The Quicksand of Community College
November 12, 2009 | Nathaniel
From what I’ve noticed (that sentence there should clue you in as to how editorial this post will be), more than a few community college attendees are a wee bit lax about school. I’ve attended a J.C. or two on summers between state schools. From personal experience I can say that the attitude is far different on both campuses. Community has a high school attitude about it as a state school has a much more stressed out aura floating about. Again, such statements are opinion.
But these are MY opinion. I’ve interviewed yet another college student to get ::GASP:: a college student’s opinion on the matter. The lad has asked me to withhold his name and such for personal reasons but we’ll call him Mr. X. He’s a young guy from Southern California and is a little lost, personally, in the community college system. He tells me about the community college he’s been attending for a few years and what he likes there…
So, tell me about your school.
“Well, its a community college.”
What do you like about it?
“Girls are pretty hot.”
As soon as were done discussing the important things, we moved on to other subjects like the general attitude and stigmas I have about Community College. “I guess you can say I have a lax attitude about that place. Depends on a person’s situation. It’s a community college so I can’t be too upset about too much.”
He goes on to disclose that his situation makes him “less than excited” to attend a Community College. Only time can remedy whatever bind he’s somehow found himself in or so he thinks. A faster remedy, you say? Regarding going to Community College in general:
“I would advise students to get in and get out.”
Unfortunately, he feels stuck. His “situation,” as he calls it, is all too common with community college. Old statistics relate the high dropout rate of students but I’m not too familiar with new ones. In the former’s favor I can say I know a few students who’ve attended J.C.’s longer than I studied at a state school.
“I’m 21 and I’m starting over this semester as a freshman.”
A common pattern seems to be that many students become comfortable at the community college level. Regardless of his melancholy attitude towards his pace in schooling, our student seems cautiously optimistic.
“I feel like I’m behind the curve but better late than never.”
Obama is jumping in to help the community college student body of America and students like this. His stimulus plan will help community colleges that are currently gaining mad attendance rates. More high school grads are attending these schools as an economic alternative to state or private schools while an older generation attends to learn new marketable skills for today’s dwindling job market. Obama’s goal seems to be 11 million college grads a year by 2020. Our student plans to attend state school once he’s earned enough units/credits to transfer out. He’ll probably be out before 11 years is up. We wish him the best of luck.
STUDY HARD!
