Dear Parents,
Making you children work is not necessarily better in the long run. You may think you are teaching them work ethic and maybe stopping them from asking for money all the time, but what you don't realize is that there is a much better option.
If your child is college bound, school should be the highest priority. Why?
Because grades pay.
No typical high school job is going to pay the hefty tuition fees. But grades, just might.
I did not have a job in high school. I volunteered, I was in a few clubs, and I spent time focusing on the people important in my life.
I worked hard and graduated with a 4.0 and top 10% of my class.
And now? I have received nearly $80,000 in scholarships to cover most of my tuition and housing over the next 4 years.
Sorry not sorry, that fast food job is not going to pay for your child's tuition.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not against working and being in school. I'm all for it. But no teen should feel obligated to get a job on top of an already heavy course load that high school demands. Your kids spend 8 hours of the day most of the week dedicated to school, and then some after school hours with homework.
Maybe it's my millennial talk, but how it used to be done isn't always better. Walking by foot everywhere is not near as nice as being able to drive. Working may not pay as much as grades do. Times change. So keep an open mind. Also be proud of your children for working hard in school. It's tough.
Sincerely,
Truthtalks
Good point! One of my grandparents used to tell my sis & I that "School IS your job right now." He was right!
Oh, and welcome aboard and have a blast!
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Welcome to the platform. So excited to see you on here. I will be making a post to introduce you around to my friends. I know @suesa and you have a lot on common. She has been using Steemit as a way to improve her grades. They have a STEM group on here that I bet you would really enjoy.
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Actually, I'm using Steemit to avoid having to work :P But yes, posting about what I'm studying right know helps to memorize.
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I finally got her on here, after months of talking non stop about it.. LOL I am so excited I am about to do a post to send people her way.
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Well if she decides to join steemit.chat, she has the official permission to DM me if she wants to talk :P
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Congrats on your grades and scholarship. Working and schooling is what many will have to do the get University or Post secondary school education. Life never really allows you just do one thing at a time. Mothers have to juggle kids and husband and work (housework and career) Maybe an earlier start would better prepare some kids for real life. There are case of kids in your situation who still do not make the grades despite not having to work or pay their fees. There is also the cases of many immigrant students who work at minimum pay, study and take care of their families and still come out top of the class. Your experience is great but is not by a long shot a true representation of every student as there would always be other factors beyond finance such as academic abilities, determination to endure hardship and available alternatives if schooling falls through or even scholarship. Welcome to Steemit.
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Even she says "If your child is college bound, school should be the highest priority." there of course are always exceptions, but as she responded in most American families education should be put first and foremost.
And even though she didn't have a "job" she still worked growing up. She just worked for herself doing jobs in the summer and working in family businesses.
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That's great but I am sure not all Americans have "Family Business" so you have already indicated by that you really aren't average or the typical family or student. Tell me how would this apply to a straight a student from a poor community with no scholarship funds? would she/he have to luxury make education the priority without taking a job! My point it - do not use your experience and presume it is the standard for others. There are always many variables and these variables are as many as the people you see. There is never one solution that fits all to believe or even think so is to be short sighted. all you have to do is look within the same family and see if it worked the same for all kids with relatively the same opportunities.
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We were poor till a couple of years ago. And now we are consider lower middle class. Education was pushed so scholarships could be gained.
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As far as in-state tuition goes. The division of financial aid often meets your expected family contribution. There are financial need-based scholarship based out of need for students who have lower income households. Having good grades and merit only increases likelihood of getting specific need based scholarship and others. All the public universities I applied to found scholarships that met my family's expected contribution. Meaning that if FAFSA states that the expected contribution is $4000 and your tuition and housing is $20,000, often schools will find scholarships to meet that. I have received zero scholarships that were completely merit based. Many were financial need based or a combination of both financial need and merit. I have to maintain a certain GPA to keep my financial aid, as well as being in attendance to all my classes the first 4 weeks of school. Many of my friends believe they cannot afford to attend college, but never apply or wait to find out what financial aid will offer them.
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Thanks for the information. Knowledge they say is power. You obviously did your home work. I can tell your education is important to you and you are determined to get and put in the work. I admire you. Lots of people work on rumours not facts. I like it that you have taken time to find the facts as it applied to you. Keep it up. I wish you all the best in your studies and I shall be rooting for you. I shall be looking forward to reading about you graduating again in flying colours as you have what it takes. Keep it up. Well done
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There are many exceptions to my article. This article is generally towards the typical American household who parents make a decent income and their children have the ability to make good grades. Thank you for your feedback.
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"Typical American household" what exactly would that mean? will it include families who live in both rich and poor states, poor neighbourhoods within your state, families with African or Latino origins, families without health insurance? I have always wondered what is the measure for the typical American family is.
Ps: I do not live in America but have first have experience of how living in upper class neighbourhood (Morganville in NewJersey) offers different opportunities to students in poorer neigbourhoods next door.
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We are lower middle class but have not always been. We just acheived that level in the last couple of years. But even when we were poor education came first. And just because people run a business does not make them wealthy.
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Well done you obviously did something right to change things. I do not assume running a business makes you rich I am just pointing out the fact not everyone has the means too. You have been blessed if you believe it or not not many can change or know how to do so. I read your introduction of your daughter to steemit. You have every reason to be proud of her. I wish you and your family more grace and blessings. Its been a great chatting with you.
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It trully is hard...i wish my parents knew that too but it was a special case anyway..i woun't make my kids work until they finish at least first university, to show them what work means they can do voluntary if they want or have a passion to work for, well i hope God will help me offer this to them:). Welcome and goodluck @truthtalks !
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School is already a full-time job. You add up the hours, plus homework, and it's over 40 hours a week. They don't get paid for that. The only incentive is someone saying they did good. They are literally forced to go every day. Someone could argue that they're better for it, and they can get a better job, but they overwork them, and they don't teach them to their ability.
On top of that, forcing them to get a job to teach them responsibility? No. Not unless they're doing horrible in school, in which case the parents should buckle down, and send them to a private school that's better at that.
The only case where a kid should be forced to get a job is if they financially have to. Otherwise, leave it to them.
Their grades will probably suffer. If you aren't poor, pay them for chores. That will be enough. Just don't pay them if they don't do them.
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@geekpowered exactly what I mean. A job should be a choice by the student if the family is financially stable.
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I could write volumes on this. In fact, I have my own version of this story to tell, and Steemit will be the place to tell it.
One size doesn't fit all, but I'm one of the ones who had a similar experience while growing up -- even though I won no scholarships and didn't even apply.
Your experience is just perfect for you, and I'm glad that you're continuing to live it.
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