Bundalo 1 Jelena Bundalo Mr.

Harrell English Composition 1 16 October 2013 The Benefits of a College Education The benefit of a college education varies from the type of learning environment we surround ourselves in to the type of schools we attend. In Kevin Rooses highly acclaimed book, The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University, Roose demonstrates the benefits of attending a strict conservative school, opposed to a free-spirited liberal school. In his book, Roose writes about his experiences at Liberty and how they are diverse to his experiences at Brown. Instead of studying abroad Roose decides to take a semester at Liberty. He is fascinated by the student culture there, and wants to learn more about it and its students. Does Roose find he benefited from one school more than the other? What did Roose benefit from attending a conservative school and from attending a liberal school? Throughout his time at Liberty and Brown Roose learns that both schools, with different atmospheres, provide distinctive benefits. Ultimately, the type of education environment we surround our selves in, whether it is liberal or conservative can influence the beneficial outcomes of a higher learning experience. There are many assets of attending a higher place of learning. These assets can range from cultural to financial. One benefit of attending college is the ability to meet others with diverse backgrounds. This is beneficial because you can meet people who share the same interests and values as you. It can also give you a new perspective and

Bundalo 2 broader view on life. During his stay at Liberty University, Roose meets a group of people, who he becomes very close to. Roose writes, All in all the Liberty students Ive met are a lot more socially adjusted then I expected. The ones Ive met have been funny, articulate, and decidedly non-crazy. They play basketball, partake in celebrity gossip, and gripe about homework just like my friends in the secular world (63). Roose has found students at Liberty who share the same interests as him, and is surprised by it. He used to think that Liberty students acted and behaved unlike normal teenagers, but it made him realize that they are not as different as he thought. Roose realizes that he should not stereotype people, but instead get to know them first. Another benefit of attending college is self-discovery. This is very important because it helps shape you to the person you want to become. College is all about selfdiscovery and finding things that interest you. In his book, Roose writes: Coming into this semester, my familys biggest concern was that Id develop an evangelical persona that would compete with, and eventually overtake, my secular persona. And in a sense, that has happened. That said, this semester has definitely changed the way I think about God (282). Throughout the book, Roose begins to develop different habits and interests. Things such as praying, reading the bible, and singing in a church choir are all ways in which Roose discovers new things about himself. He discovers he does follow and believe some of the things he is learning at Liberty. Going to college is also financially beneficial. Getting a higher level of education can help when it comes to getting a job. It provides with more background information for that job and helps develop skills necessary for that job. Even though a larger salary

Bundalo 3 cannot be promised, it is easier accomplished with the help of attending a higher level of education. A higher education can open more opportunities and provide with a substantial view on life. There are different benefits to attending a conservative school versus attending a liberal school. A liberal school, such as Brown, is a secular school that allows a freespirited student body. Roose writes: Three months ago, I was a student at Brown University; a school known for everything Liberty is not. In fact, it wouldnt be unfair to call the schools polar opposites. Liberty was founded as a conservative Christian utopia, and by those standards, Brown, with its free-spirited student body, its grades-optional academic scene, and its active chapter of the Young Communist League, is a notch or two above Sodom and Gomorrah (6). A liberal school like Brown partakes in different views on life than a strict conservative school like Liberty does. Liberal schools allow for more of a social life for their students. They allow their students more freedom to voice their opinions. In a liberal school they do not look down on gays or homosexuals. They tend not to have as strict rules as a conservative school would. Roose is beginning to adapt to this new life style as he faces and exhibits different behavior at Liberty. Roose writes: Its probably good that Ive been forced to talk about Libertys racial culture, because it will allow me to bring up something Ive been considering a lot lately, sort of a caveat for my entire semester. Namely, its becoming clear that Im in the best possible position to enjoy Liberty. As a white, Protestant, heterosexual male, its relatively easy for me to come here and find things to like about. If even

Bundalo 4 one of my demographic categories changed, I'd be having much less desire for reconciliation. If I were black, Id be facing some of the same issues as Paul. If I were a woman, Id be seeing a much different side of Libertys gender dynamics. And if I were Muslim or a gay man, theres no way Id be here at all. I have to keep that in mind (124). Roose writes how at Liberty University, he did not have an independent voice to voice his opinions. Roose writes, I could never become an evangelical if it meant condemning homosexuals or proselytizing aggressively to non-Christians or believing that the Bible is infallible (282). He did not agree to the things Liberty was saying about gays and homosexuals. Roose had a gay aunt, so he did not feel it was right that Liberty did not accept gays into their culture. Another benefit a liberal school has is diversity. Diversity allows for freedom of expression. This idea allows students of all races, ethnicities, and religions to interact with one another and express their views and opinions. Students at a liberal school have more of an ability to make their own choices and decisions. If a student at Brown chose to be abstinent till marriage, it would mean more since the student chose that for himself or herself. But what if everyone was forced to only be a certain way? What if you couldnt make your own choices, but instead follow only those given to you? At Liberty that is just what they intended on doing. They wanted everyone to be the same. To follow the same rules, the same religion, and the same views. At Liberty they used the idea of group think. The idea of group think makes it hard for a student to make his or her own choices that would mean more than just following those already given.

Bundalo 5 Although liberal schools are beneficial, Conservative schools also offer different benefits to their students. One benefit a Conservative school has is stricter rules of conduct. Stricter rules provide for a safer environment. Strict conservative rules such as no drinking, no doing drugs, staying out late, going to parties, having sex, and many other things all help keep students in a safer environment. A conservative school also provides more connection to religion and God, such as Liberty does. Roose points out in his book; going to Liberty has changed his emotions and feelings. Roose writes: When I wake up at 7:45 on Sunday morning, I expect to feel much worse. Its 7:45 on a Sunday morning, after all. I sit in bed and pat my torso like a sci-fi movie character after being teleported, checking to see if everything is in working order. And man, is it ever. My mind is razor sharp, and my eyelids are defying gravity. This is a relatively new phenomenon. Last semester at secular college, I spent a good number of my Sunday mornings in bed with head-splitting hangovers. Id roll out of bed around noon, reach for the Advil, and spend the rest of the day in biological repentance. But today, I feel great (57). Roose writes about how Liberty changed his way of life. Instead of going to parties and drinking, he is finding other things to do. This allows him to focus more on his schooling and activities. It allows him to look at life in a more positive way, and have better personal health. A conservative school education contributes to a broader view on life, and a secure environment. A comparison of the benefits of attending a conservative education, versus that of attending a liberal education, demonstrates that both carry out distinctive assets. Both schools offer different things, but provide great opportunities in return to their students.

Bundalo 6 As Roose embarks on his journey at Liberty, he quickly realizes the differences that both schools offer. A strict conservative school, like Liberty, that provides a safer atmosphere for its students, and a liberal school, like Brown that provides students a right to voice their opinions. The benefits of a college education can vary, whether its a liberal or conservative education, the assets are proven to be worthwhile.

Bundalo 7

Works Cited Roose, Kevin. The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinners Semester at Americas Holiest University. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2009. Print.