COMMENT: A degree of realism may be useful (From Oxford Mail)

COMMENT: A degree of realism may be useful

9:00am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Editorial Comment

There are surely times when, to teenagers at least, it must seem that the Holy Grail of success, happiness and prosperity is a university place.

That simply by entry to these learned institutions, their whole lives will suddenly make sense; their jigsaw of teenage hopes and aspirations finally fitting together to create a picture of meaning and fulfilment.

And of course, achieving a place at university is still an extraordinary achievement which for many does transform their lives and dreams.

But equally it’s easy to forget that there are many youngsters who go on to achieve great things without ever crossing the threshold of a lecture theatre.

Who, bereft of any kind of degree qualification, nonetheless work hard, apply themselves and, for want of a better expression, win their spurs from the University of Life.

Maybe, like all of us, they’ll have regrets about a missed opportunity, but the truth is, university is not the be-all and end-all.

After all, consider all the university graduates who still find the everyday pressures of life just as monotonous, just as unrewarding and just as transient.

So even though the number of university applications from Oxford youngsters has dropped by 15 per cent, let’s be realistic – it isn’t the end of the world. Indeed, for many it may be the spark that lights their fire...