Dear Future President,

                   To start, congratulations on your election into office and I'm honored to write you directly whether you actually read this letter or not . You face the hardest job in the nation to lead us onwards hopefully to success within these next four years. I expect you complete your plan that were stated during your campaign. I know that you will receive thousands of these letter on ranging issues such as economy, gun control, teen drug use, cost of college, transgender bathrooms and homeless youth, but I heavily suggest you direct your attention to the debate of training high school students for the workforce. 

               To be or not to be , well in this case to go or not to go. We are generation that making history as of 2010 as Andy Warner, a artist that creates informational illustration so that everyone can have an overall understanding of topics, illustrates in Is college worth the cost? AN illustrated explainer staying “... 20 million Americans were enrolled in colleges … more than at any other time in history” that seems amazing until you get to the part after graduation as Andy also explains that we are making history in debts, “.. 30 years ago the average student debt was less than $10,000” but now “ … in 2012 [student debts] was $29,400.” This incredible debt is the reason for the argument whether it necessary for us to attend college, or should we lean more toward a system like one General Assemble, a global educational institution destined to train people with “non-credit course … how to build applications for android, google’s Mobile platform.” (What the Future of Tech Skills Education Could Look Like by Anya Kamenetz). Being a high school student that doesn't feel prepared for the next step in my life, I wish to show you the both sides of the debate and what I believe one hundred percent is the best plan.                                                                                                                                                     

           Now the tradition and almost seemingly next step after high school is to go to college or other secondary education, but is it the right choice even with the cost? Well Mr. Warner possess a better question “If you can afford to skip {college}”. Let look at some facts shall we, like a person with a degree will make on average $650,000 after 40 years of work then without (Is college worth the cost? AN illustrated explainer ). Plus the change of you having a job even during recessions such as in 2008 -2010 with an associate's or bachelor's degree is greater than those without any education higher the high school, almost by the thousand (Is college worth the cost? AN illustrated explainer).                                     

          Like an discussion there is another side to this is no different, many believe college is too expensive and not worth the time especially when there are different opposites like vocational training and workforce training. College maybe expensive, but that's not the only reason that many shouldn’t go, “40% of those you choose to go to 4 year college dropout and 70 % that go the a community college with dropout”.( Should more kids skip college for workforce training? By PBS news). With this numbers it's up to the high school to prepare the students the next step, such as Southeastern Regional Vocational technical high school where students learn work training on top of their normal schooling, so after graduation they can either go straight into the employment or further education.                                                                                                                                                                                                         

           This way of teaching is working on all levels look at the sores on proficiency test Southeastern had 73% socar above proficient in math and 90% in English.( Should more kids skip college for workforce training? By PBS news) . Businesses are also look at students with alternative education, such as Android and Google hiring straight for General Assembly. As mentioned above, general assembly is a education industry preparing many for the workforce and they successful, about 60% of those that graduate are found in related jobs with an average of 38% salary raise. That's a huge paycheck difference that is not a mistake in the data. This alternative is also extremely popular, co-CEO of General Assembly, Adam Protzker and Matthew Brimer open their first building in 2011 and within four years has “fourteen campuses in seven countries.”( What the future of tech skills education could look like by Anya Kamenetx).                                                                                                                   

            Now the question remains: what the better choice? Neither, as both have upside they also have downside, college is expertise and now many graduate with degree that helps them pay bills for a long time. And, as for altering programs, they are still flawed with the idea of racism and pushing students onto the tracks without fully helping them achieve normal education. The plan I argue to go for is the one we have in my home county, all our public high school have signature academia, now it's not a vocational school or workforce training. Its extra classes that the student chooses to take meaning it's not forced onto them or required in anyway. We get the a seal on are deplanes if we chose to take part in this programs that help land us jobs in the field that matches our program. As this may sound silly coming from a student in Nevada, the 50th place in the education, but this program works. I have always struggles in school and have work had to overcome every obstacle in my way weather in be my reading disability , transitioning out of special ed classes , or an ongoing struggle with cancer in my home life; but i will say that having a program that i enjoy and has help me find what i wish to do the rest of my life, makes getting up going to school easier for me because i have something to work for now.                                                                                                                                      

Sincerely,

Kathleen J. Featherstone 

Resources

@Annelise_KQED. "Should More High Schools Offer Workforce Training?" KQED Learning. PBS News Hour, n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2016.

Kamenetz, NPR By Anya. "What the Future of Tech Skills Education Could Look Like." MindShift. N.p., 3 Nov. 2015. Web. 07 Nov. 2016

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Warner, By Andy. "Is College Worth the Cost? An Illustrated Explainer." The Lowdown. American Public Media, n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2016