Killeen reader advocates better career guidance for high schoolers

To the Editor: It is said, 'The only thing certain in life is death and taxes.' That's not entirely true anymore. Millions of Americans are saddled with federal student loans and they are finding out the hard way that you don't just walk away from this kind of debt. Even declaring bankruptcy will not absolve you of this debt. Interest, fees, and penalties continue to accrue at an alarming rate, doubling, or even tripling the original loan amount. Some folks say that they just won't pay on the loan. That's a beautiful move. Right up until the time Uncle Sam garners your wages. So why is this happening? Well, part of the problem is that every high school senior is told by their guidance, counselor, 'You need to go to college.' 'Why?' 'Your grades are good enough.' That's not a reason. Before you invest four or more years and tens of thousands of dollars in an education, you might want to make sure that the career path you're considering is a good fit for you. Many young men and women know early on what direction they want to go, either instinctively or following in the footsteps of their successful parents. Others follow a different path and choose to work with their hands instead. And, contrary to popular stigmas, no, these folks don't go to trade school because they can't get into college. If anything, they're usually pretty sharp individuals, with a great deal of common sense. So back to why Americans are struggling to pay off these student loans. Most just chose poorly. They picked some obscure field of study with little or no demand. About 38% of college graduates regret ever going to school. Most admitting they've never used their degree but will be on the hook until the student loan is paid off. The solution? An actual AI-generated aptitude test available in high school, and a partnership between guidance counselors and workforce development. Bill Paquette Killeen