The overriding theme of the book was spot on: young people today have an overwhelming feeling of entitlement and self-worth. The vast majority of people who attend the community college where I teach believe that they are owed an education, and it is the instructor’s fault when they fail (which for many, includes getting anything less than an A in the course…). Further, this generation believes that as long as they try, then they should be rewarded for their effort. That is, success is in the effort and not the results.
Although I applaud people for trying, we can’t continue to reward just the effort. There must be accountability for results. It is not only unfair to the universities and employers who receive these products of the current education system, but is mostly unfair to society as a whole. We are creating a society where we will not have people with the never give up attitude (e.g., “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” – Thomas Edison). Much of this has been created because the various federal and state laws that make the educators and system accountable instead of the students. Instead, we need the tough love of “No Johnny, it is wrong. Do it again, and do it correctly this time.” Where I take issue with the book, is the thesis that where you attend college does not matter. It is really easy to say that when you graduated from Stanford and then went on to earn a law degree from Harvard…
For the vast majority of us, where we go to school does not matter. But, the overwhelming majority of us are not going to be movers and shakers on the state, national, or international scene. Those who are, however, generally have an easier ride to the top after attending a prestigious schools. I’m the first to argue against drawing conclusions based on correlation, but there is logical evidence to support that where you attend college can play a major role in how your life unfolds.
IRSC’s Honors Program provides a transfer workshop each semester for the students. During that workshop we go through the usual litany of advice (e.g., letters of recommendations, essays, scholarships, etc.), but what we really do is encourage them to find the “right fit” for their needs. For example, if a student’s interest is to become a teacher, nurse, or entrepreneur in the local community, then the college name has little or no effect on his life. If the student wishes to pursue a career in national politics, or become an instant millionaire in the tech community, then where she earns her degree(s) will provide different paths. In the Hillbilly Elegy, Vance describes getting to meet a former head of state, because the man’s son attended Harvard. I don’t think most people attending Shimmer College would have that opportunity. The connections and friends made at prestigious universities pay actual dividends…