I go to college in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The student body is 20,000 bright young men and women of all cultures and backgrounds pursuing paths that could well result in the next cure for cancer or the end to world hunger or the next engineering marvel. I have been able to network and mingle with top names in Hollywood. I've made amazing friends and I have gotten to do some pretty amazing things
But why is it that I hate it?
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To me, getting an education means slaving away over homework and notes. It means sitting through classes that have nothing to do with my career path. I wouldn't have a problem with this. But, these classes are making it impossible for me to graduate on time. Meanwhile, I have to petition to take a foreign language, which means that I have to convince people who are training me to "succeed" in the field of Hospitality Management that being able to communicate with people of foreign nationalities is important.
When it comes to extracurriculars, my only options are on-campus clubs. Believe me, I gave it a shot. But, I'm stuck with a bunch of social groups that seem to do nothing but...plan socials. I want to find people who are going to give me skills that I can use to gain a competitive edge. But right now it feels like I'm just sitting around and doing nothing. I also feel like I'm being subjected to a backwards way of thinking when it comes to social justice that revolves around bullying those who are considered ignorant and coming up with hypocritical, backwards ideologies designed to protect personal feelings. I love performing. So, I was also dismayed to find a lack of improv or a capella groups.
I'm angry about this because deep down, I'm insecure about who I was in High School. I was involved in theatre. I was in a couple of plays, but I could never get big parts. I tried out five times for the improv shows and never made it. I tried out for Leadership, Dance Team, I even tried to get myself involved in a project called Every 15 minutes (A simulation of a drunk driving accident) I got nothing. I told myself that it was only because I wasn't popular enough when in reality everyone else who was getting these things was busy training and working hard in order to get them. They were taking hours of classes at elite studios and working hard at being the best people they could be. I took this personally and it got to the point where the idea of supporting others translated in my head as "Stand on the sidelines and cheer people on mindlessly." I hate feeling invisible. But,I should have to forgo supporting other people like this.
The hardest part of High School for me was not getting into my first choice college. I picked it out before I was in High School. I never stopped talking about how I was going to get in, and live my dream of working at Disneyland. But, my rejection notice came while I was in performances for "Daisy Pulls It Off" where I was playing the Janitor/ The Father of the lead. After this happened, I started reading about all these kids and tweens who were working with talent agents to book commercials and kids who were appearing in TED talks about their entrepreneurial endeavors. I hated myself for not being like these kids. I tired to take ballet classes. But, I gave up because I felt like I was the only student who didn't get it. I tried submitting myself for student projects. But, getting to the city proved too much of a hassle. I was looking forward to college because I thought it would be a second chance. But, it ended up taking me completely off course.
I read an article about how C Students are more successful then there A and B counterparts. It's because instead of slaving over schoolwork, they're out with friends and pursuing their goals. I believe in this 100%. I am not using the "C Student Theory" as an excuse to sit on my couch and play video games all day. I am actively researching new opportunities for myself and finding new ways to make things happen. If my university isn't helping me, then why does it even matter what they are teaching me? I don't care about my education because I need a second chance, and my university isn't giving me that.
