Everyone remembers being asked in elementary school what they wanted to be when they grow up. Most people said the generic jobs, they wanted to be a teacher, actor, or professional athlete. Most high schoolers don’t even know what they want to be when they graduate, and many college students change their major halfway through college. Schools across the US are now making incoming high schoolers choose a major or “endorsement”, a choice that affects the rest of their classes throughout high school. Students shouldn’t have to choose their major for the rest of their lives the second they begin their high school career.
In states across the US, New Jersey, Texas, and more, have implemented new strategies to help students on their path to college and after. In the New York Times, an article about a school in Englewood, New Jersey, Winnie Hu informed us that freshmen at Dwight Morrow High School must declare a major that will determine what electives they take for four years and be noted on their diplomas. High school is supposed to be the years when you find what interests you and what you excel in and with these programs, many students feel stressed to choose a major when they don’t know what they want to do yet.
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In an article by Stephanie Lyons, she objected that “High school freshman forced to pick majors at a young age could add pressure and restrict them to one department of interest.” In most of these programs across the country, students are limited to only changing their mind, one time. This causes conflict for students who are still exploring their options. Many school administrators will argue that they can explore different careers with this new program, throughout their high school and it prepares students for choosing their major in college and careers after. Although it may prepare students for college and after, a better way needs to be