I think that everyone should have the opportunity to go to college. I think anyone who wants to should be allowed and given the means to go to college. This doesn't mean, however, that everyone SHOULD go to college. I think that everyone has the ability to do well in college somewhere inside of them, but it is a matter of whether someone is willing to work hard in college to make the grade or not.
In class today, we talked about an article that we had read. The article was about a college class writing a research paper, in particular, one woman who was struggling with her paper. This woman, Ms. L, was computer illiterate. She hadn't been in front of a computer in a long time, if ever. She was struggling because, in order to write this research paper, the students had to be able to do the research on a computer. The woman wasn't willing to do what it took to learn how to use the computer for research. Ms. L ended up getting a failing grade on the paper. People like Ms. L probably should not go to college because she was not willing to put in the work to learn. However, she definitely should be given the opportunity to go if she is willing to work hard.
Another thing that we talked about in class today is the system in place in colleges in the U.S. for students to pay for the education that everyone deserves. The system of loaning students money, but not giving them enough to cover the cost of their whole education isn't good. Some students end up not being able to go to college because they simply cannot afford it. Other students end up having to get private students loans and when they graduate, they are buried in loans that they can't pay back. Some students also have to get jobs and work all throughout their schooling. I worked in high school, 25 hours a week and went to school everyday. It is really hard work and there is no way that your school work doesn't suffer because you have to work all the time. Someone once told me, it's better to do good in school so you can get a really good job later than to do really good at a mediocre job now and fail classes so you can't get a good job later.
These are my thoughts on the education system and the method of financing education in America today.
Rachel, I agree with the way you are thinking about college. I also agree with you when you say that everybody has an opportunity to go but SHOULD not always go. I feel like there is a preparation process that people who want to go to college need to take so that when they actually get to college they know what is excepted of them.On the point about actually affording college, I do feel like most people don't attend because of the cost of college. I was able to attend but I am here this semester because of students loans. I do not want to be in debt as soon as I come out of college just as many others wouldn't like to be but I want to go to college.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I highly agree with your response. I believe that you did very well in approaching your argument and that college is not for everyone. I do believe that college is a big part of being successful in our society today but people learn at different paces and different levels of education. You made a great personal connection with your friend Elliot. We should recognize that their are others ways that will enable us to be successful in society and success should be based on what we enjoy to do and what we bring to the table for others. Refer to this article on going back to college, maybe the older woman in the passage could have used some of this advice. http://www.back2college.com/library/gettingstarted.htm
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