True Meaning of an Education

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Throughout my college search and admission process as a transfer student, I have learned a great deal.</p>

<p>Coming from a community college, knowing that I was going to apply to some of the "best" schools in the country, I was solely focused on building my resume. I maintained a 4.0, became President of Student Government, President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Kappa Beta Delta Business Honors Treasurer, petitioned at the state government, interviewed the provost at my college, seized an internship, and much, much more. I am not here to flaunt my achievements, nor am I here to ask your opinion on the "perfect college." I am here to ask of you something much more revolutionary (in my opinion): Isn't school really about dissecting one's intellectual curiosity? </p>

<p>As I was taking classes this semester, I realized that I had overwhelmed myself with so many extracurricular activities that my actual studies had taken a backseat once I knew I was getting an A. I am honestly disappointed in this revelation. I became so dedicated to perfecting my resume that I left out the most important aspect of school: learning.</p>

<p>So I pose this question: Why are we as a society more fixated in the end goal rather the process of getting to this end goal? </p>

<p>Logically, one would think that the process should be appreciated, for the process is what helped us reach (lead to) the desired result. </p>

<p>But for some reason it is more important to receive a degree than to actually be able to understand what that degree represents and back ups. </p>

<p>Too often do I hear: "I wish I could be done with school, get my degree, and start working." </p>

<p>Okay fine. Then what have you just done? You paid 60k+ for a piece of paper claiming you are qualified to work in a specific field. So be it. </p>

<p>Is the world a little less intellectually savvy. Yes. Do we really care though? Probably not. We are making money now!!!!!!!</p>

<p>My apologies if that is a little more indepth than you may have appreciated, but it did present essential value.</p>

<p>I am not here to criticize those who do this. Nor am I claiming that everyone does this. I myself have fallen victim to it. </p>

<p>My final point here is simple: too often do people take what they are given for granted. Now that I have proven myself to be a diligent and motivated scholar, I am proud to say I am going to be attending Emory University next Fall. But what was the price of getting in?..... I forgot what I was in school for: TO LEARN, DAMNIT! </p>

<p>Granted, grades and extracurriculars most definitely prove you are a well-rounded individual. However, they too often overshadow the process that had to take place in order to achieve your goals, which I believe is the most beautiful thing that an education can offer. </p>

<p>This is great! We discovered the true meaning of an education!!!!!! </p>

<p>Oh wait...there's another problem?!?
Will there ever truly be a time in which we aren't trying to impress someone? </p>

<p>This is where it get's tricky.
How do we distinguish those who are simply in it for the grade, resume, and money from those who are ultimately determined to become intellectually
superior, even if it means giving up that extracurricular, student government presidency, or internship? </p>

<p>I truly believe that at the immediate moment that those who are in college with the goal of getting out of there as soon as possible have the advantage over those who truly want to learn and challenge themselves intellectually. </p>

<p>There is little incentive to challenge oneself. As long as you get a degree from the top school, with the highest GPA and most extracurriculars, why try any harder? </p>

<p>I do not have a solution to this problem. However, it must be presented and discussed thoroughly. The progressiveness and mindset of the world can be revolutionized if steps are taken to promote intellectual curiosity.</p>

<p>Again, I have personally fallen victim to this viscous cycle.</p>

<p>Unless we do something about it, those who strive for this "intellectual superiority" will become even more of a minority. </p>

<p>Finally, I thank you for taking the time to read my article. It is certainly not well organized, for it was more a spur of the moment type thing. But it must be discussed!!!!!!!!!</p>

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<p>I think you are right on the basic idea that the education system is based on ansrews as opposed to the intulectual curiosity. My advice do what you love</p>

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<p>Per Sperber’s book Beer and Circus, there are 4 types of college students:</p>

<p>COLLEGIATE: A world of football, Greek System, drinking, and campus amusements. Indifference to serious demands from the faculty for an involvement with issues and ideas. Pursuit of fun.</p>

<p>ACADEMIC: Identification with the intellectual concerns of the serious faculty members. Work hard, get the best grades, and let the world of ideas reach them. Pursuit of knowledge.</p>

<p>VOCATIONAL: An organization of courses and credits leading to graduation and a good job. Resistant to intellectual demands on them beyond what is required to pass the courses. Pursuit of a diploma.</p>

<p>REBEL: Deeply involved with ideas from the classroom and wider society of art, literature, and politics. Aggressive nonconformism, often a critical detachment from the college they attend and from its faculty. Pursuit of an identity. </p>

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<p>Interesting. I will have to check out his book. </p>

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<p>Yes, because we can neatly fit every person into a category…</p>

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<p>I never said that he was right. I said it was interesting. Of course that is inconsistency in he logic. </p>

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<p>Interesting ideas, but as someone once said, you can only truly step back and appreciate nature when it’s not trying to kill you. So too you can only step back and appreciate knowledge when you don’t need to constantly apply it to keep you and your family from starving or freezing to death.</p>

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<p>It is certainly possible for one student to have both motivations. Indeed, the high cost of college and the devaluation of the high school diploma as a credential in the labor market has caused career-related reasons to become more important to students. Even a student whose motivations are primarily intellectual and academic cannot avoid considering the career-related implications of his/her college choices, unless s/he has very wealthy and indulgent parents.</p>

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<p>tl;dr but it seems like you are caught up in this because of being stuck as a transfer and having to be the sort of student that stands out in community college transfers because of the difficulty of the route to your target schools. Entering the target schools directly you would be going to college with a different set of students and being able to enjoy the experience more.</p>

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<p>Totally agree</p>

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<p>In theory I care about getting an education, and I would go to college even if it wouldn’t improve my job prospects. (I mean, in that case I wouldn’t take out loans, but I don’t plan to do that anyway.) In practice I usually get caught up in the pursuit of grades because I’m not actually hardworking/dedicated enough to educate myself for real, and getting good grades allows me to pretend I’m doing well. :(</p>