|
|
|
|
|
GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
AA ADVICE NETWORK
Confident ABC: How to Make College A More Worthwhile Experience
t is totally bugging me that the education section remains empty, so I shall begin with a brief story and advice for those in college or grad school:
While preparing smoothies to add to our tequila shots, my gf (a brunette, BTW) and I had a conversation about our college years. She went to a big urban state school in New Jersey while I attended a very caucasian, very blonde Christian college out West. Her school was very diverse, my school gets an F for minority recruiting. I loved my 5 years and she hated her 4 years. Baffled by how fond I was of my college, she kept interrogating me about it saying "What makes your campus dances so much fun? It's the same stupid dances." That's not the point, dear. After 1 hr of chat in the kitchen, she just spaced out suddenly. It had occured to her that my college memories described not just a different view but a totally different "demand" or expectation out of the $$$ I put in to go to college.
She went to the big state U in NJ expecting her $$$ to pay for the quality programs, faculty, school ranking & reputation, job competition, etc. - the usual stuff we all think of. The standard demands- asking "What can the school get me to be worth the cost?" I never saw it that way... Yes, I still think of money, but I highlight my tuition cost going toward more "fate-related" factors like:
the mistakes I make and learn from.
my non-academic goals.
how I affect the environment around me.
how I affect the people around me and
vice versa.
the quality of my friendships.
the quality of the enemies I may create.
We pay for all of that, not just classes. All of this stuff is set in motion to occur both on and off campus of the college I choose. My dad added that I would also sort of "become" the identity & character of the college I attended whether I hated my college or not - because every event (fun or horrid) that happened at that school develops the type of personality I'm going to display or hide when I compete in the workplace.
I honestly would have become a non-caring asshole if I went to the State U my gf attended. There is no incentive to be honest and friendly at her school. A student body of 30,000 and she felt alone. I learned to love school, she learned to hate it. Here I am, an ex-Yorker with a new outlook on life, dating a once soft-spoken girl, now a bitter paranoid woman whom I dare not say, has become the identity of her chosen shit college that officially outranks my college every year to this day.
I'm not saying that state schools suck, just stressing that in order to get the most bang for your buck, it's going to come from how you treat college and how you view your education outside the classroom because the learning experience is actually 24-7. Is college a way to be a better person or just a way to get a job?
mcse2020@yahoo.com
Tuesday, August 07, 2001 at 02:00:23 (PDT)
This page is closed to new input.
Problems and advice posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
CONTACT US
|
ADVERTISING INFO
© 1996-2013 Asian Media Group Inc
No part of the contents of this site may be reproduced without prior written permission.
|
|
|
|
YOUR ADVICE
Look I got 3 bachelor degrees in 4 years at my University. I enjoyed every moment of college. The people, the classes, the girls, and the experiences.
The job I got out of college, IT Consulting, had nothing to do with any of my majors (Biology, Math, Philosophy).
Once you are out of school you will realise earnings has very little with education. Might give you a head start on your peers. But in the long run it means nothing.
The advise given to me by my HS teacher in NY was to attend a university out of state. Because I grew up in the City. He was absolutely right. Your doing the right thing
In the 4 years at college. Choose classes and subject that interest you, not because it is marketable. Pay attention to elective classes to make sure you graduate on time or you might have to do a multi-major like I did to get out in 4 years.
Start formulating what you want to do with life in college. The 4 years are very precious and will go by in the blink. Once your out $ will be a preasure that will not allow you to think about what you really want to do in life.
Find your "True Love" while in school. Once you are out $ will be a factor in any relationship you will have.
Peace,
AC dropout
Tuesday, November 20, 2001 at 16:07:30 (PST)
|