WOODBURY – For Nonnewaug seniors, as high school comes to a close, big decisions begin to roll in. The decisions vary, and with that, some may cause more controversy than others. Each spring, one of these seems to overpower the rest: college.

This choice is multi-faceted and complex, especially for students who are just barely on the threshold of adulthood. Where to go? What to study? And perhaps more of a second thought for most, if they even choose to attend.

Generally, not attending a four-year university is not an option on many teenagers’ radars. So when a young adult decides not to pursue a college degree or post-secondary education, they are prone to having a stigma follow them like a shadow. This stereotype seems to label those who don’t go to college as uneducated and unmotivated, settling for a blue-collar career rather than seeking other paths.

But what many people seem to ignore is that a college education is not the ultimatum of post-graduate options. Students who go into a trade or straight into work after high school can succeed in life, too – and they often do.  

“There are a lot of other career options that take the route besides college,” said Kylie Healey, a senior at Nonnewaug who plans on focusing on a trade this fall. “[In these careers,] you’re going to be making a good amount of money and come out with a lot less debt.” 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), only 62% of students end up going off to college after high school, and a majority of students say they feel pressure from family and friends to go. On top of that, BLS also cited that within the age range of 20-29-year-olds who received a bachelor’s degree in 2023, 70.2 percent ended up being employed. This just goes to show that college degrees are not absolute guarantees of a successful future. 

College isn’t for everyone. Some people just do better working straight out of high school if they have a guaranteed job that can lead to future success and upward mobility. 

There are many different career paths that people can take right after graduation that can support them right away. These include an trade apprenticeship, such as carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing; police dispatchers, firefighters, community healthcare workers, pharmacy technicians, and many more.

Additionally, students who go straight into careers may choose to continue their education by taking free classes at community college – and many employers will even pay for classes for their young employees if payment is necessary.

“There are tons of different careers that people can take without having to go to college,” emphasized Kayci Hungerford, a Nonnewaug senior who will be taking classes at Naugatuck Valley Community College in the fall to earn certification credentials in welding and business. “You could take a trade program, like welding, without going to college and complete the program with a certification.” 

Many high schools currently offer career and technology education programs as well. Programs like this or the FFA, which is an integral part of the agriscience program at Nonnewaug, help students who want to go into a related field learn about it. This way, they can go straight into that career if possible. 

Besides, there are many influential people in this world who never went to college and did very well for themselves. Steve Jobs, Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller are great examples of this. Yes, these are very influential and successful people, and no, none of them have a college degree.

Although there still tends to be a negative label associated with students who choose not to go to college, there is growing hope for the future. Kathy Green, the College and Career Resource Center counselor at Nonnewaug, is one of many who has observed the recent upwards trend of students choosing to go straight into the workforce. 

“I actually think it’s a growing popular direction to not go to college,” Green said. “In my role, I see value in honoring each individual’s path and I can see that you can be successful and not go to college. There are different paths for students to follow.”

This is the opinion of Chief Advocate reporter Madison Fitzmorris, a senior at Nonnewaug.