Not only as a college student, but as an aware citizen of America I think it is important to stay informed. Most of us have access to what is happening in the world around us in our back pocket, so we should take advantage of it.
With being educated and up-to-date in the world around us, it is also important where we get our information from. Like many people, I get a majority of my news via social media. Whether it is on the “Moments” tab on Twitter or the “Trending” section of Facebook, it is a way to see what is happening in the world almost instantaneously.
It is also valuable to be sure the resources you are reading from are not always one sided. Whether it’s blogs, radio, or news channels, it is important to hear from different points of view. Sometimes this can be difficult, especially in the age of social media.
I came across the article Dear Bernie Sanders, Sorry I’m the Problem With America on Facebook because it was shared across my timelime (is that even what it is called anymore?) and decided to give it a read. As I scrolled through the page, I could feel my face get hot and I could feel my lips begin to purse. The author, Rob May, is the CEO of a Massachusetts based company and defends that fact that he, as a wealthy and successful CEO, is not the problem with the United States of America. May starts off the article explaining how he doesn’t believe that the government should pay off student’s debts. He then goes into a narrative of how hard he worked in order to graduate college with no loans.
“… I never had student loans. No, it wasn’t because I was from a wealthy family. I never had student loans because I worked every semester I was in college, and during some summers, I worked two jobs. I did this because I thought the world was rigged against me.I missed out on a lot, because I worked so much.”
This hardship that May explains is nothing short of what many college students have to deal with just to attempt to get by. Going to college 100% on your parents dime is just not the majority anymore. I work 20-30 hours a week during the school year, as well as working during winter break, and basically nonstop during the summer. Even taking one single day off makes me have a pit in my stomach because I know I could be making money. Even with my constant working, when I graduate I am still going to be $60,000 in debt. Yes, you are reading that correctly. No, I did not go to my dream private school; I attend my flagship State University. With no support from my parents (surprise surprise, not everyone has a college fund or parents that are able to financially support them), I have accepted all the financial aid my school gives me including grants and loans, as well as private loans in order to fund my education. Of course I miss out on parties, activities, and simply just hanging out with my friends, but I know I have to work to stay above water. This is not meant to be some sort of sob story. I wanted to further my education and this was the way I and many other people choose to do it.
May is currently 47 years old, and guess what? College is vastly more expensive than it was when he graduated about 25 years ago. “The average [higher education] tuition is three times higher today than it was in 1980″ (2). This doesn’t include the cost of textbooks, dining halls, or room & board.
“I didn’t have the life like many of the college students I’ve hired in the last few years. They study what they love — philosophy, political science, art, regardless of whether or not they have good job prospects. They travel. Mostly they seem to go to Vietnam and Cambodia.”
In the excerpt above, May also seems to make a conclusion that studying what you are passionate about or something you are truly interested in is wrong. Picking a major is not all about how good the job prospects are (but it is definitely a thought). Also, there is hands down nothing wrong with traveling. It is the only way to truly experience a different culture and get out of the bubble we all live in. If you have the money to go travel, why wouldn’t you?
What the author fails to realize is that there are many ways to live your life. Not every single person is going to be a business major who is going to be the CEO of a company, and that is okay. It’s great that May has created a company that has created jobs. More power to him. What he needs to realize is that just because he is a successful CEO doesn’t mean he is who Bernie is “targeting.” He admits that the economy is rigged, but does it need to stay that way?