College offers endless opportunities
Living to Learn By Eric Morrison
With fall nearly upon us and a new school year already under way, I encourage everyone to reevaluate their stance on education. Education is the single most important tool to living and enjoying a happier and healthier life. As I begin another semester at the University of Alaska Southeast, I look forward to the challenges and obstacles that will be presented in the months ahead.
To me, college is like a war - with one main objective, but having many battles that must be fought before that goal can be achieved. Many battles may be glorious while others may take valuable sacrifices that might feel like temporary defeats. Through experience, I have learned that the importance of a college education is to help refine the commitment to learning in an ever-changing society and world. In college you learn to live while living to learn.
College is an experience and a process. A college degree is not just a permission slip to hold a better job title. A large part of college and education in general is learning how to balance responsibilities while juggling the many opportunities and challenges that life throws our way.
While learning how to balance responsibilities and attempting to maintain control over life's challenges, college provides a constructive atmosphere to formulate personal views and opinions. By formulating these views and opinions, we have the opportunity to concentrate and learn about what is important to us as individuals. By doing this, hopefully a path will appear that travels in the same general direction as happiness.
College also presents a unique social environment. Many extracurricular activities are available to students that help teach them about their surroundings, their community and themselves. Students are thrust into a diverse social setting that forces them to consider alternate views and styles of living and learning. By taking advantage of these opportunities and becoming educated on new and diverse topics, an inner strength is reinforced, which can lead to better decision making in all areas of life.
I keep telling myself that the important thing is to maintain focus on that ultimate prize and to be willing to make the sacrifices needed to accomplish that goal. As I move forward toward my goal, I am continually faced with personal, social and educational challenges inside and out of the classroom that very likely would not have arisen if I had not enrolled in college.
College isn't for everyone, but it can be for anyone. For those on the verge of enrolling in a college course or continuing your education in any manner, go for it. If not to get a degree, think about the endless possibilities and opportunities that will be presented if a firm commitment to learning can be achieved.
Eric Morrison is a full-time student at the University of Alaska Southeast. freshman seminar teacher's assistant, and editor-in-chief of the UAS Whalesong.