PLATFORM : College Isn’t for All

MONICA NEIL, 19, of Cerritos commented on President-elect Bill Clinton’s plans for a $1-billion program that would create 300,000 apprenticeships for high school students who do not go on to college. She told The Times:

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There was never a time during my school days that I had the desire to go on to college. Now, two years since my high school graduation, I wonder if I made the right decision. I know there’s a recession on and jobs are tight. But I still feel that I’m being denied work because I don’t have that degree.

I realize that a lot of jobs require a college degree. But I don’t want to be a doctor or a lawyer. I just want to make a living. Why should I be punished because I didn’t choose to go to college? It seems there aren’t enough ways for people like me, who chose not to go to college--be it financial or otherwise--to be trained for jobs that pay a decent wage.

My dad always used to tell me that when he was in high school, there were ways for kids to get good-paying jobs without having to go to college. We need programs to train us. We all can’t go to college. So at least let those who don’t go have a chance of making a decent wage.