The Indie Pen Dance: The Long Haul

The Indie Pen Dance: The Long Haul

March 28, 2012 · by shetrick · in ,

By: Sarah Hetrick

I feel like everyone, at some point or another, has worried about the necessity of their present secondary education. I will be the first to admit that at many points in the past few months of my second year here at good ole’ IU, I have pondered the reality of it all. For some, it’s a larger dilemma than it should be; the pressure is high, the price is high, and we are constantly in search of a reason for being here. Although it may seem obvious to some that college is the only way to be, some face a real uncertainty in whether or not to remain in pursuit of their collegiate experience.

For some, enrolling and managing to stay in academia is not an issue- It’s been determined for ages; Whether it be the family tradition or a path encouraged by mentors, the idea of going to college is the only thing to do. It does seem to be the normal way that people seem to be progressing with their life- or at least, that is what society is teaching us. In the entirety of our formative years, the path of life that every red-blooded American is to take is to finish high school, go to college, finish college, find a mate, form a family, make money, and in-turn send your children to college. It’s a cycle; and sometimes, it is a vicious cycle.

However, in my experience (I am a first-generation college student), college is sometimes not the most ideal path. In my life, as in the life of numerous working-class Americans, college is just not worth it. It’s a path that will oftentimes not be taken. So many things cause this to happen. It’s a dream that perhaps will happen, but under most circumstances, will not. Teens in small towns are often under an ideology to stay in that hometown (which has happened in my hometown so many times), simply because it will be easier for the parents as well as the student themselves. In this situation, the American Dream is sometimes on a much smaller scale: we finish school, we stay home, our kids go to school, and then stay home.

But what about those students who are already here? I’m not going to be the first one to say that college is hard. For those who grew up in small towns with small public, we are not prepared for the information that we are presumed to know in a 100-Level class. Frankly, it’s not our fault; We can only work with what we were given. But this pressure to catch up so quickly has become a large issue when it comes to deciding whether or not to stay in school.

The pressure builds. The relationships are different. Frustrating appointments with your academic adviser. It’s a new world that just doesn’t fit some people- and that’s perfectly acceptable. Sometimes, we take paths that are more difficult than we have anticipated, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean that we need to continue with something that we know we are inept at. Continuing to try when you know full well that you cannot correct your errors is simply not an intelligent option. As students, we have to know when we have reached our limit, and when to keep going. The worst situation is when we find ourselves in a hole deeper than we can handle.

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