I am a graduate student at a state University, so I see all sorts of people. Every day I work with students, instructors, and professors. There is one group of people, parents of prospective students, that only show up a few times during the year and mostly during the summer with their progeny . I see these people in huge herds and there is no mistaking who they are. The parents are older folks holding packets of papers and the progeny are the young people looking completely bored and staring off into space. It is an odd group of people and they seem rather misguided. I could just turn my head and ignore them, but I am one of the instructors who has to teach the little darlings in the fall.
So, here is my rant to the parents: WHY ARE YOU HERE? Are you going to be going to school in the fall? I didn't think so. That means you shouldn't be the one asking the questions, holding the important papers, and being interested in local places to hang out. Yes, you might be the ones paying the bills, but you aren't the ones going to school. I may be repeating myself, but I think it is necessary. Your precious child is now a college age person. They will be the one who has to navigate the campus, the dining hall, the classes, the homework, the washing machine, and the financial aide office for nine months next year. As a parent, you are now on the sidelines, get it? I think I need to illustrate my point with a few shining examples of just exactly what I mean.
When I was in the financial aid office last spring, a mother and son were also in the office. The mother was asking all of the questions. The son wasn't deaf or mute. He did respond with monosyllabic answers to his mother. Aforementioned mother wanted to know if there was anyway for her son to get a work-study job before he came to the University. If I had my way, I would have said "Yeah, there is lady, it is called a summer job!" However, I kept quiet. I just wonder what good it will do for the son to go to college. I do realize that going to school is now extremely expensive, but he sure didn't seem interested. Just because everyone else is going to college, doesn't mean your precious baby should too.
Another shining example occurred this past semester at the college's last ditch effort to persuade the little darlings that this University is the perfect place for them. This was called Open House, but it really was the advertising campaign to end all advertising campaigns. The faculty are here, graduate students are here, and undergraduates are here all to entice the young ones that this is the place. What happens is parents still ask questions and the children are as silent as stones. The parents also ask the one useless question that is always asked: "What will my precious baby do with a Zoology degree?" The answer, of course, is "Exactly the same they are going to with any other college degree - pump gas!" Okay, so maybe that is a bit harsh, but, really is any college degree good for anything these days? Even an engineering B.S. doesn't get you too far. It all depends on what YOU, the precious little child, gets out of this education. Can you think for yourself? Can you speak for yourself? Can you find yourself a job? That is what this college thing is all about.
Don't get me wrong, I think going to college is a GREAT thing - if you push yourself and don't get wasted three nights a week. And the youngin's will never learn a thing if they don't start asking questions and being responsible for their education from DAY 1! So, parents, pipe down. If you liked college so much, go back for your degree. Let your kids get their own.
