AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2006 > March > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCollege Student Speaks: “Not Just Drinking the Night Away.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gwinnett student Jerry Oberholtzer, who is a junior at Clemson, dropped a line in response to an earlier post to say - basically - hey, college students work hard! (The earlier post was about professors responding to e-mails in the middle of the night and what I characterized as other ways colleges cater to today’s 24-hour student.)
Here’s an excerpt:
“I am a junior here at Clemson University, and I am BUSY! Long gone are my freshman days of going to class then playing Playstation all afternoon! I now have a job, an apartment, food, and gas I have to pay for. On top of that I’m in a Service Organization and I like to catch a sporting event in there too.
So when a professor offers to be available in the wee hours of the morning for a question, I jump at the chance. I’ll walk you through a typical day in my life here in Clemson.
I get up about 8am or earlier depending on what I have going on that day. I scheduled my earliest class for 10am (and you’ll see why in a minute). But getting up at 8 gives me time to maybe finish some homework, refine a paper or hit up the bank before class. I’m done with classes between 1:45 and 3:45 depending on the day. On days I work (I’m a waiter) I have to report at 4pm. So that is not much time between class and work. Work lasts sometimes till 2am, but I never get off earlier than 11. After that if I have something due the next day I have to stay up and work on it. So when I need a question answered, and the prof is awake at the computer, I don’t have to go through the night guessing what to write.
I’m glad I have professors who understand that the average college student is really busy nowadays. Busy with life and not just drinking the night away.
So what leads me to write you was the fact that I was having this exact conversation a few days earlier with a class of mine. We all came to the conclusion that with the rising tuition and competitive job market in the “real world”, that we as college students are asked to do more than our parents were in the late 70’s early 80’s.
Our success in school depends on these professors who understand us, and schools like Clemson are doing a great job of meeting those needs.”
I got the impression reading Jerry’s e-mail that he and others like him do not like being characterized as lazy or more interested in partying. Surely some college students are - and they tend to get the ink - but others like Jerry are going to class, studying, working and preparing for the job market.
Any other students out there tired of the “drinking the night away” stereotype?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By OldSchool
March 16, 2006 02:05 PM | Link to this
You know, it never occurred to me in college to “drink the night away.” Like you, I was far too busy. I also really like being in control of myself at all times. I must admit, however, a prime source of entertainment for me and my friends was watching the Greeks stumble in after one of their parties. I know they were not the only groups doing that but they were the most obvious and loudest.
Anyway, I hope your post is carefully read by every adult who frequents this blog. You are likely in a quiet majority that more truly represents “college life” than newspaper headlines would have us think. Good for you and my best wishes! I’m proud of you!
By oldteacher
March 16, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this
Jerry, thank goodness there are students like you. I think some of the adults would be surprised at how many students do just what you do.
By Sam Gillespie
March 16, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this
I actually went to high school with Jerry. I now live in Arizona and work full time in commercial real estate. While I am not currently enrolled in classes, I have taken classes part-time at a local community college. Even with the discounted rates at a community college (as compared to a state University), managing time and funds to be able to do it all becomes pretty difficult.
When I was going to college, I had several days each week that did not end until late in the evening, which proved difficult with the sort of high-stress and never finished work I am involved in.
I have taken the semester off to re-evaluate and refocus on what is important, which does include going to school. But when we have to support ourselves while we’re going to school, then flexibility becomes key.
I agree with Jerry when he says that our success in class depends on the professors understanding our needs for this flexibility. Unfortunantly, the college I attended did not understand that quite as well as it seems Clemson does, and I doubt the quality of education my college provided is even one-third as good as Clemson’s.
I am looking at all of the options available to me, and the aspects Jerry mentioned are definantly high on my list!
By SET
March 16, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this
I don’t know if I would have been able to get through College and Law School today. I graduated HS in ‘73. The conditions today involving competition and finances would have probably scared me off the law school pathway. New admittees I see have at least $100k in student loans and often can’t afford to work public service. I finished law school with $8500.00 in student loans.
You have to be tougher emotionally now than then to put yourself to this kind of risk. Many candidates never pass the California Bar Exam - Also since then my (State) law school cut 2/5th of its seats, so there are fewer yearly graduates now.
The few students I know know in California Universities are tougher personalities than the kids I went to school with. They live and breathe school & career. They are also less likely to give anything away. Career is number 1 - or they wouldn’t have made it that far. Affirmative action has been outlawed in CA public education, so regardless of color the students have the same competitive base. Under the old system there were racial/demographic set asides so the different groups competed only with each other - then arrived at the table with their group’s different outlook on things. Now everyone is playing the same song (or they don’t get in).
My generation was just glad to have escaped Vietnam and we thought our world would just get better and better (starting with pizza with friends that night).
By oldteacher
March 17, 2006 08:52 AM | Link to this
Patti, I have searched the AJC online to find out who won the GA Teacher of the Year. The announcement was suppose to be made last night. Do you know who won?
By jim d
March 17, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this
Old teach—-
its on the wsb site this morning if you want to read the entire report.
Here’s a blip.
Pam Walker, a science teacher at Alexander High School in Douglas County, is the Georgia Teacher of the Year.
The 25-year classroom veteran was named last night at a banquet at the Georgia Aquarium.
Walker has taught in Telfair County, Fitzgerald City and Laurens County before joining Douglas County schools in 1990
By Patti Ghezzi
March 17, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this
Old Teach, sorry this wasn’t easier to find…
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/0317metteach.html
Jim is right, it’s Pam Walker from Douglas.
By oldteacher
March 17, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this
Thanks, guys. I was very curious since one of my ex colleges is on the list.
By oldteacher
March 17, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this
ex colleague…sorry