Mark Twain once said, “I never write Metropolis for seven cents because I get the same price for city. I never write policemen because I can get the same price for cop.” In my Writing for the Media class my professor used this when she was talking about writing simple. When doing a broadcast you have little time to get your story across so you don’t waste your time filling your story up with big words just because you know them. Speak simple. Although this was just in my class lecture and it was talking about how to write for the media, I thought a little deeper into it. I tried to put this quote into a perspective of everyday life and especially in school.
Don’t get me wrong, I think college is for some and it isn’t for others but I’m going into my junior year and I got to thinking about if people are really getting what they are supposed to be getting out of their college experience. It just seems like people are working for the grade and aren’t actually learning anything. So what? You got straight A’s and now can you can’t even tell me what was on the test. Students are so worried about what their GPA is going to be instead of actually learning something. It’s sad, really. It made me think that maybe if I were just learning in the real world I would feel more educated. Some people graduate and are so book smart, then they go into an interview and can’t land a job because they have no people skills and they don’t have the pressure of “getting a good grade”.
Now where does Mr. Twains quote tie in you ask? Well I guess you could say, College is the Metropolis and just working your way up in the workforce without a degree is the city. Of course I’m going to stay in school because I love school and I make sure that I take the time to learn in my field of study. The key to learning while in college is being in a major that you truly enjoy, which I do. I’m not saying quit school and be rebellious but I’m saying that moment when you’re having a late night in the library and you’re stressing about that test, take a deep breath and tell yourself, It isn’t the end of the world because guess what? You WILL get a job if you put the work in. Putting the work in doesn’t mean getting straight A’s, it means networking, volunteering, getting involved; get your name out there! Just because you have good grades doesn’t mean a position will fall into your lap. Don’t just memorize the material, actually learn, ask questions, and get things wrong because that is what is important and I hope that students stop losing sight of that and get their moneys worth out of their education. I’ve got to say looking around now, I’m scared for my generation because once they stop getting “graded” will they stop excelling?
