College Search Process......Then and Now

bchilcoat
Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:46:13 +0000

It took me a long time to realize why I was going to college. Like many middle class white Americans I had the privilege of knowing I would have the chance to go on to the next educational step. It was “the thing to do” where I grew up. Everyone went on to college after high school. And like them I knew I would too once I finished high school. Throughout my childhood I knew this and never had to worry. College was the next step in my life, there wasn’t much thought to it. I never questioned the idea or asked why I just knew it was the next stepping-stone in a long path. Not until the summer before my freshman year of college did I ever question this notion or ask the big question of WHY?
That summer I read a quote that basically stated “Know why you go to college, go to further your education and knowledge”. It was obviously much better put then that and hit something in my neo cortex that made me sit there and think a while. I realized I hadn’t really known why I was leaving for college in a few months. Since then this thought has motivated me throughout the year. I’ve gained so much from having this philosophy that college is here to further my understanding of the world and allow me to learn more. Maybe it was just me but I felt as if no one I knew really understood the reasons they were going to go through another 4 years of schooling. I wish people sat and thought about it for a few minutes because it is incredible what the thought can do.