debryc
June 29, 2008, 11:53pm
13
<p>Hello, this is my previous post about the same article:</p>
<p>
I’m speaking as a current college student, and although I don’t agree with everything the article stated, something does resonate with me. I’m currently attending Princeton on 100% financial aid. I went through public school on free-and-reduced lunches. Yet, two years into undergrad, I realize that I’m totally out of touch with my background. The message I’m getting at Princeton is succeed, succeed, succeed. Make money, change the world, you’re a leader, do something great. We’re so busy doing things, sometimes it feels like we don’t have time to think. It’s not helping that such a disproportionate number of people graduate to go into Wall Street jobs. Two years ago, I didn’t even know what I-banking stands for. And, Princeton pampers its students to such an extent that I don’t need to worry about money. I expect that if I want something to happen, I’ll be provided with the resources to do so. I’ve jumped into such a different world that it’s plain scary. I can’t understand why there’s such a disparity between what I’ve received and what the greater majority of young adults in America (much less the rest of the world) will receive.</p>
<p>At the same time, perhaps this experience is what drives me to learn all I can about the American public education system. I have this crazy dream that there’s some way we CAN provide quality education to every child in this country, regardless of the zip code they live in and what kind of parents they have. By some miracle, public education let me make it, now it’s time to make this opportunity available to everyone. Then there are times I think, wouldn’t I be happier just slowing down and living a quiet, uneventful, but peaceful life? But wait, that can’t happen, because I’m a Princeton student, gosh darn it. I’m supposed to return to my ten year reunion happily settled down with an impressive CV and money or fame, preferably both, to donate to my alma mater.</p>
<p>I admit that it’s not logical, but the sentiment is there.</p>
<p>In short, this cultural clash of class norms and expectations within my own life is something I definitely think about. I am incredibly thankful that I’m at Princeton to even have this issue to think about, but I know that it’ll be a personal struggle for me to reconcile my old life with the life I’m working towards for the future.
</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/526528-disadvantages-elite-education-post1060578701.html#post1060578701[/url] ”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/526528-disadvantages-elite-education-post1060578701.html#post1060578701</a></p> ;
<p>In response to the conversation here, I have to disagree with the idea that changing the world should be a criterion for people being “objectively better”. In fact, I think that a lot of people who aspire to “change the world” are setting themselves up for heartbreak. Instead, do whatever it is you choose to do to the best of your abilities, always seeking to improve, and you’ll inevitably change the world, even if that wasn’t your goal in the first place.</p>