4 ms·

On one hand I agree with your sentiments but expecting an 18 year old to "take responsibility" and choose the right thing for themselves at that age is reasonab

On one hand I agree with your sentiments but expecting an 18 year old to "take responsibility" and choose the right thing for themselves at that age is reasonable at first sight but doesn't take into account the reality of being a young adult. How many young adults have the confidence, long term thinking and proper guidance to decide that they should go to a cheaper school? At that age the percentage of people having that kind of maturity is very small (obviously in my opinion). Maybe you are in that small percentage. Now, like I said, you are absolutely right, ultimately it is their decision, but I wouldn't fully blame a fat person for eating that piece of chocolate cake when its been dangled in front of them all day.

hnal943 13y ago
If they can't take responsibility in this manner then they are not young adults; they are still children. Rather than infantilizing high school grads, there needs to be social pressure for them to rise to the challenge.
- avenger123 13y ago
  I agree with you. I like what Dave Ramsey is doing in this area. I just don't want to make a blanket statement that they made their choice so be it. I would love to know how many of these students sit down with their career councilors at school. Even if they do, how many of these councilors actually give proper advice versus just saying "great idea, go to that school for your liberal arts degree, here's the student loans you need to fill out, don't worry about the $80,000 tuition, the loans will cover you." I think that you are right that the real discussion should be how do we change the culture so that the right "social pressure" is there to allow someone to reject going overreaching with their school choice.
JonFish85 13y ago
18 is where we as a nation have "decided" that a person is mature enough to make these kinds of decisions (except for alcohol, thank you very much Federal Aid Highway Act). At 18 you're your own person, for better or worse. I don't think coddling people any longer makes things better--eventually you need to grow up and be your own person and be responsible for yourself. At that point your parents have fulfilled their legal responsibilities to you, and you are responsible from there forward. There are a lot of benefits that come along with being an adult, but you can't have it both ways: the benefits of being a child and no responsibilities but the ability to make decisions for yourself.

hnal943 13y ago

If they can't take responsibility in this manner then they are not young adults; they are still children. Rather than infantilizing high school grads, there needs to be social pressure for them to rise to the challenge.

avenger123 13y ago
I agree with you. I like what Dave Ramsey is doing in this area. I just don't want to make a blanket statement that they made their choice so be it. I would love to know how many of these students sit down with their career councilors at school. Even if they do, how many of these councilors actually give proper advice versus just saying "great idea, go to that school for your liberal arts degree, here's the student loans you need to fill out, don't worry about the $80,000 tuition, the loans will cover you." I think that you are right that the real discussion should be how do we change the culture so that the right "social pressure" is there to allow someone to reject going overreaching with their school choice.

JonFish85 13y ago

18 is where we as a nation have "decided" that a person is mature enough to make these kinds of decisions (except for alcohol, thank you very much Federal Aid Highway Act). At 18 you're your own person, for better or worse. I don't think coddling people any longer makes things better--eventually you need to grow up and be your own person and be responsible for yourself. At that point your parents have fulfilled their legal responsibilities to you, and you are responsible from there forward. There are a lot of benefits that come along with being an adult, but you can't have it both ways: the benefits of being a child and no responsibilities but the ability to make decisions for yourself.