“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
How many times have you heard this question, or asked this question to your child or another?
Some children will answer back with stars in their eyes, and reply with such certainty. Others will simply shrug and mumble, “I dunno.”
My boys are too busy wrestling, and playing hockey to seriously think about their future. But in just two years, my eldest will be registering for high school. Those high school years will be crucial to helping him realize his strengths and passions. Will he pursue a degree in business or community services? Recreation/wellness, or information technology?
While my boys may not realize their future path just yet, I do know that they will achieve a post-secondary education #BecauseItMatters. My hope is that they have a clear idea of what they’d like to study so they can attend a post-secondary institution with a real vision.
I want them to attend a college or university that will provide them certainty about their future – a school to help them feel prepared for the world, not just with theory – but with real training and hands-on experience.
I myself pursued a post-secondary education in a specialized field; my belief is that real-world learning will enable them to find employment after graduation. I know many university graduates who earned a basic bachelor degree, and then continued their education in a specific program at Seneca. With 500+ career options and 300+ programs, the opportunities are endless at Seneca.
Seneca has 10 campuses in the GTA, York Region and Peterborough. We live in York Region, and one of the campuses is only a 10-minute drive from our house. Plus, since my boys love sports, it’s great to know that Seneca offers 16 varsity athletics teams.
Seneca is having an Open House on Saturday, April 2nd – this is a wonderful opportunity to see first-hand what Seneca offers.
Seneca is also offering special March Break campus tours during this week. This is a great way to see their campuses, labs and facilities and have your questions answered.
Have you talked to your children about post-secondary education?
Disclosure: I received compensation for writing this post however as always, opinions are my own.
22 Comments
I have thought about going back to get my masters for a while now. Honestly, it’s a matter of finding the time.
I’m totally getting my masters after I graduate this december. I just want to find a job that will pay for it first haha great post ! xx http://www.felinebykatsaris.com
I am in school now!
Currently taking my OH&S so I am enjoying evening and weekend classes. I am about 1/2 way through my program now. It’s a lot of work but so worth it!
I always tell my toddler about the importance of an education. Although we are saving for his college, we are aware that college isn’t for everyone. It’s his choice to go, and we really shouldn’t force him.
I graduated last year and it was one of the challenging, best and invigorating years of my life. I would definitely recommend going to university.
Getting my masters was a big deal… it took me a while, but when I completed the program it was game changing in my work/career path!
I didn’t get to finish college, but I know my kids will have every opportunity to. We’re already saving up for our kids’ tuition!
I don’t have a college degree, but I do plan to discuss it with my future children. I would want them to have every opportunity to learn as much as the can.
My husband and I both have degrees and we make sure to always talk about college with out kids in a when you go to college, not a if you got to college. Hopefully it keeps it in their mindset!
My kids already know and have known for as long as they could hear me – college is NOT an option. It is mandatory.
I don’t have children yet but I will definitely be talking to them about secondary education. I believe it’s necessary!
We talk about this often and have for several years now. College has always just been a given for both of my kids. My son is in his first year of college as an engineer student and he is doing awesome. Those conversations worked 🙂
Such a good question to ask … do we all know who we want to become when we are now grown up? Or how many people are happy with who they’ve become. Such a difficult decision.
My son is a freshman in high school and though he knows he wants to go to college, we’re really going full force from the beginning on what classes he needs to take and juggling the rigorous studying and sports schedule. It’s been tough trying to figure out how he can differentiate himself between all the amazing candidates out there to get into the college he wants. College is a requirement for us. Our kids will go, they may not have it figured out what they want to do before they start, but they will figure it out when they get there.
This is such a tough decision to make nowadays. Seneca sounds like a great option for keeping both doors open.
We are a long ways off from college – my oldest is 7. We homeschool though, and it is definitely something we have been thinking about. I’m not really sure what the college landscape will look like by the time we are looking at college. My hope is that they would take some time to apprentice and perhaps do dual enrollment in high school with the local community college to get their feet wet on what they may want to “do when they grow up.” 🙂
My daughter has been planing on going to college for years (she’s 12) – she has always known she has wanted to go and what she wants to do and it hasn’t wavered – we shall see 😉
Since i come from a family of doctors and engineers, college was natural and normal progression after high school for me. I’m a nerd and I love learning so till I got my PhD I felt incomplete. I taught for a year at a university before taking up a job in the engineering industry and realized that young generation needs lot of guidance so conversations help and role models help.
I’ve wanted to be a teacher for my entire life. Since I knew this when I entered college, I immediately focused on getting my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education right away.
I have two of my 4 in college now. I agree, we began talking to our children at a young age about college and the need to study and focus. My 6th grader has already picked her college, which will probably change by high school. At least, she is goal oriented
I have two college graduates, two in college, one headed there next year and one off to high school next year. Education is very important to our family. Plus I am a teacher. It is never too early to put the thought into their head.
We talk to our 5 year old about college, and he’s seen the UCSB campus, where I went to school. We talk about continuing school, and how it’s important. That said, I don’t push him to complete his homework for preschool (what the heck?!) because that frankly just seems like too much.