JACKSON, Tenn. — When he looked to the future, Grayson Hart always saw a college degree. He was a good student at a good high school. He wanted to be an actor, or maybe a teacher. Growing up, he believed college was the only route to a good job, stability and a happy life.A year after high school, Hart is directing a youth theater program in Jackson, Tennessee. He got into every college he applied to but turned them all down.
Fewer college graduates could worsen labor shortages in fields from health care to information technology. For those who forgo college, it usually means lower lifetime earnings — 75% less compared with those who get bachelor's degrees, according to Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce. And when the economy sours, those without degrees are more likely to lose jobs.
But when classes went online, he spent more time pursuing creative outlets. He felt a new sense of independence, and the stress of school faded. Jackson's leaders say young people are taking restaurant and retail jobs that pay more than ever. Some are being recruited by manufacturing companies that have aggressively raised wages to fill shortages.
"If I would have gone to college after school, I would be dead broke," he said."The type of money we're making out here, you're not going to be making that while you're trying to go to college." "This generation is different," said Jamia Stokes, a senior director at SCORE, an education nonprofit."They're more pragmatic about the way they work, about the way they spend their time and their money."
Amid the chaos of the pandemic, many students fell through the cracks, said Scott Campbell, executive director of Persist Nashville, a nonprofit that offers college coaching. A spokesperson for the Jackson school system, Greg Hammond, said it provides several opportunities for students to gain exposure to higher education, including an annual college fair for seniors.
Education Education Latest News, Education Education Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: WOKVNews - 🏆 247. / 63 Read more »
Source: ksatnews - 🏆 442. / 53 Read more »
Source: AP - 🏆 728. / 51 Read more »
Source: denverpost - 🏆 13. / 72 Read more »
Source: adndotcom - 🏆 293. / 63 Read more »
Source: YahooNews - 🏆 380. / 59 Read more »