Message to High School Grads:

“Think Twice About Taking a Gap Year”

By Noelle Bartl and Susan Larsen

For generations, word of mouth has helped many discover that ENMUwas right for them. Please, won’t you help us educate the next generation of Greyhounds?

Understandably, the recent high school graduates have concerns about their health and safety, limited in-person class opportunities, or the lack of the typical “college experience” while having to social distance.

Many young people are questioning their futures and considering taking a “gap year” as our nation responds to the pandemic. Sharing your undergrad success stories is critical right now as the next generation figure out what’s best for them. Fortunately, the youth are smart, innovative and optimistic. They will lead all of us toward a better post-COVID-19 world.

As ENMU Alumni and friends, you are the best ambassadors for recruiting future Greyhounds. If you have any high school seniors or recent grads in your life, whether they are your kids, grandkids, neighbor’s kids, students you teach or mentor, etc., your ENMU endorsements are like gold (or should we say “silver”?).

In your role as an ENMU ambassador, please consider the following talking points:

• Delaying the start of one’s college career may negatively impact one’s entire lifetime earnings because of missing out on the experience and additional opportunities for raises compared to students that take a break from earning their degrees.

• College graduates are more likely to be better prepared for declines in labor market opportunities.

As seen at the start of the pandemic, workers without a college degree were the hardest hit population when the nation wentinto lockdowns.

• With the recently elevated unemployment rates, continuing to work toward a degree may be the wiser option — students may qualify for additional financial aid if their families encountered increased financial hardship this year.

• There is an increased possibility that the longer one waits to start school, the more difficult it becomes to return.

Everyone needs to decide what their college and career paths will look like. Your ability to truly listen and share your positive Eastern experiences may make all the difference. If the teenager in your life asks, please share the www.enmu.edu website.