ipl-logo

Analysis Of What Are You Doing Here By Mark Edmundson

516 Words3 Pages

The article "Who Are You and What Are You doing Here" by Mark Edmundson supports much detail in finding your true self in the journey of college. In the beginning of the article, Mark Edmundson shows emphasis on the reality of college. The author adds that the professors in college won’t put in effort if the student does not do the same. To Edmundson, success is earned not given. Implying that you have to work hard and fight your way through college to graduate and be included to the occupational society. "If you want to get a real education in America, you're going to have to fight." This quote directly relates to his thoughts on how hard work equals success. In the next section, Edmundson describes his own life experiences in college and family. He begins by explaining his father's thoughts on what Edmundson wants to study in college. Edmundson wanted to become a lawyer, not because he was interested in the occupation but, because it pays well. His father then retaliated by explaining that he needs to enjoy what he's doing in order to succeed in his occupation because Edmundson is only privileged for only one shot at college. …show more content…

Broadhead, a Yale Alumni went on to explain how people won’t remember every course work and every detail. They will have forgotten the material and would not be able to recollect some information later on in the future of their occupation, Broadhead implied. He explained that through college you will not recollect every piece of information, instead you'll remember the struggles and challenges you went through to get to where you are now. Suggesting that the skills obtained through college will benefit greatly throughout their careers and futures. The skills learned in not only the classrooms but important life skills like time management to be ahead of most people in

Show More
Related
189 Words | 1 Pages

Society views college as the door way to success. However, many people fail to realize the same effort put into college also needs application after or failure starts creeping in from the side. Anna Chinero, a recent graduate, moved back home after failing to find a job. Chinero concludes her article, “Elevated by the Train”, by expressing, “instead of always looking out toward somewhere else, I’m beginning to look around here, wondering how I can make this neighborhood the better place my parents always sought for me.” Many graduates, like Ana, loose direction in attempting to achieve their dreams they possessed entering college.

Read More
782 Words | 4 Pages

Every student from an early age has the message that they must go to college drilled into their heads. Everything they do, GPA, SATS, ACTS, is preparation for college and determines how good of a college they will get into. But in todays society is it even worth attending college? David Leonhardt, author of IS College Worth It?

Read More
905 Words | 4 Pages

As such, his argument is built through a mix of personal narrative, cultural criticism, and philosophical evaluation. I believe that "To Catch a Dream" is a thoughtful and motivational essay that inspires not only readers but people who want to achieve a dream to pursue their goals and rise to the challenges they present. The takeaway from Edmundson's book is simple: we can accomplish great things and lead genuinely fulfilling lives if we remain true to our goals and persevere in the face of challenges.

Read More
665 Words | 3 Pages

He attended school until he was nine years old and became more useful picking cotton. Later in life he started a pulpwood business to earn a living. Walter’s income did not provide him with enough money to pay for an experienced attorney. Instead his family, and church had to pay for is attorney. If Walter had a better education he would have had a better income, but Walter’s family needed him to pick cotton to make help provide for his family.

Read More
793 Words | 4 Pages

When students set out for higher education and prepare for their future they usually have an end goal in mind. When most students come to college, they typically have an idea of what degree to pursue or what they are interested in studying. In Sanford J. Ungar’s article “The New Liberal Arts” he quoted that “The responsibility of higher education today is to prepare people for jobs that do not yet exist” (657). However, whatever job a student ends up in is significantly helped through higher education. With this in mind, college students need to have the skills needed to adapt to any situation and perform in many different ways.

Read More
858 Words | 4 Pages

Working long hours of backbreaking work at a factory or sitting in a college dorm drinking a couple cold ones. In "some lessons from the assembly line" by Andrew braaksma the author tells of his time spent in college and working as a blue-collar factory worker in the summer. The author makes comparisons to the hardships faced by blue-collar workers and the importance of a college education. The author also stresses his gratitude for the gift of being able to attend college and how others are less fortunate. The author's goal in writing this article is showing how important a college education is and how some may not be as fortunate as others in the ability to attend college.

Read More
838 Words | 4 Pages

The Greek Philosopher Aristotle identified “The years between puberty and age twenty-one as the formative time for mind and character.” It was customary for young Greek men to attend a series of lectures that resembled our notion of a college “course”(Delbanco 36). Aristotle is a believer of education and the power it has on the development of the young mind. Likewise, he believes college is a place to establish one’s character. Caroline Bird’s essay, “Where College Fails Us,” definitely does not correlate with the opinion of Aristotle.

Read More
1975 Words | 8 Pages

Sacrificing their individuality and creativity is just a step in the right direction towards their version of success. Even though sacricinfing one’s true self is great, they are willing to do so if it brings them profit in their own lives. Ultimately, the selfish need for success outweighs the corruption and negativity it brings to the overall system, and in that respect, restricts itself from progressing towards change. Because a generic system like a college can not cater to every individual, there are always concrete flaws, one of which is the pressure to confrom.

Read More
1090 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout the essay, Charles Murray stresses the idea that college is the wonderland of finding oneself and to find the career that one would want to follow for the rest of their lives. “College is seen as the open sesame to a good job and a desirable way for adolescents to transition to adulthood. Neither reason is as persuasive as it first appears.” Murray, C (2008) Practically spoken, this is not normally the case. College is a fair amount of work, much more work than one would normally acquire through any course of a high school or secondary school setting.

Read More
400 Words | 2 Pages

The Breeze Article Op-Ed College is a period of time in a student’s life where everything they have ever known is transformed. Before college, the primary focus is memorization and learning the basics needed to “get by” in society. However, the entire purpose of postsecondary education is to learn how to be successful in society, proving the importance of history classes in college. By taking even one history class, the student will have the ability to relearn key details, while studying the reality of those events.

Read More
1177 Words | 5 Pages

I joined him at the table on a porch on a Saturday afternoon. As he sat there, with a smile on his face and gulping down his favorite drink, cold beer, he told me stories about his life. My best friend’s dad, Wilson, reminisced the good and bad days from his childhood to present day. The good days where he immigrated here to the US and had the opportunity to a better life for himself and his family. Whereas the bad days, he grew up working long hours a day since he was a child.

Read More
1022 Words | 5 Pages

In the world we live in today. Going to college is no longer a choice, or privilege, but rather a need for a brighter future . So the big question that happens to be going around is, “Is College really worth it?”According to Andrew J. Rotherham’s article “Actually, college is very much worth it.”, “5 Ways Ed Pays”produced by (The College board), and “Why College Isn't (And Shouldn’t have to be) For Everyone” written by Robert Reich. The answer to that question is yes.

Read More
207 Words | 1 Pages

Life is full of choices. The choice to succumb to your circumstance or surpass the expectations of society. The overall decision to go to college was made on the vision of a life greater than what was provided to me by my parents. The cliché of the American Dream is only achievable with hard work and perseverance. I believe that those are the attributes of success and the foundation of why I value education.

Read More
750 Words | 3 Pages

For many people, college is an important key for their future. Some people go to college for the job opportunities and the new windows it can open. Others go just for the education and experience. A good education is beneficial from many different viewpoints; in truth, it is a possibility that one's adult life could be much harder than people care to think. One can have better wealth, is less likely to be unemployed, and a much higher chance of being closer to your family.

Read More
1505 Words | 7 Pages

The above maxim resonates with me. I was born into a middle class family with ordinary educational background. My father was a first genration college student and took up teaching for high school as profession. My mother completed tenth grade and is a housewife. They had to work hard to put my brother and me through college but they imbibed the value of knowledge in us from a young age.

Read More

More about Analysis Of What Are You Doing Here By Mark Edmundson

Open Document