Academic apathy.

[cmeador]

At the risk of seeming gossipy I have to write about something someone is doing, because it was so mind-boggling to me at the time that I heard it. Basically, a friend of a friend (PS. I have never written about this person before in my journal) decided to stop doing schoolwork some time ago (six weeks if I remember correctly). No more going to

Comments

Reluctant, but my response

[bacchianrevelry]

I can't say anything about skipping some classes, but apart from the two semesters I royally screwed up at MSU and NE, I did value school a great deal. But like I said, I screwed up and was unable to continue. Now, stuck in corporate America in this deadend job, I think about it everyday with much regret. Its too bad there isn't an "I'm damned retarded, I made an an egregious mistake, I realize, PLEASE give me a 2nd chance" scholarship. The shitty part is, you were telling me the whole time--"Thomas, you dumbshit, you are screwing up and will regret this. Thomas, set your priorities. Thomas, I don't think he's worth it." I am afraid your friend will wake up one morning and realize just how very much he threw away.

save the regret

[cmeador]

I've thought for a while now that colleges should do more to cater to a wider audience than just right-out-of-high-school kids. However you might have an advantage in seeking need-based scholarships since a lot of kids have parents that make too much money, but you aren't your mom's dependant anymore so it's calculated based on what you make

wrote you a book

[igz00]

There is a little bit more to the situation than you have been exposed to thus far. I assume that this friend of a friend is actually the person I'm thinking of, correct me if I'm wrong. We'll call this person R just so I don't have to use he/she all the time

Re: wrote you a book

[bacchianrevelry]

Its a shame that youth is wasted on the young.

It makes me feel old that that quote makes perfect sense to me now.

Re: wrote you a book

[igz00]

Wow...that was really well written! (much clapping)

Melissa

What to do post-high school (off topic)

[cmeador]

A lot of countries have mandatory military service for teens. Maybe you don't serve in the army per se but you do have some sort of basic training and then special training and spend like a year either in the military or some kind of public works alternative.

I don't know if that kind of program is quite in line with the American philosophy and our core values or whatever but I think it could do a lot of good for the majority of people as far as building maturity, confidence, work ethics, etc.

Agreed

[anonymous]

While your post may seem somewhat radical to a few, I am in complete agreement. The primary purpose of higher education is just that: EDUCATION. If one is not seeking higher learning, and is only in college for the entertainment value, he/she is actually doing a disservice (IMO) to those around him/her who *are* trying to learn. The same problem bleeds over into the corporate realm. Try sitting on an important committee composed 50% of extremely busy professionals and 50% of underworked clock-punchers. The CPers are thrilled to be away from their dead-end positions and stretch meetings out as long as possible, preventing any sort of movement. The Insane Professional Posse wonders why an agenda is even created, since no progress is ever made on any of the topics. I follow the old "shit or get off the pot" motto...

Melissa

[igz00]

Unfortunately, this is not the case in most of my classes. For every CPT class I will take from here on out I will be assigned a group project, as well as assigned a team to work with. Most of my profs are trying to make it like the real world so getting out of a group (or kicking someone else out) is not an option unless you are willing to do the project by yourself.

As far as figuring out who the slackers are, easier said than done. Maybe you can figure out if the friends you already have are slackers, but like in my case I got stuck living with one. Honestly, it does effect me a lot more than it should. She doesn't go to class and the 5 year old in me says, "Why do I have to go to class?" Its all about will power, but sometimes you just have to break down and stay home, just because if she can do it then I can too.