The Values of a Child

Adolescence is one of the most vulnerable times that humans have to go through. Not only is this time one of the most important times to make decisions on who you are, but also who you would like to be in the future. Through seventh and eighth grade, I wish that my teachers would’ve started talking about college and different career paths for when I graduate high school. Although it is the most vulnerable stage of our lives, it is important to start constructing the resume that you will need for whatever you choose to do after high school.

It is important to understand that having a 3.0 GPA is an accomplishment, but it is certainly not good enough for many colleges. If a student does not start going for higher grades their freshman year, they risk having a low GPA for their entire high school career. It is important to introduce to teens the importance of a GPA, and everything they need to accomplish to enter their post secondary choice. I believe that teachers should start preparing their students in middle school for after high school. It is important to find a student’s interests, core values, and beliefs before they are in high school- where the environment sometimes can change how they act. A student’s core values should help decide what to do after graduation, whether it be that they are a lifelong learner, great with their hands, or are really passionate about helping others.

People will argue that they are too young, and far too vulnerable to be spewing this much maturity-talk upon them. I am merely suggesting the introduction of careers, secondary education, and other options for after graduation. This would be hugely beneficial for the student, since many go into high school having no idea which classes to take, how high to strive, and what they want to join to help form themselves for the future that they want.

Again, no one is there to stop another person from changing their path. There is absolutely no pressure to keep the same ideals and same goals from middle school- since they are often less mature and not really that great. It is beneficial to start learning about their future, planning it, and then knowing how to execute it in the following years.

As a senior in high school, I would have loved for adults in our middle school to introduce our futures to us much more than they did. I personally would have gone for higher grades, strived higher, and also joined more clubs and organizations. I had no idea what my values were, my plans were, or even who I was. In middle school, all students should be able to learn about their values and vision for the future. Without knowing these, then it would be ridiculous to make all of these decisions from their freshman to junior year. Because frankly, as a senior, you are expected to already know everything. Getting started on these thoughts in middle school is not only beneficial for the student, but will help our entire generation be more organized, and go into a field they are really interested in or passionate about.

Introducing these topics at a younger age will help form brains into understanding that life is coming up quickly, and it is a necessity to learn what you want to do and where you want to go. There is no pressure to keep the same path throughout middle school, high school, and the rest of life, but it is fantastic to have an idea start in middle school to help develop who you are, and the kind of values you would like to follow as an adult. Regardless of the vulnerability of the brain, it is important to understand that getting kids started early is better than forcing it upon them all at once their junior year, when the decision has to be made the next year.

“Commencent 2015-CAP Honors Graduation Breakfast” by Illinois Springfield is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

“middle school lunch room” by woodleywonderworks is licensed under CC BY 2.0.