Melissa Joan Hart talks son not going to college: 'It's been tricky'
Melissa Joan Hart has a full house − literally − and she's got no complaints.
The former teen star opened up to People in an interview published Wednesday about her eldest son's decision not to go to college.
Mason, 18, is pursuing aviation, which means while some others his age are headed off to college, he's living at home instead. While she appreciates the extra quality time now, Hart told the outlet there was a bit of stigma at the beginning.
"It's been tricky," the "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" star told People, "There's all this expectation about what should happen."
"It's a little strange to not be doing the typical, normal thing," she added, "But I also think a lot of kids these days are finding different paths, and I think that's fine."
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Aviation is one of many careers that don't require a four-year degree. Trade schools are growing in popularity among younger generations in part due to the high price tag of a traditional college. As artificial intelligence rakes through the tech industry and beyond, some students also see some of the hands-on jobs taught in trade schools as less vulnerable to the machine-learning takeover.
About 62% of high school (or equivalent) graduates go on to postsecondary study, which can refer to trade school or a four-year university, the Education Data Initiative, a collective of education data researchers, reports.
"I look at it as a real blessing now, whereas, in the beginning, it felt weird to not be doing what everyone else was traditionally doing," Hart told People. "The kids were all leaving for college. They're decorating their dorms. Or they're coming home for the holiday and stuff."
Now though, Hart, who is also mom to Braydon, 16, and Tucker, 12, feels spoiled by the extra time with her eldest. Having him home for dinner every night and being able to drag him to his brother's dance recitals is a blessing, the actress told the outlet.
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Hart herself pursued college in an unorthodox way, telling Today.com in May that she "fought hard" to go to university while filming "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," though she did not ultimately collect enough credits to graduate.
Still, she values the time she spent at New York University, and holds out hope her son may change his mind.
"I'm still hopeful that he'll go, but if he doesn't, that's OK."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Melissa Joan Hart opens up about son not going to college
