How Do I View the Purpose of College? Essay Example

It's a commonly accepted belief that college is "where you learn to learn." The importance of a college education cannot be overemphasized. A college education gives a person the opportunity to be successful in life, either financially or morally depending on the goals they set for themselves for their life, notwithstanding, people's divergent views on the purpose for a college education. Americans are split on the main purpose of college, with 47% saying it is to teach work-related skills and knowledge while 39% claim that college is an opportunity for students to grow personally and intellectually whereas 12% say the time spent at college should be dedicated to both pursuits (Lagemann, Ellen C, and Harry Lewis 15). Admittedly, the college provides a serene environment where students learn to take care of themselves, manage their own time, set goals and achieve them consistently; build their professional networks and try out many things to discover and hone their strengths.

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It's arguable that today's world economies are so tied together and react to one another that only the brightest and the smartest will survive. The better educated a student is in the specific career that they have chosen to earn a degree in will give them the polished edge so that they can out-compete with the foreign market. That's the power of college education.

High expectations are a condition for student success; low expectations are a harbinger of failure. Simply put, no one rises to low expectations. From the importance of the college education illustrated above, I expect my college experience to bring out the best in me if possible both academically and socially (Lagemann, Ellen C, and Harry Lewis 21). I expect the college experience to help me develop life qualities that can help me in my future life regardless of my life goals. I hope to learn all valuable life skills such as the art of taking the risk, conquering fear, making myself useful and effective communication among others.

Therefore, as I manage the high level of social and cultural diversity, I expect to encounter students from all walks of life with entirely different social and cultural background coping with this might be a challenge before I adapt. Additionally, the college environment is something that is novel to me, and I might take time familiarizing myself with the new environment and studying the new culture in the college. Simply put, it might take me time to recuperate from cultural shock in the university.

Homesick is another challenge am quite sure to am going to experience. Occasionally I will miss home and long to be home just before making the college my second home and make the full transition to adapt to the new college environment (Morphew, Christopher C, and John M. Braxton 8). However, am adamant that I will overcome it soonest due to the excitement I have for a college education.

Relationships. I know relationships are good, but they can be overwhelming times. Sometimes they take a lot of one's time, and they might encroach in my education. I will do my best to ensure the relationships I engage in college doesn't encroach on my time. Sickness and general health condition. Since I will be changing environment chances of some illness such as common cold might crop up. Also, heightened stress and lack of sleep in the college due to numerous assignment and reading might cause health problems. However, am adamant that despite the challenges am going to face, it is worth it because in the end the good times and the outcome will outweigh the problems experienced.

In as much as I don't expect science-rocket change, I hope to make a tremendous change in my first year at college. I hope by the end of the first year in college I will be able to develop some life skills such as effective communication both with my colleagues and my seniors both at home and in college. Additionally, life is nothing but change. Change is stressful, and when disappointment strikes stress increases. It's been noted that beneath the surface of fear of change there is a life coping skill; maximizing your ability to turn disappointment into opportunity. Here are some steps that will help turn a disappointment into an opportunity for growth.

Conclusion

Take care of yourself; stress makes one everyone as if they are losing control, so take care good care of yourself to help restore that control. This can be done by following your daily routine of eating and sleeping. Make a conscious assessment; relax from the past disappointment and assess your strategy to get past your disappointment (Morphew, Christopher C, and John M. Braxton 19). Consult someone who has solved the same problem successfully; bad things are solved in isolation. Finding someone who has gone through the same crisis that you are facing accomplishes several things at once. Reach deeper into yourself for solutions; when you reach yourself deep for solutions because you are the author of the disappointment be assured you will triumph in the end.

Works cited

Lagemann, Ellen C, and Harry Lewis. What Is College For?: The Public Purpose of Higher Education. New York: Teachers College Press, 2015. Internet resource.

Morphew, Christopher C, and John M. Braxton. The Challenge of Independent Colleges: Moving Research into Practice. , 2017. Print.