College, Parents, and Pressure

NOTE: Sorry. Didn't see the 'first round acceptance' bit until after the post. And by the way, it's her. Also, I will refer to my opponent in second person terms, hope you won't mind.Counter-arguments1. There is already too much stress Your basic idea: Parents shouldn't pressure teenagers when they are already stressed My argument: Maybe you should think of it in another way. Empathise and think of it from your parents' point of view. They care about you, they love you to the depth and breadth that their souls could reach. They have raised you for 18 years without asking for anything significant in return, except for your respect and your well-being. So is it really too much to ask, for you to listen to them on something that would be beneficial to you? They are not going to make a decision for you if they didn't think that it would do you good. Maybe you feel that you are already stressed, but they must be stressed too. Their child is facing the biggest decision in their life so far, and of course they'd want to make it perfect so that their child would not regret it one day. All they want to do is to share some of your troubles and help you so that you won't feel so stressed anymore.2. America is the land of the FREE (Although I have some disagreement over the subtitle, I will save it for another argument.) Your basic idea: 18 year-olds are old enough to make their own decisions. My argument: It depends on who you are. Some teenagers are mature enough to make their own decisions, some certainly aren't. I speak as a teenager who is currently deciding whether to go to 6th Form or get a job. Most of my classmates, including myself, have doubts and concerns on what to do. This is when we would turn to our parents for advice, because in the end, they are the ones who knows us best. When they try to make you go to college, they are NOT trying to restrict your freedom, or make you suffer through endless years of education. You say that you are old enough to make decisions, and indeed you might be, but your parents have much more experience in life than you. If it came down to it, they are more qualified than you at make the right choices. And I totally agree with you on the fact that 18 years-olds "don't need anyone else to wipe the dribble of their mouths", but decisions like college are much more important than wiping dribble. You would not want to look back to this one day and regret the fact that you didn't listen to your parents.Moreover, some people are not so mature. There has been many crimes committed by young adults due to ignorance or lack of care, and no matter what the reasons were behind their actions, they still committed a crime. There will be no turning back from the moment that they decide, and they will probably regret it for the rest of their lives, probably somewhere in prison. Still think that all 18 year-olds are totally qualified for making important decisions? Furthermore, maybe you think that you shouldn't be treated like a child anymore, but in your parents' eyes, that's exactly what you are. And that's exactly what you will be for the rest of your life. So maybe just listen to what they have to say and consider their reasons. The argument below is copied from the first round, since I didn't see the 1st round acceptance sign...Con Argument:College can give you a better chance in the futureIf you consider the view of the parents, then it is not at all hard to see why this reason stands. I'm not saying that going to college would secure your future, because that would be lying. Many people today graduate from college and cannot find a job.However, college certainly can help you in acquiring more life skills and opening up more opportunities. You'll be meeting more people, some of whom you may remain in contact with for life, whether it is out of friendship or mutual interests.Furthermore, college will help you to learn about more things that you did not know before, therefore helping to widen your horizons. Like they say, knowledge will never weigh you down.And anyways, why else do you think that most governments make education compulsory for under 16s? It proves that there must be something good in learning.Sorry if I wrote too much. Bear with me. Thank you.