Why College Isn’t Worth It Attending college is something that many High School students look forward to as a buffer or a way to make the transition into adulthood easier, but a rising question has people considering: Is going to college really worth it? While some describe college as their best years, it leaves most attendees in debt and with a degree they may never use. Between tuition fees, traveling, housing, food, and textbooks, all college students are bound to owe at least a few thousand.
In the article “The Perils of Higher Ed” by Steven Kotler, Steven explained how alcohol, bad eating habits, and lack of sleep would affect college students’ lives for the better or worst. I would agree with Kotler that lack of sleep doesn’t help college students to remember what they learned because they are only getting about six hours of sleep which is not enough. So when students sleep less, their chances of memory loss increased. One thing that surprised me the most is that smoking has cognitive benefits such as nicotine which boast mental focus and defend against Alzheimer’s disease. Yet, hundreds of thousands Americans die from smoking but smoking has benefits which for me is fascinating.
Alfred Lubrano the author of “the shock of Education: How college Corrupts” explains the differences and difficulties of what students can go through while they are in college. Lubrano says that when a student arrives at college, they lose their connection to their families. This is due to the extreme workload put on the student by the professors they don’t have the time to really chat with their parents like they used to when they lived at home. Also if there is an enormous distance gap where the students go to college and where their parents live it may create that sense like they don’t know each other anymore. I agree do with Alfred that college students change once they go to college they start grow apart from their families.
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.
“3 Reasons College Still Matters” by Andrew Delbanco 3) “Surely, every American college ought to defend this waning possibility, whatever we call it. And an American college is only true to itself when it opens its doors to all - the rich, the middle, and the poor - who have the capacity to embrace the precious chance to think and reflect before life engulfs them. If we are all serious about democracy, that means everyone.” 4) In this part of the writing Andrew Delbanco tries to persuade his audience by using the pattern of logic that agrees with the overall argument but also considers another striking point of view to strengthen the argument (While these arguments are convincing, they must also consider…).
In this essay, “Higher Education through Discombobulation,” Betsy Chitwood argues that confusion is the key to higher education. Chitwood goes on to persuade us that confusion is a key to learning by using extensive research and personal experience. In her article, Chitwood first prepares the stage by describing her memories with her mother and then outlines her experiences in the military.
Americans, when they think of Civil Rights probably think of the Civil Rights Movement. During the civil rights era African Americans fought to be treated as equals by fighting segregated schools, for their voting rights, and for their basic right that every American has today. To say that education is our civil rights movement of today is inaccurate. Antonio Alvarez’s narrative “Out Of My Hands” focuses on a financially struggling family, but proving that they can succeed. David L. Kirp’s article “The Secret to Fixing Bad Schools” reinforces the idea that even though a community might be poor, that doesn’t have to reflect the quality of education students receive.
Some people prefer to not know something for it could severely tear them down mentally. When I was young I did not know much about everything. I was blissfully unaware of the reality of things until education seeped into my life and opened my eyes to the cruel world. For an example, when I was only five-years old, the twin towers located at Manhattan, New York City, was brutally attacked by terrorists. As a kid I did not think much about it until my parents and even teachers explained it to me thoroughly of the situation.
Dunning in the end appeals to people to admit their blindness on certain fields, because doing so helps people finding the truth.
I chose the essay, “College May Not Be Worth It Anymore” by Ellen Ruppel Shell. The purpose of the argument in this piece is whether going to college is worth it or not. The audience would be any person thinking about getting a college education. The question of the essay is if the money spent on college is rewarding and worth it. The essay revolves around whether a degree is beneficial and valuable or not.
In five to ten years, I am uncertain of where I will be, which career I will have, or what activities I will be a part of, which I believe to be the truth for most entering college. However, the four pillars of Purdue University’s Honors College are, to an extent, already instilled within my character. I am certain that with being an Honors student in the future, I will be living a life only possible through cultivating my already existing character traits into columns to support not only my education, but my life after college. While always being a scholar, my post-academic life, as I see it, will contain a career that is constantly challenging and evolving. Cybersecurity, my current course of study, mirrors these values.
The essay “Three reasons college still matters” by]Andrew Delbanco brings up a controversial topic. . Delbalco proclaims three major arguments in favor of a college degree, which include economic, political, and self-development factors. The newer generation may not be getting higher education compared to the former. Delanco expresses his personal concern about the fact that American High Education is suffering from a calamity. He says “college doors” remain closed for numerous students.
Things Fall Apart, a book written by the author Chinua Achebe is a story filled with amazing culture. It is about the rise and downfall of the main character, Okonkwo. The book had many different aspects of the African culture and the different time period. For example, characters and their importance throughout the story, and how women were treated in this culture and time period. Topics from religion, family, and the social complexity were very much involved throughout the entire book and portrayed by many of the characters.
CHAPTER 2 • Cause/s of Failures Students get poor grades involve external factors, like the subject matter is too challenging that makes the students unable to follow in the discussion. The other reasons have to with poor attitudes, like not doing homework dillydallying, and skipping class. Lastly, there are reasons related to personal issues, such as test anxiety and concentrating problems. (Kurtus, 2012) • Student-related Factors • Not Ready for College Students aren’t prepared for post-secondary work and lack foundational skills that hinder to achieve passing grades.
As we learn and practice mindfulness, we will become more aware, and others around us are likely to find us as helpful, patient, open-hearted, non-judgmental and compassionate human being. Being more mindful and aware will ultimately help us to live and enjoy our life to the full! Need we desire more? Mindfulness today, is one of the most talked about developments in human psychology, and innumerable researches are being undertaken across the globe to understand its positive effects and implications.
