It has come to my attention that there is not sufficient student involvement in campus activities. I wonder at this phenomenon. Is it that our busy lives refuse to permit a few spare moments to contribute to our community? Are we all so mesmerized by the bubble we float around in that we don’t realize the existence of an external world that operates completely independently from our actions? Maybe it’s because we’re all so completely satisfied and fulfilled in our lives that we find it unnecessary to work toward the betterment of the community in which we exist.
What is it that keeps a large percentage of the population from coming out to contribute? Involvement creates opportunity for advancement. Anybody can attend classes and write papers and walk up to the podium to receive a degree, but that’s not what the college experience should be about. It’s more of a stepping stone, prepping us to be citizens of value who are willing to contribute to society. University life is an environment immersed in opportunity. Pick something that doesn’t seem easy and challenge yourself. Give yourself the opportunity to screw up so that you can repair your mistake and be better the next time you take up the challenge.
I’m concerned we’re not attempting to achieve our potential. I recently spoke with an English professor who enlightened me as to the negative attributes of a public school background. I fear that because our schooling got in the way of our interests so frequently as children, we aren’t enthusiastic about learning. This professor presented a damn good argument for the “retardation” of a child’s growth that occurs in public schools.
Think about your childhood and what it was like to sit in a classroom and not be allowed to talk when you had something to say, to have to raise your hand to get permission to speak? How often was there only one right answer in “class discussions” in your younger years? The only kids that thrived in that environment were those that straddled the straightened fence of stringent academia. How do these practices affect the developing mind of children?
I witness residual effects of this daily. I go to class and students are fearful to speak their minds. Is it that our parents neglected to encourage our minds to churn thoughtful revelations. Maybe nobody bothered to listen when we attempted to share our findings. Can we leave it to the assertion that maybe it’s just an aspect of our nature? Maybe 75 percent of the population is just introverted and therefore uncomfortable exposing their thoughts in large groups of people. Well, maybe we’d all be okay with it if we had been taught in childhood that it was a safe thing to do. How do we change the circumstances of our society to provide a safe, comfortable environment where children are free to express their thoughts?
The public school system leaves little room for creativity. While constantly following a rigid schedule of the basic “valuable” studies, we consistently make cuts in the arts. We learned our basics of math and English, so we gained functionality in society. But as this professor pointed out, “schools treat children like prisoners.” We are forced to “learn” subjects in classes where little to no peer discussions take place. The only socialization we are allowed is at playtime. Locked into the dictator’s rule, we sat idly chained to our desks, our minds wandering while the only skill honed was that of daydreaming. We were controlled to the extremity that without that control we are lost. We only know what to do when somebody tells us what to do. How can we free ourselves from this cycle?
Well, to start, we need to question our actions. Do we not get involved because we have no time? Is it because nothing on campus is worthwhile enough to commit ourselves to? Can we simply not commit to more time restrictions? Why do we not get involved in class discussion when we supposedly are curious about the subject and desire to learn its manifestations? If you discover these questions cause a bit of anxiety or uncertainty, maybe you should challenge yourself to pick an activity or maybe try commenting in class discussion. Observe how it makes you feel. If you’re scared, don’t give up. It’ll get easier. It’s all the more reason to continue forth, digging through the mud of your insecurities. Eventually you’ll hit more solid ground.
Christy McKinnon can be contacted at [email protected]