Earlier this summer, I began a writing class at my university called ‘Film and Culture.' I signed up for the class expecting to analyze certain film genres and in turn write slowly induced papers to further enhance my craft. Unfortunately, after reading the syllabus and experiencing numerous amounts of classes with the instructor, I realized the entire course is purely watching two movies each period. By the end of the 8-week course (or should I say the movie-watching playdate days) we have to write a 3-page paper based on our initial impressions for each film.

That’s it. One paper throughout the entire course. Only three pages. Luckily, all we have to do is watch movies! Note: This course cost $2,000 to enroll in.

The college route has been debated and analyzed by many past and present generations. It’s been said by parents and certain people of power, as in Oprah Winfrey, that one needs a degree to financially prosper throughout society. When one then chooses to attend a private or state university, they begin to pay outrageous amounts of money for the pure intent of a promised “better future.”

It can be agreed upon that there is no say in regards to the numerous amounts of financial costs and the rare chance of financial negotiation within the university. If one attends a private school, the cost is inherently based on wealthy funders and controllable partners. At state universities, it is all based on the local and state government regulations, for the money goes straight into their hands. After doing the math, some students can come out of college with over $347,000 in debt.

Graduates I have conversed with have admitted that their monthly bills are practically doubled due to the multitudinous amount of student loans they are still paying off at the age 40. Individuals attend college for the intent of a stable income, yet on average; the money most college graduates end up making after attending school doesn't match to the overall price they spent for their secondary education. In a deep research conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, it was stated that “the rising cost of college combined with the failure of wages to grow for young college graduates signals that a college education is becoming a more uncertain investment.” With that being said, the system created for us as a democracy to “succeed” upon seems to be more of the scam than an actual profit for our futures.

As time moves forward with most likely more and more economic competition expanding, the answer to how to overcome such a financial disaster is unknown. Some may say that college is beneficial in the bigger scheme of personal growth, finding yourself, and a higher possibility of achieving more dignified jobs, yes? But when students are paying thousands of dollars to only have to pay it back off throughout their entire ‘gained’ career, it seems like a lose, lose situation.

You see prospering in society and obtaining so-called better occupations shouldn’t be set up as lifetime fee but more so rather normalized for every young adult to easily obtain — especially when some of the classes are literally just watching movies. Dejectedly with the new (and honestly always installed Republican structure) I’m not sure when this dilemma will transform into the better.