College Student Illustration Essay

Alyssa Bligen
Professor Hendrickson
English 101 Section 20
Illustration Essay/ 1
College Students and Their Academics In today’s day and age, there are more people attending college. Students range from a variety of ages and races. Although this may be the generation of partygoers, social media, and procrastination, today’s college students are serious-minded when it comes to their academics. In this economy, one cannot afford to waste money in furthering their education if they do not plan on attending. Many college students are actually furthering their educations because they believe that they will live better lives with a college degree. Some believe that by achieving a higher level degree one is set up for a better job with benefits and a better pay. This generation of college students majorly prioritizes their lives accordingly so that they have time to focus on their academics. Today’s economy leaves no room to play around with money. When students sign up for their classes they have to submit some form of payment in order to lock in
their classes. College courses are not cheap nowadays. If one is paying for a specific course and one does not show up that is a waste of that person’s time and money. Doing such is like buying a video game and never playing with it. No one wants to waste their hard earned money on something that they are not going to follow through with because whether or not one attends that course, that person is still paying for it. All of that missed time adds up to a lot of money. Eventually the end of the semester rolls by, and if one so happens to fail that class then more money comes out of pocket when the course needs to be taken again. Most students take this into deep consideration because they are probably saving up for something a little more important. In addition to the plummeting economy, college students are starting to realize the importance of obtaining a higher degree and furthering their education. College students are more goal-oriented now than ever. Although many college students are into the party scene they know that their academics will get them farther in life. College students live in the mindset that once a degree is earned it will set them up for a better life. In most cases this is true, but this proves only to be true if there is a high demand for that profession once the said student graduates from college. If one does not choose a major that is in high demand, by the time graduation comes around one will be back to a job that barely pays the bills instead of a high paying career. The harder a student works, the closer they are to obtaining the degree of their dreams. This encourages college students to take their work seriously and to work harder and faster to get the education that they need. Because this is the generation of partygoers, a majority of the time students prioritize their responsibilities.
In a recent interview with Thalia Delgado, a current sophomore at the University of Bridgeport, I asked, “When you’re faced with the decision of partying or staying in to do your homework, what do you do?” Ms. Delgado’s answer was clear. She states, “I would go to the party because I know that when I come home my homework will be there. I want to have some fun before I dig into my books and begin my work.” She later came to say that after a long night of partying she always makes sure she gets at least 5 to 6 hours of sleep so she can awake refreshed and ready to tackle her homework. In my own personal experience, I have turned down a night out with friends in order to complete my homework. There are some students that can party and still complete their homework; others have to prioritize what is more
important. All in all, today’s college students are becoming more serious-minded about their academics. Whether it is the failing economic status, the fact that students are trying to better their lives by obtaining a higher level degree, or prioritizing their social party life from their school work, students are becoming more aware of the advantages of furthering their college education and obtaining a college degree.