@OldFashioned1 said, “it’s cool to be gunning for an elite school and high status career.”
Actually, what I find cool is the kids who are self-motivated and find their own path. Our neighbors are struggling with feeling a bit disappointed that their son, who is studying Biology at an OOS school, will likely be applying to seminary. He’s got good grades and could go to med school. But that’s not his passion. He started the summer after his freshman year at college working part time with the youth ministry of a church near campus. This past year, he was a full time student, an RA (which pays for his room and board plus a stipend), and ran the middle school youth program for this church (which pays enough that he’s been able to pay half of his OOS tuition this year). This summer he’s working with a youth group at a church in another state. As I watch this unfold, it literally takes my breath away, how completely natural this path is for this young man … this is not work for him … it is joy. It comes to him as naturally as breathing. What a blessing he is and will be. I understand his parents’ concerns about how he’ll support himself, etc., but I give the kid a big round of applause for knowing what he loves and going after it and making it happen … 100% on his own.