College and Mental Freedom

_00:18

College and Mental Freedom

A couple months ago I got into an debate with my roommate on personal goals and dreams. I couldn’t understand why many students in college had little to no clue on what they wanted to do with their lives.

For me, it was simply a matter of looking at what you like to do and figuring out a way to get paid for doing those things. The only problem with this theory of mine was the lack of mental freedom college students are given.

I miscalculated the amount of thought that must go into figuring out this type of system and also miscalculated the lack of mental freedom students are given to think on such things.

Taking just a few classes right now has helped me understand a bit more on why this may be a problem in our society. Whereas college is incredibility important in our social development and growth - it doesn’t seem to account for the time needed to successfully allow ones mind to develop a plan.

You’re given classes upon classes and statistics on top of statistics - a students mind is so consumed with these facts and figures they are to mentally exhausted to think on any future development. It’s constantly a struggle to just get through the next hour in life.

All this said and learned, I don’t detract my statement fully. I do think college students should think about their future and doing this isn’t as painful as many assume.

The first and easiest way I have found to help is figuring out what you like to do. This doesn’t have to be work related but value related. If you like doing something as simple as playing hacky-sack go from there. How can you get paid to do just this little task? Many times people will develop functional business plans just on this form of simple thinking.

The next thing is just to talk with other people that are professionally doing the things you wish to do. It’s very important to hang out with your buddies and people holding the same social role as you - it’s also very important to attach yourself to groups that are much higher in society and are doing the things you want to be doing.

So if you want to become a professional hacky-sack player then hang out with people that are playing hacky-sack. Proceed to hang out with people that challenge you and never let you settle for being still.

Where did all this come from?

I’ve been pumping social statistics into my brain for almost 4 hours straight now. It’s almost impossible for me to think on anything other than the subject(s) that I’m learning about. During this process I thought back to the debate with my old roommate and thought I would stop learning for a moment and reflex on that thought.

I may be completely wrong and could drastically be overlooking something. I do however think this is a serious issue and should be looked at. If college’s aren’t discussing the implications of these factors I fear we’re only hurting ourselves and economy later on. I will now open the floor for any thoughts on this. That is - if you can break your mind away from your college training :-)

posted on March 10, 2003 | 12:35 AM EST

7 Comments

Add to the discussion.

Nobody Says:

Your a f***’in idiot

Posted at: March 10, 2003 12:29 PM

Aaron Schaap Says:

Try sharing why? It’s pretty easy to claim someone is an idiot and not say anything more. It’s much harder to actually put your thoughts out there for everyone to critique.

So let us all know why you think I’m such a foolish or stupid person.

Posted at: March 10, 2003 12:45 PM

Bob Says:

And all the time here I thought he was just a ‘regular’ idiot… jeez, learn somthin new everyday.

Posted at: March 10, 2003 1:05 PM

FYI Says:

Apparently Mr. Moynan is caught up in the college thinking a little too much, he’s forgotten how to spell …

It should You’RE not YouR.

Posted at: March 10, 2003 2:31 PM

tracy Says:

Aaron, i think youre right, it is hard to stop concentrating on classes and tests to think about what you want to do. It seems we are at college to figure this out, and in reality i’m not sure how helpful college is to this end. Don’t get me wrong, i just graduated from college and i have a better idea now about what i want to do than i did when i graduated from highschool, so i guess it helped some. anyways, congrats on finishing your classes today :)

Posted at: March 10, 2003 2:45 PM

dan fris Says:

People (majority) go to college because society dictates it’s the natural course of action after your first 12 years of school.

Many are there (i feel) wasting space because they know damn well , the factory down the road only leads to a fat belly , 2 whiny kids and a mortgage payment they can’t afford.

Supposedly there are advisors at every college who help you figure out what to do with

your future .. they then develop a class schedule around your proposed path.

If your concerned with your future .. you’ll take the necessary steps to make it better. If not .. you’ll waste your’s and everyone elses time .

But i mean really.. what’s the deal with finding some specific purpose for your future anyways. Live the life in front of your nose … the future deals what it will.

Posted at: March 10, 2003 3:31 PM

Paul Says:

I think there could be something to do with which school you are attending that affects your view of college in general. I feel like my school has really engaged me and my fellow students to figure out what exactly it is that makes them tick.

I do agree with Dan, some people are going to college for the wrong reason, but I think it is possible for them to focus their education and actually learn something that they can apply to their lives.

I’m going on to my 5th and 6th years of school after I graduate from Calvin, so maybe my view is a bit skewed since I obviously like school… somewhat.

Posted at: March 11, 2003 8:31 AM

theParagon