The column in Wednesday’s edition of The Crimson White entitled “Where is the love Capstone?” is not only an exercise in utopian idealism but a fundamental example of why our generation is so often referred to as “Generation Me.”
The most frustrating part about the column is that the author states the solution before spending the remaining space detailing the problem. Kelsey Stein writes, “Finding these [professors and mentors] is what can be so problematic. To do so, you really have to take some initiative to become involved and get to know professors.”
Imagine that — putting forth effort to succeed. It’s a concept Stein is no doubt familiar with, as I cannot imagine one simply falls into the position of lifestyles editor. She goes on to detail a conversation with friends who attend a smaller school. They speak of closer relationships with professors and advisors who help them succeed.
This really should not surprise anyone; one of the main recruiting points of smaller schools is the more intimate social and academic environment. If a prospective student wants this handed to him or her, then a large public university isn’t the place to attend.
I know my advisor and my advisor knows me. In fact, even before I took a class she taught, we recognized one another in Austin, Texas, of all places. It can be done, but the fact remains students must take initiative. If I never went to my advisor or spoke with a professor, why is it realistic to expect them to know me by name, or even recognize me around campus? Personal relationships are a two-way street.
The biggest gripe about our generation is that we are, as Judith Warner of the New York Times put it, “entitled whiners who have been spoiled by parents who over stoked their self-esteem, teachers who granted undeserved A’s and sports coaches who bestowed trophies on any player who showed up.” Employers’ opinion of recent graduates is that they don’t hope to just get a job; they expect their dream career immediately.
The fact of the matter is that when you graduate, it takes effort, initiative and persistence to land a job. Nobody is going to come find you. Nobody is going to open the door for you. You have to kick it down, but if you never get off the couch in the first place it will always remain closed.
What better place to learn this than a university? It is often said students learn more at college outside of the classroom than within one — this is a perfect example. I was once a very introverted person, and to a degree, I still am. Through my time here, though, I learned how to make an impression on others. I learned how to stand out. 18-year-olds shouldn’t be concerned about a life plan; they should be concerned about life skills. The inevitable existential crisis during their junior year will have them changing their major to cultural geography or some such nonsense anyway, so why bother?
John Davis is a junior majoring in yellow journalism. His column runs biweekly on Friday.
