Entry 2

Jacqueline Wells

Professor Monique Williams

English 1A

2/9/13

Navigating the Doldrums

Before, during, and after their educational careers, students stand in the shadow of the looming question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” This question evolves from an interesting pastime thought or dream, to a sudden threat necessitating immediate action and a hurried reply. It is after that hurried reply (or lack thereof) that the question then becomes “what are you going to do?” From there, the onslaught of follow-up queries begins, but they all revolve around the central issue of money. The Passion Project aligns a figure in “black shiny armor” as a sort-of mirror image of students currently finding their way through life. This figure may be analogous to a ship, moving steadily in one direction. As young people, we are expected to be just like the ship. That is to say, we are expected to traverse along a set path that has been planned, prepared for, and timed. To paraphrase Glenn Reynolds’ article, “Where Higher Education Went Wrong,” the problem is that tuition costs have been on the rise by roughly 4.7% each year, and students in The United States have collectively accumulated over one trillion dollars in student loans with no foreseeable means of repaying the debt. Therefore, colleges across the nation are seeing a significant decrease of applicants. Essentially, the path chosen or desired is becoming less and less navigable. Students of generation Y, and the future academics of generation Z, while granted limitless information, are facing a very real problem: With ever-increasing tuition and living costs, the prospect of insurmountable debt is sapping the passion from essentially every potential student. Where the student will live, how the student will pay for school, and where the student will work post-graduation have now determined  whether any one young adult will expect to go to college, or whether it would be more practical to get a more utilitarian education at a vocational school for a fraction of the price. It would seem that higher education is becoming less of a tool for success and survival, and more a luxury afforded to the more affluent of our country.

Works Cited

1)      Reynolds, Glenn H. "Where Higher Education Went Wrong." Academic Search Premier. Reason, Apr. 2013. Web. 31 Aug. 2013. <http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy1.clpccd.cc.ca.us/ehost/detail?vid=16&sid=5c6707fb-a0e4-4ea9-9825-18445bd7b449%40sessionmgr115&hid=25&bdata=JnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=aph&AN=85801116>.