Challenges of Higher Education Essay

The world of higher education is far removed from life in high school. Whereas in elementary and secondary education, individuals are being taught the foundations, college life is ultimately about training for a life-long profession or career. Higher education is a combination of fundamental concepts learned across professions and their practical use for specific careers. In college, individuals find their niche, that one true passion that will define and give meaning to our lives. Of all the choices we make in life, one of the most important and most difficult is the choice of what course to take in college. This choice more or less determines the course of our adult lives and whether we become successful or not. For some, the choice comes easy because they already know what they want to be. There are others on the other hand who have spent some years in college, shifting from one course to another, trying to find what fits them the most. In any case, regardless of what course one takes in college, one should have a sound grounding in general education because this will serve as the foundations for the acquisition of more specialized, employment-based learning. (Gless, 1992) Once a choice of course and school has been made, the main challenge now is how to get through the rigors of higher education as well as the addressing the necessary activities of daily living. Indeed for incoming college freshmen, it is an entirely new world, profuse with challenges. After having spent 18 years in the care and protection of our parents, its time to leave the nest and learn to fend for ourselves. Chores can be particularly annoying because they have to be done endlessly. The challenge is how to budget not just money but other resources such as food and clothing. After having depended on our parents to do things for us, it can be difficult adjustment to have to constantly worry about washing clothes and cleaning the room. However, such tasks need to be done and they are actually part of the more important lessons that we must learn. Socialization if one of most crucial aspects of college life. It is important to be able to get along with roommates and classmates because they will form the support structure that one needs in order to make it through the daily grinds of college. Sometimes it can get difficult, juggling school responsibilities with other concerns, but if you have good friends to support you, then the burden is somewhat lessened. For college freshmen it can be difficult at first to forge new friendships after high school, but once we make the effort to reach out, then we will realize that college is better when spent with people you can trust and people you love and respect. In college it is important to have social skills because more than what we learn inside the classroom, it is the ability to make genuine connections that determines the quality of life that we will have. All the academic demands of higher education such as assignment, projects, reports, and activities can really be overwhelming. The best way to cope with this is through time management. We must learn to prioritize and set a schedule that we will adhere to when faced with several duties at the same time. The not-so-urgent things can be set aside to be attended to on less-stressful days. In the end, higher education is more than the things that we learn inside the classroom. Our characters are shaped by how we react to the challenges that we face both inside and outside the classroom. The ability to become self-determined and independent; that is what higher learning is all about. References: Gless, Darryl J. The Politics of Liberal Education Duke University Press. 1992.