The pitfalls of college independence can be examined by formulating interviews with
current college students, performing research about the different issues students face,
and supporting them with evidence. Throughout colleges and universities across the
country, students are faced with a variety of obstacles. Ashley Gavenas, a senior here at
Eckerd, points out the most common problems faced by most college kids today, through
their freshman and senior years. Financial management, the wrong impression of college
life and a search for identity are the three most common issues that have to be overcome.
Students are faced with a large amount of responsibility and freedom, and each and every
individual may respond differently.
Financial management is one of the most common struggles college students face in
today's society. One cause of financial struggles may be that young adults spend too much
money on unecessary items. The temptation to go out with your friends to party, eat and
shop may cause someone to over spend. According to Ashley Gavenas, "Freshman year all I
did was go out with my new friends. We all would go out to dinner because the food
sucked. After awhile, I began to run out of money." In some cases, people are used to
their parents giving them money whenever it is needed. Research states that, " Money is
not a limitless quantity but in actuality, has a very definite end. This face coupled
with a lack of financial understanding and planning leads to the image of the poor
college student with endless debt" ( Summitt, 3). To make this concept feel more
realistic, think of Linday Lohan. She is constantly in magazines and on the news
shopping, and partying, which are both expensive things. Lohan has become a person who
you do not want your child to emulate. Teaching money management is often neglected,
which causes students to be unstable about budgeting themselves. Summitt also states
that, "Money management needs to be taught before and during the college years to help
better prepare us for getting a job and handling our own money" (3). Parents need to help
their children learn to manage their finances before going off to college. This will
prepare young adults for their future. Kandace Barker, who is a freshman at Howard
University, used credit cards because they made her feel as though she could buy clothes
and still have money (Lucas 2). Credit card usage is a rising problem because by using
credit cards, one may think that because they are not paying in cash, then they have not
really spent the money. Managing money is difficult for college students, which is a
common pitfall of college independence.
The news, magazines, and newspapers often give the wrong impression of college life.
Students may think that all college is about is partying, freedom, attending class
sparingly, and little responsibility. An example are the movies Old School and The
Accepted. Both are about fraternities at college, which consist of partying and drinking.
Rarely does the viewer see the students in an academic setting throughout both movies.
Another common issue faced by college students is that they do not attend class as much
as it is needed. Balancing new freedoms with the obligations of academics is difficult.
College students tend to party too much, especially during the week when they have
classes. As a result, grades gradually decline and they may start to care less about
their school work. Students are so used to relying on their parents that they do not
realize how much responsibility they are faced with in college. From doing your own
laundry, worrying about the freshman fifteen and even sleep deprivation, teenagers are in
for a surprise in college. "This new world comes as a surprise, and one of the primary
challenges is acclimating our new freedoms while balancing the obligations of personal
care and academics" (Summitt 2). The media can influence teenagers to attend college for
the wrong reasons.
Another issue that most college students are challenged with is their search for
identity. As a result of moving away from home, students are exposed to new people and
ideas, which can conflict with personal beliefs and values. Summitt argues that, "This
atmosphere forces an internal evaluation of ourselves and can be very confusing,
especially when acceptance is crucial" (4). The whole college atmosphere is a challenge
in itself because students want to fit in and make friends. Peer pressure is a continuing
problem for people of all ages in our society. Students may be pressured into doing
something they find immoral, such as drinking, sex, and not going to class because they
feel the need
to fit in amongst their friends. Change is inevitable. Each person deals with change
differently, and their attitude and personality will change as a result of social
changes. "In the process of living and learning the student shapes his character for good
or for ill" (Cobb, 133). The environment of the campus can also affect an idividual. The
level of expectancy, the teaching, the curriculum, student responsibility and religous
life may change for someone as they go onto college. One may realize that high school had
a different atmosphere than college, which requires one to get used to new things. The
college years are a chance for students to search within themselves to find out what and
where they want to go in life.
On the other hand, during college years, students are not faced with new challenges and
responsibilites. A teenager has enough money to go out whenever they feel like it, and
their parents may even send them money when needed. They have the ability to balance
their social lives with their academics. Students are able to set goals for themselves,
and know when they are able to go out with their friends. Time managment is not an issue.
Going into college, teens know what they want to accomplish in life. Their parents have
taught them most of the things that they need to know, or even what they have to do for
their future. College students do not face any new difficulties or new responsibilities.
The pitfalls of college independence can be examined by formulating interviews with
current college students, performing research about the different issues students face,
and supporting them
with evidence. College students face new challenges, responsibilities, and freedoms.
Financial management is one of the most common problems any student can face. The media
has the ability to portray college as more of a party scene, as opposed to an academic
atmosphere. During college, most kids are searching for their identity. School should be
an academic setting instead of a continuous party scene. College is a time for young
adults to learn new things and learn how to balance their finances.