When I was in high school, I felt really disappointed by all of the people around me.
Everyone seemed so immature and like they had no goals. Some of them weren't even going to college and to me that was wild. There were people who thought being rude to the teacher was funny. There were people who were always absent. Some people say high school is the best four years of your life and I very much so disagree with that. I always felt out of place and disconnected from the people there.
All that being said, I really thought college would be like a safe haven. A place to explore ideas. A place where people cared about academics. A place of discussion and sharing. A place full of mature, focused academics.
But it's not like that at all.
It truly is just glorified high school. It's also not going to be the best four years of your life. No one goes to class because apparently they just don't care enough to, even though college is expensive and they're literally just wasting their own money. The people who do go to class just scroll through Facebook and shop for clothes that they'll never actually wear. Which is extremely distracting for people who actually want to pay attention and learn.
There's also the problem that everyone just cares about partying and going downtown. So often I hear “I got a 70 on my exam." Often followed by “are you going out tonight?"
Like, what? If you do that badly in class shouldn't you... do something about that? Something other than going out with your friends? But again, I guess they don't care.
The only thing anyone cares about is the social aspect of college i.e. making friends, going to functions, fraternity/sorority life, and parties. Which, if you care about these things that's cool, sure great. But shouldn't you also care about other things?
Although I suppose the answer is no.
As a person who cares deeply about academics, the future and my career, I'm disappointed that so few people are as future and career-focused as I am. They're more of the “whatever happens, happens" kind of people.
Another thing that bothers me is how surface-level everyone in college is. People talk about politics sometimes but it's the sound bites they hear on the news, not actual facts or lived experiences. The state of the world, our changing climate and relations with other people aren't topics of conversation. The way we all exist as people and what that means is never discussed.
However, I find that much more interesting than “wyd?" because most likely my answer will be equally as boring as that question. Interesting questions breed interesting answers.
There's no such thing as a genuine connection. You meet someone and it's very possible that you'll never see them again. I think it is because no one really wants to take the time to develop a connection and would rather just go for what's easier. And even if you talk to them then text them, they just stop replying. No one gives explanations. No one tries. And again, I feel isolated just like in high school.
It's not necessarily better. It's not invigorating. My mind is not being stimulated in conversation. It's just... college.
