Fresh Thoughts

So, we are now what two, three weeks in? Amidst queued reminders to stress about homework, meetings, and, as of late, ideas for articles, what has been on the mind of a freshman? One thing has been clearly demanding of mental note: with so much to choose from, what exactly is it that we should be thinking about? As students, we know that any professor will jump at a chance to re-emphasize how grades always come first. So are grades a priority?
As someone who has always felt that good grades was simply a matter of self dignity and self-esteem on the intellectual/scholastic level, I never felt that despite its importance, a GPA ever deserved more than sincere effort. So I ask myself, are we truly expected now in our fresh years to commit ourselves entirely to differing careers of which we know very little? Is this our purpose? Is a concern to secure a future career why we are here? Can we plan to the extent that we can ensure our future happiness?
This all feels very familiar. Could it be that the same formula (with which we became so closely acquainted in high school) of good grades and good extracurricular activity equals good future still work? Even if we wanted it to? It seems that it may not be that simple. A recent survey taken by the Association of Graduate Recruiters suggests that although more and more jobs are opening up, recruiters are not liking what they see when they look into the endless sea of graduates.
It’s no longer notable to have a degree, and is taken for granted as more and more job-seekers are boasting them. In an article written in (The London) Independent, it is argued that, as a college graduate, one should not expect a job waiting merely because of one’s diploma. Apparently employers are finding graduates often lack the softer skills of life, such as adeptness in working in a team, cooperating, and being knowledgeable about the commercial world. They want normal, functioning, balanced people that have experiences other than academic ones.
With this new information we’re back at the drawing board. Should we (students) recalculate a new formula for success accordingly? Should we add to our to-dos, become balanced and experienced? Although we can, such a task requires more than execution. Becoming people that can enhance, perhaps even help our world requires a change of mindset. How do we view life? Is it all about success or failure? Is it all about temporary, fleeting joys? Sure, that’s what is “normal”. But is there more than that to these next four years?
Needless to say everyone has a different path in life. In the same way we can expect that the four years of undergraduate studies will accordingly differ in purpose and experience to each individual. Simply finding what that purpose is is worthy of our attention.Perhaps we may not be daring enough, yet, to probe into the purpose of life, but how about the purpose of this year?
How can one become a balanced individual? I have found, even in the past few weeks, many extremes out there to follow. It’s tempting to just follow one because it is perhaps easier than developing one’s own sense of purpose and direction. Become career oriented? Success oriented? Focus on fun. Focus on money. Focus on volunteering.Focus on making yourself into a streamlined, productive citizen. In the meantime we forget our humanity. We forget to forgive our mistakes and to try again. We forget that becoming balanced could be as valuable as the degree that we earn. One cannot know exactly how one will impact the world and society.
There are many views and restraints put on life, put on calculated happiness. But as we are developing our own mental and value systems, why not develop our view on life? What if the most memorable experiences in college end up being how we grew? How we learned to consider others, consider our world.If you would like to give you opinion on this you can email me at scribe@bridgeport.edu.
Sources:
Forbes, Rowena. “Its What Graduates Do With Their Degree That Really Makes the Difference.” Independent, The (London). June 1 2006 http://findarticles.com