Home Of The Greatest Colleges And The Largest Debt | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Home Of The Greatest Colleges And The Largest Debt

Thoughts on the American education system.

14
Home Of The Greatest Colleges And The Largest Debt
Huffington Post

Clearly student debt in America is at an all-time high. Many college graduates come out with hundreds of dollars in student loans, chained to payments they struggle to make, because higher education in America seems to have been put on the back burner. Advocates repeat endlessly why education needs to be funded and why it's important to make this a priority in order to have a well-functioning society. However hard they try, putting the emphasis back on education has come to a standstill.

It is important to note that college costs have gone up tenfold due to the rising issues and fluctuation of the US economy, in addition to this seeming carelessness about educating young minds. There's less faith in teachers, fewer investments made in low-income areas, and less delving into creative majors within the arts and humanities (causing a whole separate issue about arts classes in public schools and the value of an arts/humanities based degree).

And this is a huge problem that no one is doing anything about except addressing. I know addressing the problem is the first step, but we need to move beyond that - we as a nationwide community need to start viewing college degrees as valuable no matter what they are: associate's, bachelor's, master's, whatever - if a person decides they want to further their education, the finished degree shouldn't equal zero opportunities and countless dead-end jobs. Yes, a job is a job, but it's hard to want to get up and go to work every day if you know you could have been doing something else more fitting for your individual self if you only had a bit less student debt.

I'm an art history and European history major. I figure if I work hard at double-majoring, I might end up in a better spot due to my "worthless" arts degree. I already know I'm not going to be rolling in cash after graduation (or at any point in my life) - which I am personally okay with, since I think I'd spend my wealth on all kinds of stupid things - but in the back of my mind I'm always worried about how I'm going to support my future family and future self. Twentysomethings need to become adults at some point, but I don't think it's fair to have kids worrying about life plans beginning in their senior year of high school.

In conclusion, education is so important I don't think I could emphasize it via words any more than that. America as a whole, in order to continue to grow and produce great thinkers and boast about how we're the "land of good colleges," needs to make education a top priority. I'm tired of the patronizing looks when I tell people my major. I'm tired of hearing about how I'm going to need a Masters or a Doctorate (and end up in more debt) in order to be successful. And I am so, so tired of high school students being tested to the point of breaking, learning nothing.

School is about learning, not constant assesment and stress. Get kids to like school again, and we will all benefit.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

443494
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

16898
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

41774
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

21376
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

321794
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments