Getting kids intrested in college

I firmly believe that Rob Rogers and his program should be honored for
the effort he is making in high schooler's lives. Attending college is so much more
crucial in our age than it was 50 years ago. Its harder to make a living with only a high
school diploma, and downright impossible with anything under that. If its true that
" more students (are) becoming eligible to attend a CSU or UC and more students (are) filling out the FAFSA," then his efforts are not only helping these individuals, but statistically making
our state look amazing. I've heard so many of my friends here at west valley talk about how they can't afford a college education, and how they might as well just join the military or do something
that doesn't require one. I feel like this program is not only making a difference for the students themselves, but for the parents that want to give their kids everything and can't.
If it's true that 18.8% of Shasta county has a post-high school degree, in comparison to the state wide 29.5%, then I would say there is alot of work to be done. That's most likely the reason why Rogers started the program in the first place. The most depressing thing about that, to me, is that our north state high schools put forth alot of effort to make sure that we meet state and national standards, that the kids are ready and willing to try their hardest, and that they have the tools they need to get far in life. So why wouldn't our students be going off and becoming millionaires or making a difference? Why wouldn't they want to do that?
I have two theories to that; The first one being that we have community colleges that distract us. Instead of aiming higher and trying to find a college that, although expensive, will
give us a key to a very successful future, we decide that a community college is the easier route. We make promises to ourselves that we'll figure something out after we go to shasta, after we get some general education out of the way. In all reality, kids go to a community college, having no idea in mind as to what they want, thinking that it will come to them naturally. After 3 years of fiddling around, failing and passing, switching and dropping out, kids realize that their best bet would have been to have a plan. So in the long run, money is wasted anyway.
My second theory is that kids dont feel that they are good enough. People seem to glorify college as a resource only available for the extremely intelligent, gifted, and rich. But what isn't shown to them is that they CAN apply, and its okay if they don't get accepted. Its okay to put yourself out there and see if any colleges will take you, because sometimes they do.
I believe that if this program really is making a difference, it deserves more funding and more cooperation with even more colleges. This program should try and advertise more, try and aim not only at the students, but at the parents. Also, to help the kids try and understand themselves better, so they know the attributes they have that will help them to be successful.