By KATIE EDWARDS
After graduating high school in 2009, Sheila Lapointe had to support herself by working two jobs and paying her own bills.
Lapointe got her first job at Panera Bread in December 2008 and started working at Jason’s Deli in July 2009.
“I live on my own and support myself and pay the bills. I have to work two jobs. It taught me a lot of discipline and responsibility,” Lapointe said.“I didn’t feel I was ready for college. I had other things I had to deal with that had to do with my family and I wanted to have my full potential going into school.”
According to Rebecca A. Ruiz with New York Times 48 percent of students had preparation for college for as their number one priority and 42 percent for parents.
Lapointe plans on starting online classes in the summer to have time for both school and her two jobs, which she needs to pay for her schooling. She plans on getting her bachelors in business with a concentration in marketing. She would like to work in a large advertising company or help smaller companies who need it.
“Now there are a lot more options. It’s hard to find the right school to make sure the school is accredited and that the credits will carry on to whatever I plan to do,” Lapointe said.
In the Nov. 28 2008 article of The Chronicle of Higher Education stated that a typical four-year-college graduate earns more than 50 percent more than high-school graduates.
“I sometimes don’t know whether to keep my phone on or even to go out with friends because I have to support myself. It made me grow up because mommy and daddy aren’t there to help anymore,” Lapointe said.