TUBIOLI+TELL+Project+Step+1

TELL Project Step 1 Back (to personal page)
 * T**Donielle Tubioli

I believe there could be different purposes for having a college education. I believe that the purpose is often determined by the personality of the person. I believe everyone would have different views on the purpose of college education depending on their experiences, how they grew up as a person (influences from parents), as well as other factors. I would personally have to say that the main purpose of a college education to me is to better myself. In other words, to become a professional in something. As a young kid I always knew that I wanted to become a teacher, but the only way of becoming a teacher was to get a college degree. I grew up knowing that college was the next step after high school. Though, I can honestly say that it was not my parents that pushed me to go to college, it was something that I felt was necessary, and no matter what I chose I firmly believe my parents would have supported me. My dad did not actually go to college, and my mom only went to a two year community college, for them college was not something that they necessarily wanted to do, but they knew it was important for me. I feel as though they guided me in my decision, potraying to me that college is often the best opportunity for students. I feel that especially now, even though there are careers out there, but since the economy is not at its prime, having a college degree is very meaningful to employers because it shows that you were dedicated to continuing studies after highschool, and you are a determined person for working hard in college. Many may argue and say that a college eduaction is useless, especially now because of the economy. Others may say so many people now have a college degree that it is no longer valunable. There are many students today who are struggling to find a job in their degrees, but looking at this, it is not just college students out of jobs, people who did not go to college are also out of jobs. All in all, I feel as though earning a college education is a personal accomplishment. Sometimes there are people out there who feel proud to have just gotten a college degree because it proved to themself that they could do it. ==== This question is frequently asked to us, yet I ponder this question. It is a question that I do not believe has one straight-forward answer. Instead, it is a complicated and intense combination of many aspects. I look at my dad, someone who got their highschool diploma and could not wait to enter the family business of General Contracting, someone who might not have been the best in school, but could build houses, set-up electrical, etc.etc. I find him to still be the most talented, skilled, hardworker in his field of general contracting than anyone else I know. I look at my best friend who goes to Pennstate, someone who struggles in math, yet someone who could write a story about anything. These people are educated to me, even if they may not master the skills in some areas, they succeed in others. This is one way I feel it means to be educated, to have the skills or background in something that you succeed in. I believe that just because someone cannot do math or struggles in reading, does not mean they can't be good in another area. People are educated in the choices they make as a person. I believe someone who can turn down the peer pressures of life such as drinking or smoking is also someone who is educated. They have the capacity to know right from wrong and understand the fact that even though others may think it is something good to do, it is not something they have to be involved in. Being educated is also taking what you learn in school and applying it to everday life. Reward and punishment systems are often used in schools as a teaching guide for students to learn that their actions can either be rewarded, or punished. If they learn these values, they will become better as an individual in real life, and learn from what they were taught in school. To be educated means having your own thoughts and opinions, speaking for yourself and beating to your own drum. Its forming your owns thought about a subject, and taking action. Being educated means being well-rounded and a go-getter, someone who may do really well in school who also participates in clubs and activities, volunteers, as well as has a job outside of school I believe is also educated. I believe they could achieve anything if they could manage more than one thing at a time. Life is not simple and often requires will-power to be able to juggle things all at once. If you could multi-task and achieve mulitple things, I feel you are also educated. To be educated you can be knowledgable of other cultures, other reliegions, other languages, this shows you can embrace diversity. ====
 * (1) What do you believe is the purpose of a college education? **
 * (2) What does it mean to be educated? **

I feel as though the experiences you have in life shapes your thoughts towards education and how you interpret the meaning of education. My story of my dad and how he only obtained a highschool diploma, but was able to have his own business in General Contracting has proved to me that to be well-educated does not mean that you have to have a college degree. To be educated does not mean you have to achieve greatness in every single subject (math, reading, science, social studies), it could be being educated in another field such as art or music. A friend that I have in college who participates in multiple clubs, has a job, holds office position of the clubs, as well as manages to take 18 credits, in my eye, shows how educated she is. It is sometimes hard for me to just manage college work, but to see how she could do more than just that, proves to me that she is educated and willing to strive to accomplish anything. Everyday life has shaped my understanding and beliefs about being educated. My brother, someone who has a way of talking with people on a professional and knowledgable level has proven to be that being educated is being able to talk with others, expressing your thoughts and feelings, and being able to have a conversation with anyone. One of my best friends who cannot do math if it could save her life, she is someone who can be told to write a story, and in minutes have a masterpiece. It is people in the world, especially people so close to me that I have learned from, showing me that you don't have to be particularly good in all subjects to be smart, but if you have knowledge about something you care about, or something that means something to you, you are educated.
 * What experiences have you had with education that led you to this belief? **