College- Is it an Instituion of Higher Learning

In the mist of the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement, Wartmouth T.Gibbs, President of North Carolina A&T said “We don’t teach are students what to think, but how to think.” Today our society has changed such concrete environment to the complete opposite; not only are students taught what to think, but also how to think about whatever issue maybe. Is College really an institution of higher learning or is it just an institution of regular training.

Could it be that our college educational system is suffering from a term called “group think”, a term used to describe a group unwilling to look over the overall consensus of the herd. In times it is out of the lack of drive or ambition to ask original questions to arrive at genuine answers. But more importantly and dangerously it is also an accordance that ponds from the fear of looking foolish in front of peers.

Today’s College Institutions relies heavily upon the country’s economic systems, especially concerning jobs. Many students are forced to face difficult decisions, of whether they should pursue their passion, or work within a major that pays a good amount of money so that the American Dream can be pursued.

Derek Lineberger, a freshman, English major said “if I had to make a decision I would pursue my passion; I rather work with my gift and make 10 to 20 thousand per year versus being stressed out and unsatisfied in a field that doesn’t inspire me, and make 40 to 50 thousand.”

Moreover, there is a state of pressure among this generation from past generations to achieve a level of higher learning so that one can get a good job and be deemed as successful.

“Our Educational system is made to train people to be a corporate slave; even if you do get a high paying job, your still making crumbs compared to the higher ups. The system doesn’t push and inspire self sustainability, instead it implements sustaining and upholding a system already in place”, said Chris Loney a freshman biological engineering major.

“What if all the top engineers at NC A&T received degrees, and grouped up to start their own firm instead of working for another company. Just imagine the influence we would have being that we can build up our own communities; and on top of that give jobs and internships to other engineering students."