# Preparing Students for the Real World: Why Career Education, Not College, May Be the Answer

By Michael B. Horn · Published 2025-04-07 · Updated 2026-06-08 · Education Technology on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/career-education-for-all-jean-eddy
Creator hub: The Future of Education with Michael Horn

> Millions of young adults are neither working nor studying, signaling that traditional pathways may be failing students in today's job market

## Key points

- Millions of U.S. young adults are neither working nor in school, signaling a systemic failure in traditional education pathways.
- Pushing all students toward college can increase financial and emotional risk, particularly for those without clear purpose or direction.
- Career education, work-based learning, and employer partnerships starting in middle school can better align student interests with viable career paths.

Block Field

Amid a nationwide reassessment of the “college-for-all” mindset, data reveal that millions of young adults in the U.S. are [neither in school nor working](https://www.ssrc.org/measure-of-america/2024/06/14/from-data-to-legislation-tackling-youth-disconnection/). This is a staggering sign that our traditional education pathways may not be serving all learners. With [rising tuition costs](https://marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/articles-education-technology/debt-and-inflation-is-disrupting-higher-education-shifting-the-tide-in-confidence-and-college-enrollment/), high dropout rates, and a rapidly evolving job market, education leaders are urgently asking: how do we better prepare students for lives of purpose and prosperity in a world that's changing faster than our classrooms—and could career education be the missing link?

> Is it time to reimagine education not as a college conveyor belt, but as a system that equips every student, early on, with the tools to discover who they are, what they're good at, and what the world actually needs?

In this episode of [*The Future of Education*](https://marketscale.com/shows/the-future-of-education-with-michael-horn/), host [Michael Horn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbhorn/) sits down with **Jean Eddy**, President and CEO of [American Student Assistance](https://www.asa.org/) (ASA), to explore the central themes of her new book, [*Crisis Proofing Today's Learners*](https://www.amazon.com/Crisis-Proofing-Todays-Learners-Reimagining-Education/dp/1475872445). Their conversation challenges entrenched narratives about post-secondary success and offers a bold vision for how schools, parents, and policymakers can support students’ long-term well-being, starting in middle school, with career education at the heart of the solution.

**Key takeaways from the episode…**

- **Redefining Risk in Post-Secondary Paths:** Eddy argues that pushing all students toward college can actually increase risk, financially and emotionally, especially for those who enroll without a clear purpose or passion.
- **The Power of Early Exploration:** Middle school is a critical window for identity formation and exposure to diverse careers. Discovery, not default, should be the goal.
- **From College-for-All to Career-Education-for-All:** Work-based learning, employer partnerships, and alternative credentials can bridge the gap between students’ interests and viable career paths.

### About the Guest

**Jean Eddy** is an accomplished education executive with over 25 years of experience leading large-scale operational and student-focused transformations in higher education. She currently serves as President & CEO of **American Student Assistance**, where she champions career exploration and readiness for young learners. Previously, she held senior leadership roles at **Northeastern University**, **Brandeis University**, and the **Rhode Island School of Design**, and has been recognized as a Forbes Contributor, award-winning author, and one of the Top 10 edTech Influencers to Watch in 2025.

Tags: American Student Assistance, career education, Crisis Proofing Today’s Learners book, Jean Eddy, Michael Horn, The Future of Education

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