As we grow and mature, one of the major aspects of our lives becomes our education. We struggle and work hard to get through the five or six years of elementary school, the three or four years of middle school and the three or four years of high school. Once many of us walk across the stage to receive our diplomas, we feel a great sense of accomplishment and, to a degree, a sense of completion. Many of us were conditioned to believe that college was the next step or at least finding a good paying job. This wasn't negative conditioning, but sometimes WE are left out of the equation.
I was talking to some colleagues the other day and we were discussing how students now don't seem to have the same feelings about college and higher education that we had. College was looked at as something that was special. It was a place for the elite. It was a place where we could further the knowledge that we only scratched the surface of in primary and secondary school. It was a place where we could make lifelong friendships and have our views/beliefs challenged. Ultimately, it was a place where we found...exactly who we were.
Now, it seems that college is just like high school. It seems to be a place where students expect to be talked to like a psychiatrist would talk to their patients; where students want you to talk to their parents if they did not receive the grade they think they deserve; and where the instructors are to make allowances for every little thing that goes wrong in the students' lives.
What do you think about these thoughts? Honestly, why did you come to college? Did you feel pressured into coming? If you were pressured, what do you think you would have been doing had you not attended college? What are some of your personal definitions of college? Have your definitions changed upon coming to school?
Mr. C
Remember these posts are due by Friday April 14 by 11:59 PM. Responses should be at least 250 words.
**On another note, make sure you are commenting on THIS post and not creating your own.
I was talking to some colleagues the other day and we were discussing how students now don't seem to have the same feelings about college and higher education that we had. College was looked at as something that was special. It was a place for the elite. It was a place where we could further the knowledge that we only scratched the surface of in primary and secondary school. It was a place where we could make lifelong friendships and have our views/beliefs challenged. Ultimately, it was a place where we found...exactly who we were.
Now, it seems that college is just like high school. It seems to be a place where students expect to be talked to like a psychiatrist would talk to their patients; where students want you to talk to their parents if they did not receive the grade they think they deserve; and where the instructors are to make allowances for every little thing that goes wrong in the students' lives.
What do you think about these thoughts? Honestly, why did you come to college? Did you feel pressured into coming? If you were pressured, what do you think you would have been doing had you not attended college? What are some of your personal definitions of college? Have your definitions changed upon coming to school?
Mr. C
Remember these posts are due by Friday April 14 by 11:59 PM. Responses should be at least 250 words.
**On another note, make sure you are commenting on THIS post and not creating your own.
I came to college to make a better life for me and my children. When I was younger I did party a lot and now that I am older I had to get back in school because I realize that to go the places and make the income that I want to make I have to have a degree. I instill in my children the importance of an education because I do not want them to waste precious time like I have. I let them know that is the one thing that can never be taken away from you so its importance is a priority. I do not even let them think that college is an option its mandatory. This semester I am graduating. It has been a long road to get here and I am still learning. My ideals has changed. I am learning that I need to improve in professionalism. I am taking the steps by trying to imitate those that I do admire or who have made the milestones in the areas where I want to venture. I have realized that there are more than one way to solve a problem and examining yourself and applying effort is important. When I first came to this school I was not able to handle problems effectively. As a passionate people mistook my passion for anger and I have learned how to express myself. I use to have a problem and suffer through it alone but now I do my best to keep the necessary people informed so that I can get help if I need it. I still have some things to work on but I think I am on my way to getting it done. If I haven't earned my way to this degree I know my options would be extremely limited such as working in a fast food place or accepting minimum wage. Getting a degree opens up pay scale and professional positions. My personal definition of college is a door that opens up other opportunities. When I graduate I will be stepping through the door!
I think now college is a more common thing and more of an expectation for some people. In previous generations it seems like college was not a common option because it is not that affordable and it was simpler to work higher level jobs without difficult education requirements. I think also our generation believes that things should be handed to them or they should receive grades just for completing an assignment instead of how accurately or how well they did it. High school babies us into thinking we do not have to work for our grades or instead of actually learning information it is okay to just do the work to get by instead of remembering what we did or why we did it. I came to college because I have goals of becoming a social worker and I would not be able to achieve my goal without a good college education. I also would like to start my own business through social work or work within a correctional facility setting. I want to possible run a non-profit organization too. I feel like my parents expected me to come because my brother did and it was more of an expectation than anything. If I did not come to college I think I would be working with my parents at their company called What Matters Most (WMM) where they work with people who are low functioning and need assistance with tasks throughout the day. I have helped out at WMM before during the summer with certain clients but it is not what I would like to do the rest of my life. My personal definition of college is where people go to achieve their career goals through different courses and events. My definition has changed because college does not only prepare you for your career, you also experience things that prepare you for the real world and situations or people you may encounter. College helps to mature people and also to gain knowledge of how to deal with conflicts with other people, or time management, it helps to develop skills needed to be successful in life as a whole.
I honestly agree, because now people go to college for the wrong reasons and then drop out when they aren’t getting their way like in high school. For example, in my African Women Identity class a freshman missed class for two days and didn’t get to turn in her paper. Then after that the professor told her that she was supposed to email her and get an alternate assignment, the student then failed to do that as well. Long story short, she got angry with the professor and basically said it was the professor fault for her not being able to turn the assignment. Students now a days just want everything handed to them instead of working for it. Many people think the professor is going to have pity for them because they were absent when an assignment was due, forgot to turn in an assignment or even have a failing grade in the class. I came to college because I wanted to make a difference in the world and help people get justice for losing a loved one from violent crimes. I didn’t want to be a police officer only because of the negative views the society had on them and how many officers were getting killed. I didn’t feel pressured into coming, I made the decision on my own. I knew my mom wanted me to come to college, so I just wanted to make her proud and fulfill my dreams. My definition of college was basically an opportunity to be great in life and to have many accomplishments, but this have changed because many people can get jobs now without going to school and getting a degree.
I came to college to pursue my health care dreams. I excel to be a registered nurse and then join the Navy as an officer, become a traveling nurse, or work in a federal prison. I do feel as though in some aspects, college has become high school. The work is more so tedious in some of my classes than strenuous. With my family I wasn’t pressured but not going to college wasn’t an option. My mother told me I can stay home and work or go to college. She more so focused on me going to college. My whole life I always was told how smart I am and that I am going to be set after I get my four degree. My parents enrolled me in college preparation programs since my freshman year of high school and they sent me on countless college tours across the east coast. They want me to excel higher than them. If I was not in school right now, I would be assistant manager at my old job back home. Some days I reflect on that because I would be making a lot of money right now if I was not home. When I arrived here in the beginning of the semester I wanted to drop out. Not because I was home sick, but because of all the aspects. I was a student athlete in the beginning, in Mozik, and Music in Action. I felt as though I couldn’t balance it and it became weary. As I am looking at school now, I am starting to not take it as serious as I did first semester which is sad. A lot of people in my class are focused more on turning up than they are about their grades and I do not want to become that person because out of state tuition is no joke. I need to get my head back on straight and realize that this isn’t high school. My parents sent me here to get my degree and not slack.
I came to college to pursue my dreams. I want to become a social worker and I wouldn’t be able to do that without having the knowledge of one. Helping others is something that I have a passion for. Also, to get a good, high paying job as well as the fact I enjoy the field in which I am studying. Today employers do not care about anything besides how much education or degrees you have. If anything, having knowledge is power because there isn’t much you can do without an education. You can’t have much of a career without college either. However, that is not always true because I know plenty of successful people that don’t have degrees or a college education but hold high positions and make good money. That is another reason why I came to college, I want to be a responsible adult and live beyond comfortable. The way my parents have provided for me, I want to be able to return the favor. My parents didn’t pressure me into coming to college. I feel as if they didn’t because they know how college can be because they didn’t complete their whole four years of college. Honestly, on my mom’s side of the family I would be the first one to go to school and actually stay enrolled to receive my degree. I do know that if I didn’t come to college I would just be working. Before I came to college, I graduated high school a semester early and that’s exactly what I did, work until it was time for me to leave. I can’t sit around and not do anything, which is one thing my parents wouldn’t allow. In my opinion, college is an opportunity to grow as a person, pursue the career of your choice, and gain a well-rounded education. My definition of college has changed because you can still get a good paying job without a degree. We pay so much money to receive an education but when we graduate it’s not a guarantee that you’ll have a job in your field of study right away.
I wasn’t really forced to go to school, I’ve been dreaming about college since middle school to be honest. In my house hold it was either go to college or go get a job. A job straight out of high school is nothing, and I wanted to make big bank so I decided to go to college on my own. I also wanted to go to a school out of state. Back at home everybody wanted to go to Georgia State, Georgia Southern, or West Georgia. Which are all PWI’s, all the HBCUs back home are kind of whack so I was just like I have to go out of state to get a new environment. College is like a must for me, an accomplishment if you finish. Graduating high school is more so like you have to. Who doesn’t like having or getting money? I see college as a pathway to get to the money I want in my future life. You can’t get to the money straight out of high school, I mean you can if you scamming or selling weed and what not. I rather not though, I’ll rather get big money the legal way. The people that say college is just like high school most likely went to the same college as everyone from their high school goes to. That was also another reason why I didn’t want to stay in state because I already knew I was going to see the same faces. Going out of state probably was one of my best choices I’ve made so far.
I came to college to further my education and to become a nurse. I do not feel as if I was pressured into going to college, It was my choice and that’s the only way I would get my career started and my family supported my decision. Also I came to school because I did not want to work a job that would only allow me to make ends meet in the future to support my family and myself. Another reason I came to school is because I had the opportunity and support and a lot of people do not have either. I dreamed of being a nurse ever since I was young, so I believed in fulfilling my goals. College allows students to further their education, while also overcoming valuable life experiences and growing on your own. Most importantly college teaches students independence. Well I kind know all of this stuff before but experiencing it on my own showed me what it truly meant. For example if you don’t go to class, your only hurting yourself especially since you are paying for your education. I value “Have fun in college but also remember what you came to college for”. Also I feel like graduating high school is not something you should want to do it is something you need to do its expected. I do not feel as if students should compare college to high school, because they are totally different. You have the choice to do anything in college on time or not at all if you do not do it, it is pretty much your fault. In high school students get multiple opportunities to redo or complete assignments. So there is a difference basically in college everything you do is based off of you and your decisions. You cannot blame anyone else.
I agree that college can feel like high school sometimes. I feel as if some students act as they do simply because their parents “babied” them too much. I know personally that my parents stressed to me how college would cause me to become more independent. They made it very clear that now I would have to face and handle issues on my own. I came to college to begin my journey of pursuing my dream of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Since I can remember my parents have always told me that going to the army and just finding a job after high school would not be acceptable. My parents did not want any of their children to go to into the services. They know that just having a high school diploma wasn’t enough to keep myself financially stable in the future. The always told me that you earn more money with the more education you have. Therefore, I have always been prepared and raised for that day that I would leave for college. I did not feel pressured, because I am dedicated to reach my dream career. This is probably why I handle my business at school. I will not settle for anything less than success. Before going to college, I felt as if I would be completely lost without the guidance of my parents. Since I have been away, college has taught me how to stand on my own, and it has also taught me so much about myself. I realized when I got here that my parents had instilled in me everything that I needed to be on my own.
I think that college is still for the elite and I feel that some students do take college lightly. For me college has been a goal since I was in middle school. When I got to high school my parents gave me three options; to enlist, to work, or to go to college. I wasn’t pressured into going to college even though I knew that’s what my parents wanted, they still didn’t pressure me into it because they weren’t sure what I wanted to do. I knew I didn’t want to enlist and I knew I wouldn't be able to live the life I wanted if I went straight to work with a high school diploma. College is a privilege, an earned privilege, not everyone gets to go to college so I feel like making it into college is something you should take pride in and do your best and not treat it like high school. You will fall behind very quickly if you treat college like high school and if you continue to do so then you won’t be in college for long. My definition of college would be a privilege to those who are there. It’s plenty of people who want to be in college that aren’t, so we should take the gift we’ve received and take it seriously. My definition has remained the same since I’ve gotten to college, I still feel like I am lucky to be here and that I need to take it seriously and excel at this level of learning in order to live a good life.
Being told about college before even attending college made it seem like the best thing ever and everyone couldn’t wait to graduate and attend. Now that I’m in college, I see some resemblance within the college the environment and a high school environment. Like you stated, students still expect their professors to be as understanding or nonchalant as their high school teachers were to them if they decided to slack. They feel like their parent(s) are still obligated to come to the rescue as soon as their grade doesn’t look satisfying, knowing that in a college environment, you earn every grade you get. Before graduating high school, attending college seemed like the best thing to do and if you didn’t attend then it would seem as if you failed at life itself. I felt pressured to come because of my advisor/guidance counselor, and as well as family. I was more focused on making my mom and the rest of my family proud and to be the first one in the family to attend a four year university right after graduating high school. The main person I was more focused on making proud was my uncle. He played the father role to my brothers and me throughout our life, and he wasn’t able to attend my high school graduation because of his sickle cell took a toll on his body and he ended up having to stay in the hospital. But I made it my business to wear my cap and gown to the hospital with my diploma in my hand to show him I made it while he was still here. Then a month later, on my oldest brother’s 21st birthday, he passed away and his funeral ended up being a day before I had to come here to take my placement test. By that time, I wasn’t pressed on school anymore, I even broke down crying before going inside to take it and even when I went inside to take it, I just sat there staring out the window and just clicking answers. But, how was I going to explain to my mom that her only girl no longer wanted to attend college? My first year of college, I was still in the process of grieving on top of not wanting to attend so I pretty much slacked. Then, my second semester of my first year, my male best friend died in a car accident back home in March. By then, I was over school. But I realized that if I would have not attended college, I would just be trying to make consistent money by working 2-3 jobs like my fellow classmates are doing back home, or just not doing anything. So, I took the time over the summer to evaluate my life and ask myself did I really want to just sit back home and not do anything...The word I would use to define college is networking. Yes, it is all about getting good grades but you still have to utilize and take advantage of the sources relevant to your major and future careers. As I continue my education here, my definition still remains the same. You have to communicate with professors and advisor instead of relying on them to read your mind. College is really what you make it.
I came to college to explore the freedom that college had to offer me, to experience the ‘true college life.’ I did feel pressured by my community, they say it takes a village to raise a baby. My whole town supports me and only wants what is best for my future. If I had not come to college, I would be working for my family’s business and getting my realtor licenses. Which sounds good, but if I didn’t come to college I would have not made all the connections I have made nor have the support of everyone I have met here. I would not have started my girl group, I would have never auditioned for America’s Got Talent. There is so much more I would have never accomplished, if I had not come to college. A few of my personal definitions for college are, networking, friendships, business, and work/education. I say networking because, you need to network in college, you could meet your future boss here at school. If you wanted to start a business you will need to network so you can have someone to help promote your business or even help get your business started. I ways friendships, because you meet your lifelong friends in college, in my case I met my lifelong friends in elementary school. I say business because you must stay professional and focused, you must have a resume to be involved with many of the clubs on campus. Finally, I say work/education because that is what school is for, to give you the proper knowledge so you can go off and work. I have not changed any of my definitions since I have come to school.
I came to college to pursue my dreams. I want to be able to provide for my family and myself and never have to want for anything. I have never been a person that was all into being in school, I was more of the type of person who went to school because I had to. Once I got to my senior year of high school, and I was applying for colleges. I started to look at school a different way. I had realized that I was about to branch off into something that many people don’t take the advantage of these days. I wanted more than just working at a job I really don’t like, and making just a little bit over minimum wage. I wanted to be working in a job field that I enjoy. Neither one of my parents attended college, so I did feel pressured coming into college. I also was involved in a college prep class called AVID. The class basically prepped me to go straight from High school to college. If I wouldn’t have came to college I would’ve have feel like I let my teacher down caused he pushed me to go off to school for the past four years. But, I know that it’s what I had to do to get where I wanted to be in life. If I hadn’t come to college I’d more than likely be taking some classes at a community college and be working at my job. A definition of college would be “Higher education and paving the way for your future.”
I can slightly agree with these thoughts. I look at certain people who come to school after spending all this money, just to mess around and enjoy the parties and festivities. I also agree that college isn’t for everyone. Most people are okay with just a high school diploma and that’s fine, but once they’re older, they’ll regret not taking advantage of a great opportunity. I, myself, came to college to pursue a degree in nursing. I sometimes have my doubts about wanting to be in school and do all this work, but I know what I want my future to look like, so I pick myself up and keep it pushing. I wasn’t pressured into coming in a certain way. My mother always told me to do what I wanted as long as I either went to school or the military. My mother didn’t pursue college education until now so I guess she doesn’t want me to make that mistake, but my grandparents definitely tried to pressure me into going to a university ONLY. If I wasn’t in college right now, I would be working several jobs. I wouldn’t just be sitting around not doing anything. I sometimes wish I was working and making money to save up, but I think about how bad I want to be a nurse and how proud I’m going to be of myself once I achieve this goal. My personal definition of college would be a place of high education to enhance your future. I still believe in this because getting a college education has nothing but positives to it in some aspect.
I agree with what you’re saying. I think most kids that come to college want someone to be on their back about everything. Because before we got to college we were basically treated like babies through all our other levels of school. I came to college because I saw most of the people around me that went straight to work after school were struggling. I wanted to be able to live happily and not stress from paycheck to paycheck. I wasn’t pressured at all to come to college. My parents told me before I started “if you don’t want go, don’t go and save our money”. But I decided myself that coming to college would probably be the best decision I could make if I didn’t want to struggle. If I didn’t come to school I’d probably be getting in trouble or working at a fast food restaurant or a grocery store. Some of my personal definitions of college are overrated and A lesson. I say its overrated because people really talk about how hard it is. When really it’s not that hard if you do your work. Then everybody talks about how fun it is. But if you don’t attend every party or kickback and just chill. It’s not going to be too much fun because it’s full of work. It’s a big lesson. Your own your own with no one on your back. So if you don’t take responsibility. You’re going to end up failing your classes. So you really have to pay attention to time management.
I was pressured into coming to college. I mean yeah I wanted to go but my parents instilled in me that college was the next step or go to the military. I don't feel like I am cut out for the military so college was my only option. But if I didn't go to college I honestly don't know where or what I'd be doing because I never got the chance to think about it or explore my options. I honestly feel brainwashed, not only did my parents push college but friends, family members and strangers constantly pushed it as well. So I honestly don't take college as serious as I should. To me college is just a bigger high school. Same petty drama, same study habits and the same sense of endless time. I never imagined college to be that way though. I expected to be around people who want to learn and who are curious about the world around them. College is suppose to be the place I figure out what I want to do with my life and begin to build my own brand. But In reality I'm surrounded by people who are in my same boat or they are just in college for the experience. I am in the thirteenth grade honestly. As I continue in my collegiate career I may finally feel like I'm in college but for now I'm just in a big high school.
I totally agree with you when you describe some college student’s attitudes towards their studies. It’s already bad enough that many are wasting money and time but they are also missing out on an abundance of knowledge in their face that can be obtained. Education is what you need to grow, it should be absorbed not scanned over because by doing that you’re only cheating yourself and isn’t gaining anything. I feel like once the going gets tough students don’t believe the tough get going and will do anything just do get a passing grade and to the next level. They don’t realize that once they cheat through all those levels and get in the real world its game over! I don’t know how others do such a thing but I didn’t come to play. I was not pressured to come to college, it was a privilege and an honor to be here today. My passions and dreams all revolve around becoming a nurse! All the knowledge I’m surrounded by and is gaining will only help and make me the best nurse I can be. It brings me joy learning things I’m passionate about. If I wasn’t so determined to attend college I’d defiantly be working as a CAN. I would have to surround myself around things and people that would help my growing process and so I can try to become the best me that I can be! College is a huge opportunity to evolve into the beast that’s in you but must be tugged on and played with to finally come out. College is your time to shine and to transform into a stronger and educated individual while chasing your dreams and building your determination. I hope people open their eyes and realize how good they have it and fulfill the purpose of attending college.
When I first started high school, I didn’t see myself attending college unless it was for sports. Going through high school I started to care less about sports and just wanted to be done with school period. I enjoy learning new things so school kept my attention and I made good grades all throughout high school. Come my senior year in high school I realized that college is the route that I want to go if I want a high paying job salary. Obtaining a factory job right after high school would bring wear and tear on my body at a young age and I decided that wasn’t for me. Now that I’m in college and I’m on my own I feel that parents shouldn’t talk to student’s professors because it’s not their grade it’s the child. When I first came to college It took me some time to fully adjust to being completely independent about the responsibilities and assignments that are giving to me. Instead of pressuring me to go to college, family members persuaded me to attend college. Having money to travel around the world later in life is what I want to do, and getting a job in my degree will make that happen way faster than job right after high school. If I didn’t come to college I most likely would be working with a factory job that pays good because I’m the type of person who likes to have money at all time. My personal definition of college is you is that you earn everything that get.
I completely agree. College has been something that's not as important anymore. I know back in the day college was a big step in a student's life. Currently, it's not as large of a step anymore. I know a lot of people in my generation that haven't graduated nor went to college. I just think that college is an important part of your life. And a degree means a lot. If you don't have a degree you can't get a good paying job. I think things such as college education will help because so many jobs require a college degree. If you don't have a college degree you can't do much. Back in the day when you didn't have a college degree you couldn't do a lot, but in 2017 you are required to get a degree. I see so many homeless people, who shouldn’t be in the state that they're in. Possibly, if they got a degree, they would be able to attain a career which they could provide for themselves and family members. If you get a college degree, you can be very successful in life and get a well-paying job. In the society we live in, college is a huge factor in determining what you do long term. Once a degree is out of the equation, your options become very limited. However, with a degree, the sky's the limit and you can do a lot with the piece of paper they give you at the end of your four years.
I came to college to better my family and I lives. I come from a little town where you either Kill or be killed. So coming to college was a must to show my little brother and sister the correct path to follow to get out the “hood”. Sometimes I think to myself school isn’t for everybody, which it was not for me but I made myself take this opportunity for a better life in the future. No, I did not feel pressured to coming to college. I knew staying at home was not an option. If I would have attended college I think I would their be in jail, pregnant, or caught up in the street/drug life because that is what my city/country mostly known for so I feel like I would be apart of one of the categories. So made it my priorities to pursue my college opportunity before it is too late. College is the time and place where you grow up and grow out of many habits that made your life worst. My personal definition of college is that it can be a big scam at times but this is a bigger “high school” preparing individuals for the real world and profession occasions most of everybody will have to experience in their lifetime.
When I look back, I remember my whole senior year like it was yesterday and I’m 3 weeks away from being a junior year of college. For me personally, after my basketball season was done, I was ready to graduate and move on to the next step for school. Those few weeks were dreadful but high school was still fun in its entirety. I always took school serious and when getting to college, it was the biggest change for me so I took it serious. I chose to come to college because I knew I didn’t want to sit in the house or stay in my then hometown Charlotte and being doing little to nothing while others I knew were advancing their education and enjoying the fun that is college. I wasn’t forced but to me there was pressure simply because I was so successful in high school with everyone around for support but now, it is all me on my own with the abundance of potential distractions that come with college. If I hadn’t gone to college, I honestly think I’d be sitting at house, maybe at community college and working constantly. To me that’s wasting my time when I could be getting a degree. My thoughts on school have never changed because it was drilled into my head the importance of school and how much a person needs to get a degree in order to have a successful career. When it comes down to it, going to college is such a difference from high school because now it costs money and the last thing anybody wants to do is waste money.
College is definitely not the same as high school. I feel as if the only way to believe that high school and college are the same would be to not be a student that plans on or is attending college. College gets you ready to live in the real world and on your own while you are going to classes,working,etc. I came to college because I always wanted a better life for myself. Another reason for coming to college is to receive a degree which would open up more career opportunities for myself. I am not saying that you can’t be successful because you don’t have a degree, however, that degree will increase your chances. I did honestly feel pressured into coming to college but I am definitely grateful that I was pushed to come to Winston-Salem State University. The pressure for me to attend college has allowed me to grow significantly and view life from a more mature perspective. If it hadnt been for the pressure that I was receiving from my family and friends, I wouldn't be here today. If I wasn't pressured, I would probably just be sitting in the house working 4 hours every couple of days at Old Navy. Although, there isn't anything wrong with just working and stacking your money up but I see myself doing more than just working a retail check that can guarantee me no more than four hundred dollars every two weeks. My personal definition of college is attending a higher education institution to prepare you for your future as an adult and also prepare you for whichever career of your choosing. My definition of what college is has not changed since I have been here at Winston-Salem State University. If anything, my personal definition of college has been displayed through my experiences and others as well.
I believe that these thought are totally true because for me coming into college of course i was scared of what it would be like and if it would be like high school.I learned quickly that it relates to high school so much, only because some of the things that are being taught you have learned in high school its just at a faster pace or its things going on around that looks familiar in many ways. I honestly came to college to get a high education to make sure when I leave this place I will be able to take care of my family while doing the job I want. I came to college to receive a full educations and expand my horizons and to meet new people who could possibly help me in the long run. I felt pressure into coming to college because I wanted the best out of my college experience and so did my parents, they wanted me to go off because they didn't get to have that opportunity for one reason or another. I felt pressure because I felt my older sisters did so i didn't want to be the let down and not go. If I did not attend college i would be working my butt of to not have to ask my parents for a dime. College for me is a place where you can expand your thoughts and feelings in a way that can help you find who you are and who want to become in the long run. My definition has remained the same this whole school year, with a little distractions but I get right back to business.
Kids now in days feel like they are pressed to go to college because society stress the fact that you need college to be something in life or to get a good job. Honestly I didn't know which university I would end up at, but my parents always told me “After you graduate you have to get out my house” . So the last few months of high school I was pressed to find a college a called home. If I didn't go to college, I wouldn't know what I would do with myself because Wilmington do not have many opportunity to make it out if you're a black young man. Either I would be a manager at Taco Bell or selling drugs. I don't know why I came to college, I guess to make something of myself and not be a failure in everyone's eyes. My definition of college before I came was fun , partying, freedom. Even though it's all of those things it also come with depression, and responsibility. College is a emotional roller coaster, you go from crying to smiling in the matter of five minutes because of missed assignments and starvation. But try to forget all of the horrible things by partying and doing illegal activities on the weekends. College is a great experience that everybody should go though in my opinion, because it builds characters and teaches you how to struggle in a time in need. Plenty of people made something of there self without going to college you just have to find your nitch in life.
One of the reason I came to college is to further my education and to earn degree for I can get a well-paying job after I graduate. Having a degree betters yours job opportunities for the future, its looks good on your resume. I wasn’t pressured into coming to college I wanted to come to college because my parents always told me it will be best four years of your life. My parents said there is nothing like a college experience. My mom use to tell me she wishes she could back and relive it and cherish it more. Once I get into the real world I know all the fun and games will stop and I will have major reasonability’s like paying bills and mortgage on a house. If I had not attend college I would probably be working my tail off and stacking my chips. I’m glad I chose to come to college because it’s all I expected it to be when I first got here. My thoughts on students still thinking it’s high school is that I think those students were babe their whole life and expected the same thing to occur when they got college. A lot of people have told me that college is not for everyone which is true. In college, you will have fun times, bad times, times where you need your parents, mental break downs, but I think it’s all worth it at the end. I feel like if you have a strong support system you will get through college.
College is on a whole other level than high school, college is college! Through my 4 years of high school, none of those years prepared me for college. Being from such a small city it wasn’t much opportunity to do something after high school but work or stay around and do nothing. Before coming to school working for a year and then going to school was something I thought about so heavy, but I just refused to stay back at home. I felt like college was the only place for me to be, being that I am the first person in my family to attend college. Now a day going to college is a trend for some people, but not everybody finishes. Some people just go to college because they’re friends are going or they’re pressured by their parents to go. I came to college because I wanted to get away from home and I have so many goals I want to accomplish. Since I’ve been in college there’s been many times I wanted to give up, or just be done with it all because I didn’t think I could handle it; but that was just me stuck in my ways and not wanting to work for what I had to like I got away with in high school. Being in college is the real world, and it’s not for everybody. I’ve learned so much these past few months; I’ve experienced my wins and my losses, I’ve learned so much and I know it’s going to be so much more to learn and I’m ready. My mama sent me here for a reason and I can’t quit now!
I think that the perception of college has changed over many years. As you stated, college was for those who wanted to further their knowledge to become a successful individual. Nowadays, people come to college for the wrongs reasons such as to party and they end up wasting money because they find out it is not for them. People think that college is the “Turnup” place and end up not focusing on their school work like they should be. Then when they find out they cannot get their way with their grades like in high school they end up dropping out. Yes, college isn’t for everyone but putting off work and coming for the wrong reason will definitely lead you in the wrong path. I came to college to prove others wrong. I came to become a successful young women and further my career dreams and opportunities. I wanted to make something of myself. I was definitely not pressured into coming to college but my family does want to see all our young generations take that next step into adulthood. I feel like college is where you come to express yourself or mostly where you come to find yourself. Find your voice and find what there is that you want to do to better your life in the real world. I feel like i have always thought college as this and for me i feel like i can here to learn more than party. I'm striving to make good grades and make my family proud of the person that i will eventually become.
I think that the perception of college has changed over many years. As you stated, college was for those who wanted to further their knowledge to become a successful individual. Nowadays, people come to college for the wrongs reasons such as to party and they end up wasting money because they find out it is not for them. People think that college is the “Turnup” place and end up not focusing on their school work like they should be. Then when they find out they cannot get their way with their grades like in high school they end up dropping out. Yes, college isn’t for everyone but putting off work and coming for the wrong reason will definitely lead you in the wrong path. I came to college to prove others wrong. I came to become a successful young women and further my career dreams and opportunities. I wanted to make something of myself. I was definitely not pressured into coming to college but my family does want to see all our young generations take that next step into adulthood. I feel like college is where you come to express yourself or mostly where you come to find yourself. Find your voice and find what there is that you want to do to better your life in the real world. I feel like i have always thought college as this and for me i feel like i can here to learn more than party. I'm striving to make good grades and make my family proud of the person that i will eventually become.
Personally, I felt pressured to come to college. I have the type of parents that made me go to college and if I didn't I wouldn't be able to stay in their house. If I wasn't pressured into going to school, I probably would be in cosmetology school. My dad always told me I was going to go to a 4 year university and not a community college. My definition of college is a place to further your education. I view college as somewhere I can truly find myself and to figure out what I want to do with my life. Even though I was pressured into going to college I always wanted to go because I have expensive taste, not getting a degree or a good paying job will not pay for the things I want. Now a days kids think college is a place where everything is just fun, fun, fun, it is until you have classes to worry about and 11:59 pm deadline to meet. College is viewed as a scam. Now that I am in college, I can agree with that because you are placed in classes that you don't need nor will you use within your major. College is just a way of taking your money from you because you are charged with unnecessary charges. When I first arrived at college, I thought it was a big summer camp that you stayed over night for a long period time. But overall, college is what you make it and in the end everything that you are doing now is only for the better.
I believe that college is definitely an option that everyone should consider, but honestly, for me college was never an option. Since I started elementary it was conditioned into my head that high school was not the end of the road for me. My parents raised me to believe college was a necessity and it was just another stepping block in my success. Now of course I had my own reasons of attending college, such as a truly believe that college opens up a lot of doors as far as being successful. I’m saying that you absolutely need college to become successful, but I am saying that going to college will open opportunities that may not have been presented before. It also may very well make becoming successful somewhat easier. I do see people around me having a change of view when it comes to college. I actually believe that college is not pushed as much as it should be. The more education one obtains, then easier life can really be. Honestly if I had not have gone to college, I’m not really sure what I would have been doing. I probably would have turned to music since it is something I really enjoy. If that was the case I would have continued doing this hobby hoping an opportunity would present itself sometime in the future where I could potentially make a living out of it. My view of college has not change much since I gotten here. As a matter of fact, since I’ve gotten her, I would probably encourage people more to attend college.
When it comes to education now days, it is definitely not appreciated like it was in the pass. Education use to be something that people fought for and took advantages of any opportunity that came their way. The people of this generation didn’t have to go through much to get into school so they don’t look at it as something they should be grateful for. I truly never understood how people could not care about their education. I actually had friends that were smart but because they hung around the wrong crowd they basically wasted their potential and started getting in trouble a lot. I said that maybe one day the government should just take away school from the people that don’t appreciate. I bet if those same people started noticing how much smarter everyone else around them were becoming and how much they didn’t understand they would want to go back to school. When it comes down to me graduating from school and going to college was always part of the plan. I don’t have many family members that furthered their education after high school so I felt I had something to prove. I never understood how people could settle for working 2 or three jobs and be fine with doing it on a consistent basis. Another thing that I don’t understand is do they not understand that is you keep going to school and getting those degrees you get better job opportunities which means possibly better pay. To sum it all up people now days just don’t appreciate education like they should and it’ll probably only get worse.
Honestly if you ask me, college is the next step in life for me. Now I do understand that college is not for everybody but I’m talking about me and what I think about it. I was always told that you need to get good grades in high school so you can get into a good college by my parents and other family members. College was always in my life plan growing up. To me college is the first point in my life where I’ve had to …In other words, SURVIVE. I had more responsibilities. No one telling me what to do, how to do it, or when to do it. “College is your foot in the door to the real world” I think I just came up with that. But this is how being in college makes me feel. Now, I think that college is not as hard as people make it seem. It is all about time management and plus you get to make your own schedules. COLLEGE IS GREAT!!! Then theirs is high school. High school is basically when you’re not responsible for as much stuff and are given a lot of chances on your mistakes that you might make which lowkey does not give you incentive on getting something right the first time. College changes that whole mindset and gives you a whole new outlook on life. So, to answer your question “College or Grade 13”. I say that the do not even begin to compare to each other.
I believe college is mentioned throughout all prior education and is said to be necessary to obtain a good job and prosperous career. College is still a place for high education and a great place for people to truly find themselves and great friends however it has become expected for the youth. When in reality it is still possible to get a great job through hard work, connections, and talent rather than schooling. Many people have done it before and many people are still doing it. Although in today’s society it does look better in a job application if the more degrees or certifications applicant has. This is because college broadens the knowledge of the area the person is interested which usually allows them the access to the education needed to perform the tasks required for that job. Even though someone with no degree a lot of skill and prior work in this field with great experience could be just as big of competition as college graduates just because they have actual working experience in the field. College these days I believe is not as valued because of the fact that this generation is behind many college graduates and know that even with a degree it’s possible to continuously go without finding a good profitable job. Also I believe the educational pat is taken advantage of by this generation because college can be overshadowed by the hype of partying and fun. This is where a lot of students get lost and don’t know how to balance both.
I believe that the view of college didn’t change because, students still know that college is a place for higher learning. I believe that the new generation are just still used to high school because we got away with a lot more. Most professors give students extra time to finish assignments and don’t really hold students accountable for their actions they just take the excuse and give them extra time. Students aren’t going to put forth the effort if they don’t have too. If we are allowed to do bare minimum to pass a class most of us will do exactly what we have to do and nothing more. I came to college to further my education and get a degree so I can get a good paying job and take care of my family. Also I came to college to set an example for the younger kids in my family. None of the adults in my family went to college and my brother went but didn’t finish so I feel like I have to finish to make set the right example for the little ones that look up to me. I didn’t feel pressured to go I wanted to go I was just nervous about leaving. My definition of college didn’t change I still see it as the same thing. I am going to graduate and get my degree. I will support my family and show them that we can do whatever we set our mind too.
Extending high school to five years really isn’t a way to further education of high school students. College is looked at as a place for a higher education, and most people look forward to furthering their knowledge. Of course, you have those students who do not put their best foot forward, and need that extra year to boost their GPA’s. Adding an extra year, I feel is just a way to let them know that they have extra time provided to work on their mishaps and that it is ok. There are students who are very devoted to their education and work hard the entire time, and in my opinion I feel it is not fair to them. It is also not fair to educators that have put in many hours to prepare students to learn and then have students who do not take advantage of that. Teachers spend a lot of their time at work and at home to plan things to further their student’s education. They take time away from their families to better their student’s education, and they are not reimbursed for the time lost. Being in the real world there aren’t people who are going to hold your hand and take you step by step to get things done. Adding an extra year is enabling students to step out on their own, and become an adult. Students need to learn to be autonomous while in high school so that when they are on their own they will know how to take their education into their hands.
On my opinion about this, honestly i feel like there are some people who were forced by their parents to attend college. For me getting accepted to join a college has been a blessing of my life. My brothers and sisters also went to college but they had problems with school fees and everything.I dont take coming to college for granted. Being the first person from my family to come oversees, every minute of being in class is a privileged and i take every minute seriously. If it takes being able to sit all night to do school work i will definitely do because i believe after getting my decree here am planning to pursue my masters degree here. And for me to get into graduate school i need to work hard and maintain my GPA as good as possible. From our culture back home,most girls do not take school seriously but i choose to sore higher and get my self where am suppose to be there and i have a big believe that i will do everything.I think i am doing this also for my kids because the first thing i want to be a good role model to my children and also i would like them to follow my footsteps and for them to understand that everything is possible. i believe they are going to learn from me.i also like to pursue my dream job in future and there is no career or a nice job without a degree.I would like also to have a feeling to help the underprivileged in the society. i know i cant do much but i will do whatever i can.