Ryan Gaboury
ENG 110 C
Higher Education
Higher education, to many, is a goal, a set landmark into a young adult’s future. Searching for a destination to call home, a place to blossom as a greater citizen and setting yourself apart from all others is just the start of creating one’s own small empire. It is the promise land, the necessity in this day in age to really grasp what it is to truly live a fulfilling life. The importance has become more strenuous than ever as it is almost an unquestioned expectation in our society today to find a university or college that allows you to meet all opportunities of success. It is in my best interest to believe that higher education is a must since it teaches a student much more than simply an education.
Ronald Barnett helps to explain the true purpose of higher learning by being immensely direct within his article. He illustrates the divide between high school intermediate levels to those of higher expectations. The “taken-for-granted world” (Barnett 1991, 155-6) as he explains, is where rewards are given and simplicity is at its finest. Higher education should come as the ultimate challenge, pressuring students to be disturbed by the fact that there could be endless scenarios for any situation at hand. It is a necessity for them to realize that it may create a small reality towards life, as in there will always be never ending issues and conflicts in the real world that have endless answers. Martha Nussbaum adds to Barnett’s opinion on higher education by stating, “education is not just about the passive assimilation of facts and cultural traditions, but about challenging the mind to become active, competent, and thoughtfully critical in a complex world”(Nussbaum 2010 64-5). This type of education allows the mind to reach different levels and to strive to think beyond just the obvious. Not only this, higher education develops disciplines and balance between all that comes with the title of being a college student. It shows students that sacrifice is necessary for the betterment of one’s success. These small, crucial ideals are the simplest, yet extremely important to the growth of a young adult. Understanding and realizing growth before one’s eyes allows for people to gain confidence and strive for the betterment of themselves, but also their counter parts as well. This competition is the early start to developing a world that is driven for more, where people push issues and create ideas that sell.
In just a few weeks of attending UNE, I have sacrificed more than I would have imagined due to balancing long hours on the football field and grueling assignments. Moreover, trying to decide whether sleep or the opening night of college football is more intriguing definitely was not difficult even a year ago. College football has already taught me to grow up faster since there was no other option, and wanting to go home was the least of my concerns. I believe in Barnett’s opinions where lower education levels grant students benefits and parents are always there to pat you on the back, while higher education doesn’t allow for that. It takes grit and true hard work to complete all tasks, and searching for that “cozy experience” is no longer the ideal move. Barnett is as bland as could be, yet produces my overall opinion since the true purpose of higher education is to teach students more than just how to read context and study. It teaches discipline, balance, responsibility, and sacrifice with those only touching the surface as to how much a college degree benefits young adults. Greater education allows for growth and enables students the realization that each individual is set to serve the world in a multitude of ways.
