In Keith M. Parsons “Message to My Freshman Students” he emphasizes the differences between high school and college. While teaching an “Introduction to Philosophy” Parsons describes different characteristics of college that freshman are unfamiliar with. Two overall characteristics that are found throughout the article are the level of independence and responsibility necessary for college. Parsons argues that college freshman are “frequently absent” and are unlikely to pay attention while in class. He states that in most classes students are free to come and go as they please without the permission of a parent or teacher. Along with coming and going Parsons also explains that it is the student’s job to learn and that the professor will be paid whether they students passes or fails. Throughout the article Parsons continues to reinforce that it is solely on the student to either thrive or coast through college.
I agree with Parsons emphasis of newly found independence and responsibility that is stated throughout his article “Message to My Freshman Students”. Being a freshman myself, I find it easy to just lie in bed all morning and not show up to class. College students do not have their parents to be that extra alarm clock when they sleep through the first one. Students have to set an alarm and have the drive to get up out of bed, and make it to class on time and be well prepared. After hearing what college was like from older friends all I thought was that students just sit in class on their laptops and watch Netflix. I was wrong, the professors try their hardest to get the students to pay attention, but again at the end of the day the student is the one that needs to learn to pay attention and absorb the material.
Unlike in high school, professors are not breathing down your neck about an assignment that you have yet to turn in. They just mark it as a zero and move on with the next student’s assignment. Usually high school teachers become an extra reminder of when things are due and what we have yet to turn in. In college it is nothing like that. College education becomes more time management and self responsibility of checking the online page for upcoming assignments and scheduled exams. It is all up to the student to complete and keep up with his or hers assignments, while still checking for new alerts.
Unlike in high school, professors are not breathing down your neck about an assignment that you have yet to turn in. They just mark it as a zero and move on with the next student’s assignment. Usually high school teachers become an extra reminder of when things are due and what we have yet to turn in. In college it is nothing like that. College education becomes more time management and self responsibility of checking the online page for upcoming assignments and scheduled exams. It is all up to the student to complete and keep up with his or hers assignments, while still checking for new alerts.
College is also not an end of the year test prep based class, the professors have much more leeway and usually create the course themselves. Seeing as College is not mandatory through the state, professors jobs are not in the hands of the students. Meaning that in High School, teachers evaluations are based upon the scores of their students and depending on how well their students did would determine their employment. Professors get paid whether their students surpass their expectations or fall below the belt.
The responsibility and independence that college is known for is freeing but at the same time frightening. Most freshman attending college have never been on their own and do not know how to manage their time wisely, but with so much independence comes much greater responsibility. Freshman soon start to realize what needs to be a priority and what must fall second in their lives. It’s all on us and we need to acclimate to the responsibilities and independence that comes with being in college, because sooner or later we will be out in the real world.