What is it about college that we never recieve a break? I am not talking about Spring break, or Easter break, or even Summer break. I am talking about people helping out people.
I remember growing up learning about how college used to be about more then curriculum. Not that I do not think that the education end is important, but where does creativity and adventure come in? Are we not supposed to go to college to become more wordly? That is what I believed college was all about. However, it seems like every teacher believes that college should be work 24/7, 365 days a year. There is no time to find out who we are anymore. to be honest, I am 22, about to graduate, and I still do not have a clue who I am or what I want to do. Not that I am free of blame but it feels like all school has been is something to do.
Classes are scheduled for fall and Spring, but the odds of completing in four years without having to go in the summer, or even over winter break are slim to none at this point. What has college become and why did it become this way? I had a teacher my freshman year tell me about how the Universities are the only place left in the country that are not overrun by the corporations and the government, until he pointed out the coca-cola sign on the football score board. Let's face it, four years of college may get us a good job and give us some security, but I learn more about the world in the bar business then I do in any class room.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
What is college for? Much too large a question to answer in one go. I could give a practical answer and say, it shows employers you can work the system, have a basic level of knowledge, etc. A rather lifeless answer though right? I could go with something abstract and grand: college is for education, although the education provided is often uninspiring and poor, and end it at that. I could even give some kind of conspiracy theory answer--to make good employees and consumers to serve business and government.
I doubt there is one correct answer to this question. Anyway, like myself, it seems what you are largely after is personal meaning. Meaning lies in the relationship that a person establishes between themselves and something else. The meanings college has are individually diverse. College provides certain opportunities, like any place, really. What people do there varies, and what they end up with varies.
The best advice I have is that if one is merely tolerating college, it's true, one is not likely to get much out of it. You have to figure out what you want, and go for it. Rarely is anyone great going to come along to help much. For instance, if you want to become more worldly, study abroad programs are available.
So, yea, I encourage you to read more on this topic. I think you'll find something like this worthwhile to read: http://www.garlikov.com/teaching/schools.html
When I first entered college, I too thought it was to make me more worldly; however, this isn't the case. College has been strictly reserved for getting a good job after graduation so that you can go and explore the world on your own time. College can't prepare you for the real world just like high school couldn't prepare you for college. If real life experience is what you want, then you have to go find or make some because college isn't the place for it.
I tell my kids that they should just get an education in college. Learn as much as hey can. Explore as many areas as possible(including school abroad). I see too many students trying to pigeonhole themselves into a career by focusing on one particular area for their academic career. This may have been good advice decades ago, but it's becoming increasingly more common to shift fields. Just spend the few years you have in college learning as much as you can. Then decide, after graduation, what you want to do with yourself (chances are you'll change your mind in a few years anyway).
Post a Comment