This post is somewhat a response to Nancy's post, but mostly my own. These days, the one topic that is always on the forefront of my mind (and I'm sure almost everyone else's, to some extent) is college. Now, some people might consider themselves to really be under pressure about college. But I bet they don't have a librarian mother who brings home a new book about colleges every time she leaves work. Or a lawyer father whose tendency to scrutinize everything and examine all the details is, simply put, exasperating. Not to mention, my dad's family has a pretty highbrow track record when it comes to higher education. No pressure.
Especially at this time of the year, with the holidays approaching, I'm sure we're all bracing ourselves for the dozens of conversations with our ever-curious relatives. "Have you started looking yet?", "What college is at the top of your list?" I know my great-aunt Mary has had her list of colleges for me to apply to since my freshman year (and possibly before then). So what's a junior like me to do? I have been to exactly one (1) college fair, have not visited any colleges, and have absolutely no idea what I want to do in my life.
Resorting therefore, to tactics of avoidance, I have several key lines that I hope will get me through the next week and a half. If asked where I want to go, I can respond "Not north, I tend to dislike negative temperatures." If asked if I have a top school, I can respond "Well, my dad went to Vassar, and my mom went to Regis, so I think they would love it if I went to one of those schools."
Honestly though, we shouldn't look at the coming parade of relatives with chagrin. My family, at least, is full of all kinds of interesting characters. They will have many different opinions of what I should do with my future. I would be wise to listen to their advice. If you're certain that your family will be positively unbearable, just look at the coming holidays as a particularly long and boring college fair. There's a silver lining to everything.
“I tend to dislike negative temperatures.” This is the line of the year. Very Shakespearean; I love it. Anyway, I think your post is great, especially the final analogy between the holiday season and a college fair. I know you write this tongue-in-cheek (sorry Orwell), but I’m sure there’s some truth to it. I feel as a teacher that I should have some grand insight to offer, but I don’t. I can only rely on cheesy clichés that you surely have already heard. I’ll spare you those, and simply confirm the most cliché of all advice for college-bound juniors and seniors: you’ll be happy and successful wherever you go. It’s true.
ReplyDeleteKitty - you're right, I don't have a librarian mother or a lawyer father. I almost think I have it worse. Both of my parents are in the profession that I already know I want to be in. Literally my entire family is. Take my music theory example. I'll come home and ask them to check my homework for me. If I do something wrong, they scoff at me and tell me how I'll never accomplish anything as a musician if I don't get my act together. I don't actually remember, but did I mention how all of my family went to Oberlin, a college in Ohio? My great-grandparents went there, my grandparents went there, my aunt and uncle went there, my cousins... so on and so forth. So not only is my entire family built on the exact same subject but also on the exact same school... I'm sure its tough having parents like yours, but parents like mine are hard to deal with when it comes to college too. I mean don't get me wrong, I love music and its what I want to do, but even if I didn't, I don't really have a choice... I don't know if this post actually makes sense, I may have sort of changed the topic a couple times, but basically I'm trying to say that I understand how you feel and I'm in a similar situation... I can only imagine how awful we'll feel next year!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kitty, but this is mainly a response to your first paragraph. There is always pressure from those around you to begin the college search. Mostly parents and family members express their curiosity and thought towards your decision. Some may even influence your decision. In my family, I have eight family members who are in the medical field; therefore one of my priorities for a college education is a position in the medical field. However, I’m not exactly sure as my interests are always changing with every day.
ReplyDeleteIf there is one thing for certain, it is that stress is a great factor in the college search. I have yet to experience it but from what I have seen and heard, it is terrible. Awaiting letters of acceptance (or denial), finding the correct location, campus, classes, and most importantly people, presents a barrage of necessary tasks to complete in order to become a college freshman. Yet through all of the stress, anticipation, waiting and searching there is that “silver lining” you included at the end of your response. The thing to look forward to is the likely acceptance to a college. No matter what occupation, there will always be a college for the job.
With the acceptance into college comes the sometimes dreaded college encounters. Whether it is a frat party, a prank, or a terror of a teacher, the college student will always learn and become responsible for actions in school. The “silver lining” of college would be new friends, new knowledge and new opportunities for becoming a fully fledged adult.
When the time comes for the college search, I would believe that the searcher should try to remain direct, optimistic and certain of their decision. We high school juniors only have half a year remaining to enjoy our college free lives until the true search begins senior year.
Jesse and Nancy, unfortunately, I can’t relate to the issues you bring up. I recall no pressure from home. I guess I was lucky. Regardless, I hear stories like yours on a daily basis, both at MHS and in the media. I sympathize. Knowing both of you, I know that you will be successful and happy wherever you end up. I think Jesse is right to point out the “silver lining.” No matter where you end-up, you will be happy – eventually. No matter how dead-set you might be now about a particular college or career path, you will inevitably change your mind, and you will learn to be happy. It’s the human way. Right?
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