Share or Die

While reading the book Share or Die by Cory Doctorow, one of the essays that jumped out to me was called “Unprepared: from Elite College to the Job Market”, written by Sarah Idzik. The title would probably be the main reason that I picked this essay, because I feel that it speaks to many people. Whether they know it or not, the majority of people going into college are unprepared.

I knew that I was going to be coming into college unprepared, but by being in this class, and reading the articles that we have, I never realized just how unprepared a person can be. In high school your teachers and counselors would tell you to work hard though school, because it was getting you ready to go to college. For the most part, this is true, but in my eyes, high school did not prepare me for the college environment.

 I can relate to Idzik, because I was considered a good student in high school, and grades were never really an issue with me. The one thing that differs between us is the fact that she chose to venture off to school, while I chose to play it safe, and stay close to home. The main reason for this was because of the fact that I knew I was going to be unprepared for what I was getting in to, and if I stayed close to home I could rely on my family to help me out.

Idzik points out that even though you are studying a certain major, that major would not help you land exactly the jobs that you are looking for. Before you know it, you are in your final year of college, and it’s time to go find that job you are looking for. Even though you may have a great major, when you apply for certain jobs, the employer does not always care about your major. The majority of people nowadays have to settle for a low-paying, not so great job, because even with their degree the job industry is so tight. In some ways, I can see why Sarah was so miserable about her job, but I also believe that she should be thankful to even have a job. She may not have gotten the exact job that she was going for, but I think she could have tried to be a little more positive about the whole situation. That would have made it a lot easier on her part. I do like the fact that in the end, she didn’t just give up, but she is trying to start over. 

Is College Good Enough?

Is college really enough? Is college really "good" enough? These questions may seem similar, but the answers are nowhere near the same. I do believe that college is very important and that everyone should try to attend, but I'm not sure if it really is good enough.

photo credit: frank3.0 via photopin cc 

Kids are always told that they need to finish school so they can go to college to support their future families. At least, that's how I was raised. Oddly enough, when you look at many of the successful people around you, there are a great number of them who never obtained a college degree. This is one of the main reasons that led me to think if college was enough. As JackVincent stated, “First off, a degree no longer sets you apart from the pack. Today, high school students are pretty much expected to go to college. Boomers are going back to college. Plus, there is plethora of specialized technical colleges. So, there are millions of other people with degrees looking for jobs just like you. While the realization of the importance of obtaining a degree is wonderful, the shift in thinking took college graduates from the front of the line and placed them right in the middle. This eliminated the competitive edge that a degree once provided.” I strongly agree with what Vincent is saying, because when you look around at so many successful job holders, only a handful of them actually have a degree. He also explains how nowadays it’s just as easy to get a job if you have great experience, rather than a degree."

photo credit: Illinois Springfield via photopin cc

Ramesh Ponnuru also hits a similar topic about college in his article, "A Case Against College Education". "Part of the college wage premium is an illusion. People who go to college are, on average, smarter than people who don't. In an economy that increasingly rewards intelligence, you'd expect college grads to pull ahead of the pack even if their diplomas signified nothing but their smarts. College must make many students more productive workers. But at least some of the apparent value of a college degree, and maybe a lot of it, reflects the fact that employers can use it as a rough measure of job applicants' intelligence and willingness to work hard." 

 Aside from a degree, most people oversee that they also need experience. Many employers nowadays would rather higher someone with experience in the field, over someone with just a sheet of paper. People often stress that they are losing their jobs to others without degrees, without even knowing that the other person has been working in that type of work for over 10 years. So maybe for some people college is exactly what they need to go down their right path, and for others, there much better off staying in their hands on work. I'm not saying that people should or shouldn't go to college, because I can't answer that for anyone but myself. It's not up to me to decide if college is good enough for you. 

Who Needs College?

photo credit: MomMaven via photo pin cc

To a majority of people, college is known as a step into the new world. If one considered getting a well paid job, they would need to have a degree in that subject. With the way the economy is now, it makes it so much more difficult to get a well paying job without a college degree. A college education is not just more schooling, but so much more. College is also an out coming for many people. It helps you to get to know people, and also to get out in the environment and get involved with various activities. As Mike Rose states, "One of the great things about bringing so many people together in this common space, is that you're almost forced to have to deal with and encounter people who see the world in a very different way from your own, ways that you maybe never even thought of." I believe that you never really know who are until you go through college. People find out so much about themselves, through their college years it's crazy. Going to college may be quite costly, but in the long run it's worth it, because you don't want to waste your education. If you look at the outcome of the salary comparisons, you would understand why most people push for college. 

photo credit: United States Marine Corps Official Page via photo pin cc 

Although so many people say that college is a must, there are also the ones who choose to go down another path. The main reason why people are against college, or cannot go is because of how costly is can be. College can put you in worse debt then the majority of your credit cards. Kantrowitz says "I can see someone borrowing perhaps $10,000 a year if they're majoring in science, technology, engineering, mathematics  computer science or nursing. But I can't see borrowing that amount of money for a degree in art, or humanities, or sociology, because the jobs just pay as well for those fields of study." I agree with him in this article. Some people will try to get a lot of loans through college, not even thinking about paying them back; That's the main reason why most students get put into debt. Some people claim that they simply cannot afford to pay for college, so they choose to join a branch of the military; thus getting their schooling paid for. I don't see anything wrong with that, that's what my brother did, and his life is just fine. 

Yes, there are many ups and downs to college. Some think it is just a major waste of time and money, while the other group of people claim that college is the highlight of your life. When asked why college, no one can really answer the question but you, and you will not always have the same answer as the person next to you. But it is your life, and you must choose which path is right for you.

Why College?

Making the decision to go to College is probably one of the best decisions anyone could make. To me, College has never really been a question. I never really asked myself "if" I was going to college, but where I wanted to go.
When I was younger, I loved animals so I always wanted to be a Veterinarian. And to do so, I knew that I would have to go to college. As I grew older, my love for animals never changed, but I decided that I would also like to help people as well. That is why I am choosing to major in Physical Therapy. My whole life I've always been involved in sports, and been around sports medicine. Also, there are so many job opportunities working with physical therapy. 
There are many reasons why I chose to attend College. For starters, I have always lived in Jacksonville, so I have always been in a college environment. I used to consider going away to college so I could be on my own, but then I realized it would be much simpler to stay home for school. I love the fact that I've grown up in Jacksonville, so I know where everything is. For now I live at home, considering I only live about four blocks away, but I will probably get out on my own starting next semester.
Also, with the way that the economy is nowadays, it is so difficult to get a job without any type of degree. Without a degree, I feel that you wouldn't be able to make as much money in a job as someone who does have a degree. My sister never chose to go to college, and I do love her, but I don't want to turn out like she did. I want to make sure that I have money to back me up. My brother didn't go to college either, but he chose to join the military. I know that some choose to not attend, and that's okay, but I feel that if you want to get anywhere in life, college is the first step.
College is also a great way to get to know people. Through high school, you were always involved with the same people every day, but in college it's like you meet new people every single day. There are so many clubs and organizations that you can choose to get involved with, so no matter what you do there's something for you.

A Little About Myself

Hey y'all, for starters my name's Mallory McGuire. I was born in Heidelberg, Germany, but I've lived in Jacksonville since I was two. So I guess you could just say I'm from Jacksonville. I played volleyball and threw the javelin throughout high school. You can find me on Facebook or Twitter . I'm pretty laid back, and I love meeting new people! :) 

p.s. my dog is my lifee!