Uribe 1

Brian Uribe
Professor Bieber
English 115 Honors
16 September 2015
Progression 1
College is an indispensable opportunity. Universities offer students the chance to explore
and discover themselves. Those who seek a higher education will find that their experiences
shape them into outstanding individuals. Everyone has the potential for enlightenment. College
should be seen as a pathway, with ones degree resembling a milestone in obtaining a complete
education. Everyone should consider attending college at some point in their life. The choice to
spend these extra four to five years in school boils down to whether one is mentally prepared to
dedicate a few years toward introspection. A college education should be about finding out who
you are, using available resources, and applying what you learned.
Making the transition from an adolescent to an adult is a volatile process. Taking on
responsibilities is a huge task that a lot of people arent prepared for. Universities offer an
environment that nurture students and direct them towards courses that promote self-growth.
College graduates often reflect and experience nostalgia when looking back at their years in
college which allowed them to open up their senses, heighten and deepen their alertness, and
introduce them the ability to articulate thought (Delbanco). To have your senses opened is to
become aware of cultures and activities in order to try out new things, like attending a bible
study or exposure to people whose views and morals contradict your own. To develop alertness
is to become aware of your surroundings and recognize patterns like seeing the structure of an

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argument or by recognized similarities between objects and cultures. You are your best friend
and harshest critic, reflecting on events is the best way to learn more about yourself; recognizing
what went right and what did not is a way to improve. It is better to learn life lessons in a
controlled setting as opposed to somewhere unpredictable. Ever since I showed an interest in
medicine and completed my training to become an emergency medical technician, I had a lot of
responsibility bestowed upon me. I wish I had an understanding of death before I had to bury
animals or attend friends vigils because I would have coped better if someone had prepared me.
Through college I hope to identify what I want from myself and to shake any feelings of guilt or
anxiety. I hope to have college develop me into the person I want to become.
Time management along with work ethic goes a long way towards staying on task and in
control. Personal responsibilities should not be neglected and neither should family or school.
There is always something happening on campus, its about finding a rhythm and sticking to it.
On a campus, not only are the textbooks or clubs resources, but so are the people. Professors
promote growth and strive for their students to exhibit enthusiasm and energy. Classmates are
peers who share common interests and are generally willing to work with each other and offer
feedback. It is about working together to learn the material and pass the midterms: study groups,
office hours, and tutoring should all be used throughout a course. It is about distributing the work
and asking for feedback that will see results, not cramming the night before. College is there to
help you learn to manage your time in order to succeed. Without the time to study or go to
classes that would lead to failing the class and not open any future opportunities in a career. As
for social activities there has to be a balance or else a student would become highly stressed over
assignments and lose motivation to continue a higher education. For me I hope within my years
in college Clubs and fraternities present creative outlets and comradery which is known as

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networking. Once someone presents them self and become a part of campus, they will meet
others with similar goals. Its about letting your conversations move fluidly and expressing
yourself and displaying qualities that will show your worth. Most schools have a diverse
background and there are all sorts of different ideas and cultures to learn about. If I decide to
continue in the medical field there will be different religion and culture that I will come across
this could give me the chance to gain a better insight of those cultures by meeting new people.
The possibilities are endless when Im here in college since Northridge has one of the most
diverse populations for a university. Foreign exchange students exhibit their culture and give
insight through different perspectives which would not have been possible if by keeping to
oneself (Hart). A diverse place gives me the ability to have a better understanding on what is
outside of our country because of these social interactions that brings everyone close together. I
learn more about myself by these people because our lives are completely different. I hope in
college I can continue to learn the different cultures out there and possibly study abroad to have
an actual experience outside of what I know. A university gives opportunities to have an open
mind of these places so students are able express themselves while they get an education.
There are different sorts of standards set in different degrees. Northridge offers courses
for undergraduates and graduate students by following a major. A major outlines the core
principles a professional utilizes throughout their career and a degree indicates competency in
those concepts. The aim of an education is to teach reading, writing, and the moral development
of character (Nugent). You have to cover material that was published by to gain information and
comprehension of a topic. Then you have to communicate formally and analyze the main ideas
and key points while using rhetorical devices to personalize your ideas. Most importantly you
have to develop a stance on an issue and a unique approach to the subject. I am working towards

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a degree in athletic training and in the future hope to prepare me for a career in the field. This
will give me the chance to look in depth at my career of interest while also taking courses that
would help me in my endeavors. I am taking my general classes and becoming familiar with the
demands of classes and how to become a better student. I hope to become a complete character
and communicate confidently.
A lot of things led up to my choice in attending Northridge. I have known the importance
of an education as my father was given a workers visa because of the experience he gained in a
technical school. He had always supported me and would stress the importance of applying
myself and becoming active in my community. My brother was given the chance to attend his
first choice but decided against it and is now going to a community college because he is doing
what his profession requires of him. I knew time to adjust and I needed lenience since Im prone
to mistakes and I felt like I made the best decision. I weighed up my possibilities and figured I
could contribute the most at Northridge and that I would grow more as a person here.
Not everyone can dedicate the time to a four year degree, or have the financial means to
put towards tuition, but everyone should make an effort towards it. Students who are independent
do not have the backing of their parents or the work experience to obtain a position that will offer
financial stability, its why they go to college. While education seems like a no-brainer to pour
money into, the national government views it as a liability and is reducing subsidies. So those
independent students are even struggling to find a loan to pay for their education, let alone pay it
back. While there are the students who could not afford college, there are those who have trouble
learning and never had the resources to get them up to speed or help them with a proper
education. There needs to be more educational options for all so that students reach their

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ambitions and destinations (Tabarrok). Everyone should have the opportunity to go out and find
their passion.
Whether it takes a change in legislation or a crisis, the nation must adopt European
emphasis on academics. I believe it is never too late to receive an education, in your senior year
of high school or the day after retirement, you can always become a better person.

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Works Cited
Delbanco, Andrew. "3 Reasons Why College Still Matters." The Boston Globe, 04 Mar. 2012.
Web. 10 Sept. 2015.
Hart, Jefrey. "How to Get a College Education." National Review Online. N.p., 29 Sept. 2006.
Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
Hart, Jefrey. "How to Get a College Education." National Review Online. N.p., 29 Sept. 2006.
Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
Tabarrok, Alex. "Tuning In to Dropping Out." The Chronicle of Higher Education. N.p., 04 Mar.
2012. Web. 10 Sept. 2015.