Numbers vs. Experience

2.8. 3.75. 4.0.

We are constantly striving for success in numbers. From the moment we enter school, we base our progress and academic goals on numeric scores. To be accepted into highly competitive universities, some students obsess over getting the highest possible SAT scores. After students enter college, many tend to work towards making Dean's List. SAT scores and GPA's seem to be standard by which we all judge our intelligence and educational success. What ever happened to the importance of experience?

While I believe many people nowadays understand that hands-on experience teaches them lessons that the classroom may not, there is still a strange obsession with scores, grades, and numbers. After speaking to several high school juniors and seniors, one of their biggest academic fears is the idea that they may not achieve their desired SAT scores. While I am a firm believer in good grades, why do teachers and universities put so much pressure behind scores and numbers?

If high schools spent less time focusing on getting students to raise their scores and more time encouraging students to job shadow and intern at places, maybe there would be less stress for college students to determine what they want to major in. I know I changed my major after my freshman year. I don't think there is anything wrong with changing majors, but it would have been less of a hassle for me if I went into college with more "real life" experience in my field of study.

It almost comes down to two ideas: "street smarts" vs. "book smarts." "Book smarts" are vital to gain knowledge and skills; however, today's public schools seem to be focusing the "book smarts" approach without recognizing the importance of "street smarts" and experience in the work force. Gaining experience early can better prepare young people for a life-long career.

Education is supposed to mold young people and help them achieve success. In order to achieve this success, people must have some sort of talent or interest in the field or subject. How can students know what they are good at without actually trying it out? Just some food for thought.

Science/Math vs. Liberal Arts: A Never Ending Battle

I'm sitting on my computer doing my hourly checks of my favorite websites. I always start on Yahoo! because it's my homepage, and it is home to my standard e-mail account. I tend to click a lot of Yahoo!'s news stories because they interest me. One category that is particularly interesting to me are the career articles. Today's article of choice? Most Lucrative College Degrees.

The main focus of this article is the top 15 highest earning college degrees. Almost all of them have the word "engineering" in them. The rest are science or math-based. This is not surprising. They even say it's a supply & demand thing. A lot of students go into liberal arts nowadays and very few graduate with science or math-related degrees. What bothered me about this? Well, after discussing the lowest earning degrees (communications is included in this list--not that I'm surprised; I'm well aware of this.), Ed Koc, director of research at NACE, stated in this article that "few grads offer math skills, and those who can are rewarded."

I hate the phrasing of this. Here's the thing: I CAN do math very well. I passed Calculus AB & BC with A's. I understand they are talking about graduates here, but this is one of the many statements that lead to science & math majors constantly thinking they are superior to those of us in the liberal arts majors. The entire world puts these people with science & math careers up on this pedestal. It's so impressive that they chose a major in said fields. How come no one is ever impressed when I mention my degree in Communications (Public Relations) & minor in English Literature. While they are racking their brains trying to create formulas and solve problems for one class, I'm taking the course load of two areas of study.

I am in no way saying their majors are easy. I just don't appreciate the world constantly believing that these majors are "better" than those of us studying in the liberal arts fields. I, personally, chose my major because I enjoy it a lot. While money is a concern of mine, it's not my primary concern; I just want enough money to get by in life. I respect those that do see money as a primary concern. I just feel like no one appreciates those of us that follow our "dreams" or passions. In the days of energy crises, global warming, and biological warfare, very few of us liberal arts majors get any recognition.

Again, I do respect everyone who goes into these intense fields. We need people in all areas of work. Nevertheless, my hope is to one day see an article on Yahoo!'s homepage praising those of us in the communications, English, arts, and humanities fields. It sometimes feels like it's us against the world, but I am not going to let it stop me.

Fate vs. Freewill

Everything happens for a reason? You control your own destiny? Which one of these famous cliches are correct?

A friend of mine from another blog site brought up the discussion of freewill & fate. It's quite an interesting discussion and it all has to do with personal beliefs. I understand everyone's beliefs are different, but it got me thinking about which side I favor.

I'm the moderate, can-see-both-sides-to-every-story, relatively open-minded friend of any group. I've never been extreme on a side of any issue and I understand most arguments for everything. As a result, I can't pick one or the other. I believe there's a combination. How diplomatic of me, I know, but hear me out.

I believe there are several decisions made for every instant in life. For instance, I had written a series of words before I typed up that last sentence, but I decided to delete them. As a result, this blog entry has been changed and will lead me in another direction than the blog entry that may have resulted if I kept the same series of words. I believe that there's a path or maybe predestined consequences with every decision. I feel that individuals have the ability through freewill to chose which path (of the many possible paths) they chose. I know a lot of people probably feel this same way because it's an easier belief for humans to wrap their mind around.

I'm currently reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. The timing of this topic is kinda ironic (fate maybe? ha!) because this book touches on this topic quite a bit. *General Spoiler Alert* Henry, the main character, time travels. Obviously. However, the reason he can do this is because events in his life have already happened/are simultaneously happening all at the same time. No matter what time period he's in and no matter where he appears, it's impossible for him to change life because everything has already happened and things are already planned out. This concept was incredibly hard for me to follow for awhile. I finally understand it in the context of the book. Nevertheless, I do not agree with this idea. I'm fascinated by the idea that things are happening at the same time as things in the future are happening, but all of this is too difficult for my human mind to even fathom. *End of Spoiler Alert*

Forever or life itself is a confusing concept for everyone. The idea that every single part of our life is planned out and things are "destined" to happen is an idea that is impossible for me to grasp. If this is the case, why are so many people living in terrible conditions? I feel fate is our way of trying to make sense of life--a life no one can truly understand until its over. Fate is a comforting factor that allows us to not feel guilty about our mistakes and choices.

Despite this argument of mine, I do feel like there are a lot of things we can not control. I believe a lot of things do happen for a reason, but the reason is because we made a choice. As I said before, I believe our choices lead us to other choices and lead us to our destiny. I do not believe the whole thing is planned out for ourselves. I guess my beliefs are more towards freewill than anything, but I'd like to hope there's fate somewhere out there. Fate is a comforting factor, and it allows many of us to carry on and hope for the future. We all need that hope sometimes.

I'm not gonna stop making choices and chasing after what I want just because someone tells me "if it's meant to be, it's meant to be." I will, however, keep the idea that I'm on a path with many possible consequences. There's a life out there waiting for me and all I have to do is make the specific decisions to lead me there. We'll see how it goes and what my path is like. This was all very Robert Frost of me.

Anyone else think about fate and freewill? Anyone else's opinions differ? I love seeing people's point and arguments on topics like these. It's interesting to see people's stances on life and choices and the future.