Santa Clara County is one of the world’s high tech magnets, but it’s also one of the most expensive places to live. This Silicon Valley takes pride in its well-educated work force and urges each teenager to acquire the highest education possible. Consequently, there is an intensive push for teenagers to go on to four-year colleges and universities. High school grade-point average competition frequently exceeds 4.0 points, while driven students take more and more Advanced Placement and College Preparation classes. Unfortunately, that can result in an elitist attitude, giving status only to very academic students and highly educated people. A message frequently is suggested: only people with master’s degrees and above can survive in our area.
It is important that we acknowledge and appreciate our highly educated work force, but we also must recognize the value of and need for a diverse community with varied job opportunities ranging from the service sector to retail and construction industries to maintenance. We need to remember our Western American history. As the United States expanded westward in the 19th century, our new culture began to respect common working people at a level that had never been achieved before. Early pioneers had to tackle all kinds of jobs to create new communities in the West. Consequently, the legacy of the dignity of manual labor and all honest work is still a powerful part of American heritage.
We must honor all human beings in their efforts to contribute to their community and to develop skills so that they can support themselves and their families. Fortunately, our high schools do have high standards for all of its students: their job is to keep all doors wide open for them so that students can develop skills enabling them to have adequate employment. Our schools do promote an education leading to four-year colleges and universities. In addition, the high schools recognize the value of two-year junior colleges with their extensive vocational training courses in agriculture, business, engineering technologies, health sciences, social services and trade/industrial careers.
Further, private adult schools offer education in computer science and repair, software creation, animation and web design. Public high school counselors have a wealth of information, which will help students consider and focus on many different career options. In addition, Cal-SOAP (California Student Opportunity and Access Program) provides career counseling directly on high school campuses and connects students to various career options. They even provide tutoring support.
It is important to remember the necessity of balance. We must have all types of jobs performed and respected in our community. All individuals should be applauded for honest efforts and accomplishments, whether or not they attend an Ivy League university to study rocket science. Above all, we must appreciate our good fortune of living in an area that has almost innumerable and constantly expanding opportunities for today’s teenagers.
Catherine Connor is a junior at Ann Sobrato High School.
