Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal

Going to high school in Coon Rapids, Jalayah Johnson found it hard to sit still. Her mind didn’t want to stay on any one topic. 

At the same time, Johnson said, “I always found interest in building things.” Eventually, school staff steered her toward a dedicated program at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest. There, Johnson learned technical skills including industrial painting, commercial painting, drywall and taping. 

She ultimately decided to specialize in glazing and glasswork – a less sticky, messy trade than painting. Today, Johnson is an apprentice glazer for the Empire House, a women-owned-and-operated commercial glass company in Mounds View, Minnesota.

“It’s really fun. It’s really helpful,” Johnson said. She can be herself at work – and succeed.

Johnson’s experience highlights a question that faces many high-school students in Minnesota: Is college still worth it? The answer depends on whom you ask. Students cite a variety of challenges to creating post-secondary plans: financial constraints, family pressures, mental health challenges, and a general fatigue with classroom learning. 

Johnson was one of five panelists who shared their experiences and advice on how to choose the right path after high school, at a community conversation entitled, “Is College Still Worth It?” 

The conversation was hosted by Sahan digital producer Alberto Villafan and MPR News host Nina Moini. A recording of the conversation will air Monday, Nov. 3 at 9 a.m., streaming on mprnews.org or airing on the radio at 91.1 FM in the Twin Cities metro. A video of the event will 

The event, hosted on October 9 at Saint Paul Neighborhood Network, gathered a group of young people and education professionals to share their experiences, knowledge and advice. 

The panelists included,

‘There is no single path’ 

The conversation started with young people sharing their path to where they are now. 

Marquan Harper, a sophomore at the University of St. Thomas, felt a family expectation to go to college. But he also had the desire to learn. Harper is double majoring in digital media arts and marketing management. 

“I think that college is probably the most safe environment for me to be developmentally at this time in my life right now,” Harper said.  

Marquan Harper shares his experiences balancing his undergraduate education at University of St. Thomas and running his events company, Ador Hospitality on Thursday, Oct. 9, in St. Paul. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal

It helps that Harper received a full-ride scholarship to St. Thomas. And he’s already starting  leveraging his learnings and connections to improve his business: Harper is also the founder of Ador Hospitality, an events company for young people in the Twin Cities. 

That entrepreneurial path doesn’t have to include a stop at college. Frida Torres Macal, founder of the That Social Invite, always thought she would attend college. But once she began weighing her options, that plan changed. 

“I started to get um more educated,” Macal said. “What does the curriculum actually look like? What does that investment actually look like?” 

Those questions led Macal to a different course. “I would like to have an experience that I can get more hands-on work experience sooner rather than later,” she said. 

Macal enrolled online for a digital marketing degree, but never finished it. Instead, on her own, she picked up social media marketing skills. And she started managing her mom’s business account. 

Over social media, she won her first (non-mom) client: a juice bar owner in Atlanta. Then, she launched her business That Social Invite, an agency helping women-owned businesses and professionals grow their brands through content and digital strategy. 

Ali Osman, a counselor at South High School in Minneapolis, details how he helps students determine a post-high school plan that suits their aspirations on Thursday, Oct. 9, in St. Paul. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal

Navigating all the pressures 

Ali Osman, a counselor at South High School in Minneapolis, uses an individualized approach to help students create their post-secondary plans. “There is no single path,” he said. “We always prioritize students’ needs and what they want.”

Students, he stresses, can tap into a range of resources to pay for college, especially through scholarships. (Families will also need to tackle the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid — better known FAFSA.) 

But Osman makes a point of saying that students don’t need to attend college after high school. 

“When you have the right mindset, that’s when you can go and start college, or (a) career — whatever you want to decide,” Osman said. 

Osman’s sentiments were echoed by Jessica Yang, the senior implementation manager of Get Ready GEAR UP Minnesota Program. In her role, she works with districts and schools across the state to assist students and families with post-secondary and career options. That may include academic support, financial-aid guidance, and partnerships. The program begins working with students in middle school, sixth and seventh grades

Sometimes those next steps are unclear. Here, Yang emphasizes the importance for students to give themselves grace. 

These family decisions are taking place against a backdrop of turmoil in higher education and the job market. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities saw a jump in enrollment this fall of nearly 7 percent, compared to last spring. Many factors are contributing to enrollment increases, including the North Star Promise. This new program, for families earning less than $80,000 a year, makes tuition free at a wide variety of Minnesota’s public and Tribal campuses.

Would you do it again?

Given the many options available after high school graduation, we asked our panelists, “Would you make the same post-secondary decision again?”

“Yes. I would absolutely take the same path,” said Macal, the social-media entrepreneur. 

Macal emphasized the importance of all the skills she’s learned by starting her own business She expressed gratitude for all the connections she has gained along the way. Most important, she’s proud that she stuck to her passion and believed in herself. 

Frida Torres Macal elected to dive into entrepreneurship after graduating high school and found social media company That Social Invite. During a Sahan Journal Community Conversation on Oct. 9, she details her path through independent labor. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal

Still, running a business at a younger age demands a lot of focus. “Going into college, you do have a sense of community,” she said. That network can help students learn how to navigate challenges and remain disciplined. Macal had to learn how to do it herself. 

Harper, the sophomore at St. Thomas, also feels satisfied with his direction. “I don’t regret a thing,” he said. 

However, he stressed that school comes with time-management pressures and mental-health challenges. “There’s still a level of expectation that I have to go and perform in order to keep my scholarship,” Harper said. 

For many, the lure of attending college involves all the stuff that goes on outside the classroom. “I definitely wish I had that kind of experience of getting to know people my age and connecting with younger generations,” Johnson, the apprentice glazer, said. “I definitely do think I missed out on what it feels like to be in your 20s.” That is, “a middle ground between adulting and having the little bit of freedom you have left.”

However, Johnson doesn’t regret her decision. “It made me [the] person who I am today.”

Where to watch and hear the conversation

You can watch the livestream recording on Sahan Journal’s YouTube page here. 

At 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, the community conversation will air on “MPR News with Angela Davis,” on 91.1 FM (in the Twin Cities area), or mprnews.org. 

Please check back and follow our social media for any updates to the above broadcasts. 

Graduating high school in Minnesota? Check out these post-secondary resources 

Hannah Ihekoronye is the community engagement manager at Sahan Journal. She helps connect people with Sahan Journal by distributing its news on the website and social media and assisting with community...