The education system is constantly faced with many hurdles in achieving its purpose. Among the most recurring challenges is the cof school dropouts. School dropouts put their studies to an end before completing their expected time frame for studies. There are various reasons why students drop out of school, as will be discussed in this paper. The findings brought forward also aim at addressing vital elements related to school dropouts, such as ways to help reduce dropouts’ rates, lives that students lead after dropping out and motivations from the surrounding people that can help students finish college. Given the detrimental negative impacts that dropping out of school has on society, every education stakeholder should make extra efforts to solve the problem.
Reasons for college dropouts
The most recent statistics show that 30% of students drop out of college in their first year, while only 41% of students get to graduate from college after four years. Among the first reasons that lead to dropping out is the overwhelming burden of college studies. College studies are different grounds that come with pressures such as complex units and balancing school life (Selingo). The academic demands of college education push many students to drop out. College presents students and their families with the challenge of paying expensive tuition fees whose inability to pay, leads to student dropouts in search of employment. Students who fear to pay the high college loans also choose dropping out as a better alternative. Students will also drop out due to unhappiness and boredom brought about by their choice of Major. Additionally, some students fail to see the value brought about by their choice of studies and thus drop out of school (Strauss). There are many other reasons for college dropouts, such as family issues, individual emergencies, and a stressful environment.
Motivation from those around a student.
A college student’s motivation to complete school mostly comes from the people they surround themselves with. A supportive family background motivates students to complete their education regardless of any challenges (Selingo). A student who surrounds themselves with classmates and friends who aim to complete their college studies is also likely to complete their studies. Role models who have already completed college also play a key role in motivating students. The biggest motivator however, for completing college is an all-around enabling environment for the student. An enabling environment is one that, regardless of any drawbacks, the student remains motivated to complete their studies.
Ways to reduce college dropouts
All education stakeholders have put considerable effort into ensuring a reduction in the number of college dropouts. At first, both teachers and parents must pay attention to warning signs such as students who score low grades and have low-class attendance. Secondly, it’s better to advise students who recently joined college and feel overwhelmed to take a break from studies rather than dropping out. Students should also be engaged using experimental opportunities. Experimental opportunities entail putting the students in setups similar to where they will end up after completing their studies. The opportunities help students apply what they learned in school, yearn for more knowledge, and see their studies’ relevance. It’s also important that colleges address students’ mental health by providing exercise facilities, peer support programs, and counselors.
Students’ background and finishing college.
The college setting is a mixture of students who come from different backgrounds. Studies have revealed that students who come from a background where parents have attended college have higher likelihood of attending college. In contrast, students who came from families without a parent who attended college had higher chances of dropping out of college (StudyInternational). Financially stable family backgrounds were also a high motivator for students to complete college as compared to backgrounds with financial difficulties. Each background makes a contribution that has influenced the student to join college and that will influence their choice to complete or dropout of college.
Lives students lead after dropping out
Every student leads a different life after dropping out of college. It begins with taking stock of what was learned and planning for the future. Some students pursue employment opportunities that do not require a degree from colleges, such as freelance, services, and administrative fields (Zambas). Students also volunteer in many service programs to feel fulfilled, find a passion, and expand their network. Taking online courses is another form of learning that is worthy after dropping out. Online freelance courses offer a wide selection pool for students to choose from photography, carpentry, surfing, music, and cooking. (Zambas) Learning a new language and taking time off to travel are also life fulfilling activities. It’s also a good time to follow any passion or dream that a student may be wishing to pursue.
In conclusion, extra effort should be made from time to time to ensure the rates of dropouts are minimized. Dropping out of college may seem like a tempting idea, as shown by other people in society. Parents, friends, and successful people such as Oprah Winfrey and Steve Jobs are all easier influencers to dropping out. Students should realize that everyone has a different set of conditions in college, and it’s unwise to choose to drop out because someone else did it. College dropouts have differing characteristics, thus leading to different solutions to each need and circumstance. Ultimately, such a scenario results in a complex problem requiring multiple complex solutions. Solving the college dropout crisis requires a team effort contribution by everyone, including students, parents, administrators, teachers, and the government. Dropping out of college should be the last option after considerable effort has been put into staying in college.
Works cited
Selingo, Jeffrey. “Perspective | Why Do so Many Students Drop out of College? And
What Can Be Done about It?” The Washington Post, WP Company, 29 Apr. 2019,
Strauss, Valerie. “Perspective | ‘A Dereliction of Duty: The College Dropout Scandal – and How to Fix It.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 10 Sept. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/09/10/a-dereliction-duty-college-dropout-scandal-how-fix-it/.
Zambas, Joanna. “12 Things to Do If You Drop Out of College.” CareerAddict, 22 Oct. 2020, www.careeraddict.com/college-dropout.
