College: The Defining Years of the Educated Person

“Anak, magsikap ka. Mahirap ang hindi nakatapos ng pag-aaral.”

            These are words we always hear from our parents, especially from those who didn’t have the chance to study themselves. Perhaps many of us are already tired of hearing this piece of advice. But no matter how hard we try, we cannot refute the truth of this statement. In fact, even the most meager of jobs nowadays require a high school diploma. Realizing this, parents strive hard to provide for the education of their children. As soon as a child reaches the age of 4, he is sent to pre-school or day-care. As soon as he finishes kindergarten or preparatory, he then proceeds to six or seven years of grade school. The toil of his parents didn’t end there: after finishing grade school, the child, now in his teens, is then sent to high school. They become proud when he graduates from high school. While many parents are already contented with a high school diploma, still others would strive for something higher: a college degree for their children. This then becomes the ultimate measure of their success. When a student graduates, especially with flying colors at that, it is a big cause for celebration. But when he fails, he is considered a black sheep of the family. This is why any individual who enters college is faced with various challenges.

            One question that must be answered by the college student is, “What are the odds of me getting the job I want?” We must note the use of the word want. Definitely, what the college student must pursue is the degree that he really wants. If the student is still undecided about this, he may discuss choices with his parents, mentors, and even his peers. These people may give choices and advice, but still it is up to the individual to decide. He must carefully weigh all considerations, for if he chooses a course and shifts to another after a year or so, it will be a waste of time and effort. Also, once he chooses a particular course, he must be ready to embrace every aspect of it. To pursue a degree in engineering while hating math is a futile practice. And once you start pursuing a degree, DO YOUR BEST. Do you think an accountancy graduate with low academic performance would be able to land a good job in a reputable company?

            Choosing a career to pursue is one thing. Working towards that goal is another. Always keep in mind that college is far different from grade school or high school. While connections with teachers and friends are very handy (especially those sipsip types and cheatmates) in grade school or high school, you can’t do that in college. You are supposed to do things on your own. Yes, perhaps you are still going to depend on your parents financially. But this time you have to start thinking and working independently, so that later on in life you won’t be a burden to anyone. Yes, in college you’ll meet new friends. Yet you must remember that the primary reason you are in college is because you need to study. So if you need to sacrifice your leisure for the sake of studying, then do it! You can say, “I’m sorry, my friend, but I need to study for an exam. We can go out some other time.” Keep in mind also that in college (and even in other chapters of life), most of learning goes beyond the four corners of the classroom. So don’t get mad if the professor misses some points in a lecture, or doesn’t seem to teach at all. Take such situations as challenges to your learning ability. Make full use of available resources. Libraries are a good source. The Internet has information in abundance. Later on in life, you’ll realize that the skills and attitudes you developed in college would be useful in later endeavors, like when you’re about to start a family.

            Suppose the individual has chosen a career and was able to finish his formal education. The next challenge to the college graduate, and perhaps the most difficult, is to use what he learned to survive the outside world. Have we noticed during our graduation rites the term Commencement Exercises? Perhaps some of us may wonder why a word synonymous to “start” is used when in fact graduation marks the end of formal study. Yes, this is true. But the term Commencement Exercises is used because as it marks the end of one chapter in our lives (our years of study), it also signals the start of another (the establishment of our careers, the search for our own identities). We should be aware of this: that our efforts do not end when we graduate. The years we have spent in studying are but a mere preparation for the greatest challenge there is: LIFE itself. After all, the reason our parents tried hard to finance our studies is because they want us to have a good future. Not that they expect something in return (we can never repay them), but seeing us succeed in college and being able to fend for ourselves and our families are enough to tell them that their efforts had not been in vain.

            We have seen that a person’s years in college mold and define who he is, for it is during this time when he starts to decide what he wants and assert it, develop the skills and attitudes necessary for him to achieve it, so that later on in life he’ll be able to support himself and his family.