Letter to the editor,

Are we here to get an education, or are we here just to get a piece of paper that we think will get us 97% more income than if we don’t have it? I have asked a few professors how many students are here just to get a that ever important piece of paper to shove in a diploma frame. The estimate was too high to want to mention. Do universities have a problem, or is it a student problem. Is there a desire to learn? Are we preparing our education to it’s fullest capacity? I would love to be the person that inspired someone to go beyond the necessary and expand their education; possibly to be the person that cured cancer, the greenhouse effect, or AIDS. I recently wrote, “Do you want to limit you knowledge to only what you have to learn, that is relevant to tests and homework. I mourn stillborn intelligence. If you don’t thirst for knowledge, the knowledge you have will be the same old dried up knowledge that everyone else, that doesn’t thirst for knowledge, has.” I believe this with my whole heart, but, I didn’t make any friends stating it. In my first year, my student advisor told me that college was just a guide to teach you how to learn. It was implied to go beyond; it is the knowledge acquired that is important. Eventually every student needs to confront the issue of, “when it comes to education, do I want to leave here as a have, or a have-not?” Be the, I have an education. It may require skipping a frat party or a date to study, but the future resided in those decisions. It is of much importance that a student ask themselves this have or have-not question before the day that they receive that diploma, before it is too late. The world is a very competitive market, and how much education you acquire in the few short years remaining is important to the quality of jobs you receive – to acceptance to the Graduate School you apply for. Work for your full potential and you won’t be sorry you did.

Matthew HarrisPsychology Major