High school graduation ceremonies are virtually the same all over. These young students will take paths of their own from here on out. Paths that will assuredly diverge into different directions, separating them from their best friends and barkadas. They venture into this thing called College that is a very scary place to be alone in.
Despite being alone, these young students enjoy a level of upgrade in their so-called social status. Once regarded as young, naive and incapable, they are somehow empowered to think of themselves as near-grownups. This state of thinking may be reflected in the very common phrase “College na ako kaya dapat [insert rant/request here]” usually pulled off during an argument or asking for permission.
This is, in my opinion, a very unnatural jump. In less than half a year, an individual jumped from incapable to responsible and the culture shock they receive is very.. well.. shocking. The sudden rise in expectations surely is taxing on the still naive individual and the sudden increase of freedom is very very prone to abuse as they stretch the limits and see how far they could actually go which makes the whole affair dangerous. These kids have not had a taste of real life and real life may bite them real hard, if they stretch the limits too much.
So, what can we, the slightly more matured students acting as older brothers or sisters, do about it?
I say let them have a taste of life if they really choose to do so but remind them as often as required by your conscience. After all, you may have been in the same position as they are now.
And if life decides to bite back real hard, at least you can say “I told you so” in a manner that bumps their ego :
“Well, you’re in college now. Take responsibility.”
That was a pretty good ending.
Two thumbs up.
(But I still feel very childish sometimes. Like when I stereotype.)
Eirik Fleisje
20 Nov 09 at 17:27
For me, college was a learning experience. Life does bite hard. If they have to learn to pay for their tuition while still in college, they’d understand what it’s like to really work hard for something.
Sadly though, some students are also forgetting that with great freedom comes great responsibility. Some think that college is just one big party. Maybe it is, to some extent. But after every party is a clean-up time. The bigger mess at the party, the bigger the clean-up effort. My friends and I had to suffer the consequences of such thought patterns. We laugh at being young and foolish but those moments gave us some wisdom as we matured.
Saying “I told you so” or “Well, you’re in college now. Take responsibility.” is not easy at all. But you’ve got to do it anyway. And it’s also a reminder for you.
Clair
20 Nov 09 at 17:33
For me, college was a learning experience. Life does bite hard. If they have to learn to pay for their tuition while still in college, they’d understand what it’s like to really work hard for something.
Sadly though, some students are also forgetting that with great freedom comes great responsibility. Some think that college is just one big party. Maybe it is, to some extent. But after every party is a clean-up time. The bigger mess at the party, the bigger the clean-up effort. My friends and I had to suffer the consequences of such thought patterns. We laugh at being young and foolish but those moments gave us some wisdom as we matured.
Saying “I told you so” or “Well, you’re in college now. Take responsibility.” is not easy at all. But you’ve got to do it anyway. And it’s also a reminder for everyone, ne?
Clair
20 Nov 09 at 17:43