College is invaluable, no matter who you are
Tuesday, 4/12/16
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI
Today, a college degree
holds more weight than it ever has. So,
why would anyone ever consider dropping out?
When provided with the opportunity, hacker and computer science student,
Alexander Kern, of UC Berkley, denied an offer from Y Combinator, a company that
aids young talent in assisting with startup funding and mentoring, to stay in
school and pursue his degree. In his
article, “Don’t Drop Out: Why There’s Still Value in College,” Kern highlights
the opportunities that college provides and the benefits it holds for all
students, even when given the chance to drop out to pursue their dreams.
The article highlights the benefits of staying in
college— which are many. Kern begins by
explaining that he denied the Y Combinator offer because he knew that if he
took the offer, he would never have gone back to college, whether the company
succeeded or failed. He recognizes the
value of having a degree, regardless of the field that it’s in. “Every single field of study has intellectual
worth, whether you appreciate it or not…” he writes, “…Every discipline, by its
very nature, has a different way of learning. Each gives you new ways to
conceptualize entities and their interactions with each other… The analytical
tools you gain through the study of a field are far greater use than any
degree” (Kern 3). College is the only
environment where an individual can specialize in area and develop a base
knowledge in so many others. Some
students feel as though they are being forced to spend more money, to spend
more time taking classes that are not required for their major or minor—
essentially, viewing college as a waste of money and time. However, those are the classes that provide
students with various analytical tools, opposing viewpoints, and well-rounded
education.
College is the only time in anyone’s life where there is
an opportunity to grow every single day.
Kern, as talented of a mind as he is, understands that he is not the
next Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, and wants to remind students that they are not either.
“College is an invitation to discover yourself,” says Kern (4). That is undoubtedly true, college is an
invitation to explore oneself; to learn their physical, emotional, and mental
capacities. With that being said,
self-learning and realization combined with academic work makes college the
only time when someone is constantly saturated with growth.
The article also advises students to take
advantage of the collegiate setting.
There is no reason to hurry. If a
student is really adamant and passionate about something, then there is no
reason for them not to begin working on their dreams. Kern explains that he discovered a community
of friends that challenge him every day (6).
Friends are the essence of full college experience, they provide social
and academic support. Upon leaving
college, best friends are no longer a few doors down and the working world can
be isolating.
It is important to remember that college is not always about work. Kern provides an “abbreviated list” of things a student will miss out on should they decide to leave college: meeting people of various different backgrounds, upbringings, and viewpoints, free time, the ability to join or start a student group, take a part in Greek Life, to live in an environment where it is “socially acceptable” to expand one’s mind, experience internships, travel, spend time with friends and supporting them in their pursuits, and abuse the ability to wear sweatpants every single day (6-7). The truth is that college is the last chance most people have to experience as much or as little as they want before settling down into the working world. Whether someone chooses to take advantage of it, or not, there will never be another time in someone’s life when opportunity is truly endless
To read Alexander Kern's article, "Don't Drop Out: Why There's Still Value in College," click here.
Seth Canner
Assistant Editor-In-Chief, CLB
Law Clerk, Levitt Law Firm
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