College 101

We have many reasons for going to college. We want to make our parents happy. We want to get rich. We want to have a good future. In short, crap! So asking people why they are in college is useless. The good question would be, "why did you choose that particular course?"

I mean, why did you take up BS EE? BS BIO? AB ENG? If it was a personal choice, how personal was it? Did you really think hard and long about it and said to yourself, "I'm going be an engineer!" So how do we decide what course to take then?

Parents. This is the most obvious. When I say parents, this is two-fold. We take up the courses we are in because it is what our parents want or it is what they are and we want to be like them. These are usually engineering courses and those related to medicine.

Money. Undoubtedly one of the stongest consideration in choosing a course. Its because the money is there. It may be because there's a part of us that wants to swim in lots and lots of moolah! Engineering again is the product of these. As with nursing.

Childhood dream. Remember when you were young and your teacher asked you what you wanted to be when you grow up? Most of us probably answered "I want to be a doctor so I can help the sick!" Well, if you did, what do you think your younger self would say to you now? Students who choose education usually belong to this category.

Love of the subject. The academicians and those who are in the quest for meanings. Arts and science students are usually in this category. I mean if I were to take up AB English, I would do so not because I want to teach english, rather I want to write a book or maybe poems.

There are still many categories. But these four are the major ones.

For me though, it doesnt matter what course you take up and for what reason. Whats important is that when you graduate, you have to share what you learned. At the very least, the community within your reach must benefit from your knowledge. What use is earning millions if your next door neighbor cannot even afford to send his children to school.

Doctor Octavious was right when he said that, "intelligence is a privilege. A gift to be used for the good of mankind."

How about you? How have you been using what God has given you?