cosmetics are college dropouts. These people are the exception rather than the rule, however.
In some cultures, it is considered normal for a young adult to move away from their parents after high school graduation. Other cultures expect the child to stay until he approaches a school or job or until the child wants to have a family of his own. There’s no right or wrong here, but it’s probably best to talk to your parents about your living situation, especially if you’ve decided to take a break from school.
After high school graduation, some people decide to serve their country by joining an army. Others are required to receive some form of training, although it is often considered an honor. In any case, it is common to defer post-secondary education to military training. A military recruiter can usually answer questions about what an army is like, how to join, and whether military life is for you.
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