Many kids from factory towns like Detroit, MI and Dayton, OH had a very clear picture of what they wanted to do when they grew up—they would get jobs at an automotive factory, get married, and start a family.

These dreams were ultimately crushed when the economy tanked, sending companies like General Motors into bankruptcy. However, there was one side effect of the recession that experts didn’t anticipate—kids who formerly aspired to work in the factories are now starting to think seriously about college.

The New York Times quotes Carol Romie, a guidance counselor who works at a high school at the blue-collar town of Dayton. She says “It used to be kids would say, ‘I don’t need to go to college. I can go to work with my dad at G.M. and have a good life.’ With G.M. closed, that’s not an option nowadays.”

With the factories closing, an increasing number of high school students are looking to colleges to provide them with an alternative career path.

“After what happened at G.M., you have to go to college to find a job,” one student said. With the job market offering high school graduates little beyond the realm of minimum-wage work, more students than ever before are heading on the path to higher education at community colleges. The military is another popular option for students who are looking for a stable career.

The Times quoted Nick Salyers, a student who was hoping to follow his grandfather’s career at a nearby auto plant. He stated, “I needed something secure,” he said. “No matter what happens, I’ll always have a job in the Army. I don’t have to worry about getting laid off. I don’t have to experience what my parents experienced.”

The new generation of teens and twenty-somethings are finding it difficult to follow in their parents’ footsteps during this recession. With the nation facing the worst economy that it has experienced in decades, many students are choosing to simply settle with low-paying jobs after their factory dreams were dashed.

With the manufacturing industry quickly collapsing, middle class America is predicted to undergo a huge social and economic change. With the increasing number of teens looking to community colleges and the military for career options, we can expect a higher-educated workforce.

What do you think this will mean for the future of America?