The Stressed Out Student Today

My class this summer was plagued with more than the usual difficulties in attendance and getting the work completed on time. They were stretched thin, often carrying too many hours, working too many jobs, worried about money, sleep, illness, debt, etc. If you have some notion of the carefree college student who’s only looking for the next bong hit or keg of beer, you need to update. They’re carrying serious debt to prepare themselves for the crappiest job market in decades. When I went to college, I could put myself through at a public tax-supported university, earning four degrees with very little debt. We boomers had it great, but things have gotten awful stingy for the young now. Personally, I don’t want my taxes cut, so we can raise tuition. Give these kids the same break we had. The kids are alright, but I have my doubts about the stingy older generation.  When we’re old and drooling, we might regret our short-sightedness when there aren’t enough educated professionals to look after our sorry asses.

1 thought on “The Stressed Out Student Today

  1. As someone who attended university with you, I know where you’re coming from — although I believe tuition at the Univeristy of Texas and its satellites was subsidized at the time more by oil holdings than tax dollars. Today, I’m semi-retired and work alongside university students and young people trying to claim their place in the world. They indeed work multiple jobs and incur heavy debt to finance their future and fledgling careers — seemingly taking it all in stride, for which I both admire and pity them. However, while I believe that everyone should educate themselves as much as possible (and never stop doing so), I hope these young people realize a degree is not a ticket to any particular career or even a specific job. I believe it is knowledge and the willingness to learn — not a piece of parchment — that will see them through life.

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