I'm a high school teacher, and my students are becoming less interested in college. They're thinking about it all wrong.

Editor's Note: The author, Ashley Archambault, left her job as a high school teacher in January 2025.

As a high school teacher, I'm often surprised by how many of my students have no intention of going to college. Every year, more students turn to the real world instead.

I understand the practicality of that decision since a degree doesn't always guarantee a job, and the cost of tuition is unfeasible for many families. But for the students who are wavering on the decision, I always try to convince them that the college experience is irreplaceable.

I tell them that college gave me the privilege to pause and consider my future. College was the only time I got to slow down and exist in a protective bubble.

Even though many of them just want to rush into adulthood, I try to explain all the benefits of college — beyond earning a degree.

College classes are more geared toward your interests

For me, the main difference between high school and college was that in college, I had chosen my classes and schedule. It felt like I was designing my own life for the first time. Schoolwork stopped feeling like something I had to do and became something I looked forward to. I began to value what I was learning and took my education seriously.

I remember going out to dinner with my uncle back in college. He asked me if I loved my classes, and when I said I did, I meant it.

I had never enjoyed school as much as I did then because I was finally studying the subjects that interested me. I wish students who were avoiding college because they hate school understood this.

College's slow pace lets you connect with people in ways you can't in the real world

I made all of my closest adult friends while in college. I think that's because I met other like-minded people while studying my areas of interest.

Plus, there seems to be more time in college to foster relationships. Without being thrust into full time careers or having our own families, there was a better balance between obligations and time off, allowing for a more memorable time with friends.

I don't want my students to miss out on this important part of their social lives.

College gives you the space to be curious

Many of my students want to work immediately or attend a technical school. They don't view college as a time to explore their interests.

The beauty of college is that your future is open-ended. You can experiment with your major, your classes, and your interests because anything is possible.

I changed my major a few times, and each time, I felt that I was getting closer to figuring out what I really liked doing. I wouldn't have been afforded that flexibility in the real world.

College is of so much more value than simply a degree

I understand many of my students are opting out of college because of necessity, thanks to rising tuition costs. But if a student can figure out a way to enroll, I always try to push them in that direction. To me, the value of college goes beyond an end to a means.

Many of my students seem to be in a rush to get to adulthood and to make money. However, if they knew what I know now, they'd see that the time between high school and adulthood is a healthy pause.

Ultimately, the opportunity to explore one's interests before making a career choice was more important to me than the degree I earned.