In many ways, high schools push their agenda on their students. Whether they are instilled in religious or social agendas, high school level education pushes their values and beliefs, or lack there of, upon their students with the intention of them developing and blossoming into who they think the individual should or should not become. Some of the most basic areas of life that are taught, through their eyes, are political thoughts/views, religion or lack of, moral and social guidelines on how an INDIVIDUAL will find their calling. This is why, I believe, we see such drastic societal changes from generation to generation. A particular mindset can be uniquely interesting to any given person, which is perfectly normal and good. However this intrigue cannot be based on appearances or any shallow interest. This interest, whether by group or individual, needs to be chosen after very deliberate thought and contemplation, on how the individual sees something through their own eyes, not through past beliefs, experiences, or thoughts.

School from a young age teaches student to “accept” what they are told, for the most part as true. This works at a young age because most of what is taught, is true, and is necessary for any basic human. Things such as basic grammar, math and life skills are needed for a human to function in life’s most basic levels. However once a student progresses, they must be taught how to use them alongside of their individualism/uniqueness, and not be scolded for it. Simply accepting what we are told as true, and simply “going with the flow” will cause we as individuals or society to stall or come to halt. However, deep thought and questioning can bring us farther than we could ever imagine as individuals and a society. If we had always accepted everything we were told by the crowds as “true”, the world would be the same as it was the moment it came into existence, regardless of how you think it happened. However luckily for us, we had people come before us that were not content with accepting what they were told and luckily for us, as a result, we have a wide variety of beliefs and thought systems.

Any specific one of these sets of beliefs or thought systems cannot simply be instilled or taught to a person in such a young formidable stage in their lives. However it is, and most students come to terms and simply accept living their lives and seeing the world through someone else’s eyes, who is essentially different, no smarter or dumber than the student themselves.

College, much like life, teaches a person that it is what you want to make it, whatever that may be. It is not what you have been told, taught, or believed. It is an experience unique to each and every person, intended to be just that. Every single aspect of a person’s life is intended to be one of a kind, not interpreted by anyone other than him or her. College, at its core, can teach a student to explore other mindsets and philosophies, to no longer wander through life believing what you always have, but instead believing what you truly believe after taking an individualistic approach, not based on the crowds or previous teaching or thoughts.

Freedom is not only acting how you want, but also thinking and seeing the world through your own eyes.