Travis J. Kennedy
Mr. Gellert
ENG4U0 
February 10th, 2014
The Effects of Post Secondary Failure Educational journeys take on a new speed when the finality of high school approaches. Millions of questions and concerns begin to enter the late teenage mind considering what the future holds and how one will get there. One moment kids are asking teachers to go to the washroom and just months later they are expected to completely manage their own lives and in many cases a long way from home. High school students are graduating every year being ill prepared for the educational adventure ahead of them. This failing responsibility points fingers at a variety sources, teachers, the system and even the students themselves. In this present situation graduating students find themselves in, it is not likely to quickly change without a broad brush stroke that will speak honesty, change perspective and shake the very structures that we find ourselves in. The lives of students are greatly influenced by the teachers that make a difference in them everyday. It is through their wisdom, guidance and support that students are motivated to learn and grow. Unfortunately, some views on the precise role that they play are mixed and not very positive. Building relationships with teachers is a critical piece of one’s educational walk, however being sure the relationship is the right one is critical. “Taking them under wing and individually leading them through higher education is not top priority in most universities, especially larger, research intensive ones.” (Page 1) The taking of students under ones wing has some many important features, however considering how this may not be the best support for senior students, needs some consideration. If students are coddled and cared for too much in high school, the harsh reality of university life where you never even speak directly to a professor and certainly have little if any time to get to know them with upwards of 100 students in your class. As beneficial has I find strong relationships with teachers to be, the understanding that it may be falsely preparing us for our post secondary adventures is reality. 
 Taking responsibility of our own educational futures seems an overwhelming task. Student’s mindsets at seventeen years old, do not seem mature enough to make such grand decisions. Our selfish thinking and ways are clear indications of our stubbornness to think too far ahead.“Group of A- students come to think that they do not need to do more because they are at the top; they can become know-it-alls, or untouchables.” (Page 7) This false self prophecy makes for difficult classes in university a terrible disappointment. As a whole this twenty-first learning cluster, lack the hard work ethic that many of our parents professed and shared. Student’s ideas of hard work are less than half of what our ancestors produced. This consuming presence keeps them from being successful when it comes to post secondary studies. Finally, although the hard work ethic seems to be lacking with many, the pendulum also swings the other way where kids are carrying many additional responsibilities in order to have the financial stability to even get to post secondary education. Balancing life has been difficult for students, who have had jobs since they were fourteen and finding some type of footing between school and work. The pressures are likely only to get worse. Students have created this huge divide and are therefore unprepared for what lays ahead. 
 The educational system as a whole may have the wrong idea when it comes to focus and academic success.