Earning and Learning: Are students working too much??

Martin Kramer makes a good point in his story called "Earning and Learning."  Students now are working through college just to pay for tuition, books, and supplies.  The tuition on many universities have risen a great amount, to where college students can barely afford.  Kramer does say that there is always financial aide, but that is barley enough to cover half.  Most of the college students have to take out a loan in order to pay for college.  This means that your paying for college loans for the rest of your life - depending on how big your loan is.  For me, being a commuter student is tough but worth it because I'm debt free.  I dont have any loans, which is a great feeling because I dont owe anyone anything.  It is hard to come up with the money, so that forces students, like me, to work through college so you have enough money to pay for books and supplies.  

Could a Facebook Profile throw a wrench in your future??

In this story, by Rebecca Dince,  she gets alot of feedback on whether or not employers should look at Facebook Profiles before hiring their employees.  The way I see it is, Facebook is a public site.  Yes, you can make your profile public.  Anyone can use this site, young, old, even if they have a criminal back ground.  I think that what you do in college is your own doing.  If you want to go out and enjoy a night of partying, why put it up on social media?? There is no point in doing this.  I think that employers have every right to look at Facebook before someone gets hired at any job because they should know what kind of person their hiring.  

Focusing on Friends

In the story called, "Focusing on friends," by Steve Tesich, he talks about his childhood friends all the way to his friends now.  Tesich talks about his childhood friend, Slobo, who was his best friend growing up.  Since he had to move away to America, he had to leave behind someone he cared about very much.  He goes on to say he mad new friends in high school, where he had one close guy friend.  They did everything together; they swam in the Atlantic, where it brought back memories of flying over with Slobo.  I think that everyone in life should have that special friend in life.  I have one, and we have been friends since "pampers," as we would like to say it.  She has always been by my side, and I dont know how I could go through life without her.  It was also sad to read that one of Tesich's good friends died in Vietnam, serving our country.  Sharing that must of been the hardest thing for him.  Personally, This was one of my favorite and moving stories I have read so far. 

In the story called "let the colors run," by Ron Suskind, he really moves the students that he teaches to be better in life.  He took this one poem written by a student and loved it.  He made sure that the student would strive for bigger and better things, rather than just doing the minimal work possible.  I thought it was very moving that he cared so much for a student that he would take the time to make sure that he understands that his life matters in life.  Not every student gets that from any professor in college.  I also thought that the poem was very moving.  It was very intense, and I understood where the writer was coming from.  I like the line Siskind wrote "The key is to put your outrage in a place where you can get at it when you need to..."  I typically like this quote because to me, this professor is saying to follow your dreams, which any student at college should be doing. 

After reading "Abandoned but not alone," by Thomas Oliphant, it seemed very depressing to me.  Parents kicking out their children because they are different.  That is so not cool.  If everyone was the same, then life would be really boring.  Just because someone is gay doesnt mean that they are bad people.  The parents seemed like they didnt even give their childen a chance at life.  These children could change the world.  Taking a step in life and coming out is probably the hardest thing anyone has ever thought about because this is the reason - afraid of being judged.  Everyone needs the support from family, friends, and relatives to get by anything that happens in life.  Whether that is coming out that your gay, or even graduating from high school and taking the next step towards college.  I feel for the kids that have been rejected and have been in cruel behaviors in this story.  We are suppose to be living in a society today that accepts for who people really are.  Not for what we want them to be.  No one should have to go through what these kids have to go through in this story.  Everyone deserves a chance at life, no matter what ethnicity, sexuality, or race you are.

The Meaning of Work

This is an incredible, moving story by Rodrigo Rodriguez.  He talks about growing up in a small town in Texas, where his family works inside factories.  This is the lifestyle that he grew up in.  None of his family members went to college and got a degree.  He decided it was time for a change.  Rodriguez did admit that he "never had good grades in high school."  But, that didnt mean he wasnt smart enough to move onto college and even graduate school.  His father states that "doing work means doing physical work, not sitting before a computer screen."  I agree and disagree with this statement.  I agree to the fact that you do need to do some physical work in order to succeed and work hard in life.  I do disagree to the fact that it is hard work to do well at any type of job there is out in life.  I think that no matter what, Rodriguez's dad should be very proud of his son for achieving something so great in life -- a college education.  

After reading this story called "Bricklayer's Boy," seemed like it had a lot about what I am going through in college.  After going through college and paying boat loads of money for an education that will benefit you, it seems like you are broke.  Having this education does benefit you in the end because you will get a successful paying job that pays well.  I envy the father in this story for going back to school at such an old age.  I know that I couldn't go back and get an education that I always dreamed of, if I was that old.  Having grown up in a household of four girls, my parents werent going to pay a dime for my education because there is no way they could do it for all of us.  I had to get a job and pay for my own tuition and books.  I am grateful and fortunate for my parents to chip in and help me through it all