By: Robert Merz
Everything is a lie...
This clever quip comes from one of our classmates, and it has become a humorous mantra of sorts for its ability to fit so many situations where we find ourselves disillusioned. I can think of one specific example right here in our YSU environment, where it proves its worth again.
"You Screwed Up."
We've all heard it, and frankly, it's funny. I laughed the first time I heard it… but it's a lie.
We did not screw up. YSU is not a "last chance" university. Like so much in life, the experience here is going to be what one makes of it.
Why then, do so many students not succeed? Some are simply not prepared academically for the rigors of a university environment. This is a problem YSU administration must now grapple with as it addresses the established policy of open enrollment. Others simply don’t have a clear reason for being here other than they don’t know what else to do.
Statistically, I am a failure. This is not my first college experience; I have attended three Ohio universities. In high school, I did well. I was an honors student, a speech and debate champion, and a member of the varsity football team. My goal was to use those successes to carry me forward. Just two weeks after graduation, I found myself with another four years of school looming.
At first, I did quite well; it seemed the momentum I carried with me from high school would suffice. It did not. Eventually, I was overwhelmed. For the first time I was juggling my class schedule, a 40-hour workweek, and all of the other responsibilities of a young adult. I lacked the maturity to cope, and this caused a lot of stress; my autism surfaced, and I found it increasingly difficult to interact. This sent me into a tailspin. I withdrew from classes and became a statistic.
I was in a “deep blue funk" for a long time afterwards, thirteen years, to be exact. Fortunately, I slowly matured over that span. I became a stay-at-home father of two, and did some work as a freelance writer and editor. I felt comfortable in this life, and wasn't sure if I could, or cared to, face finishing my degree work... but, life has a funny way of changing things.
I'm back.
And this time I know why I’m here. And where exactly is here? YSU. I could have gone anywhere... Penn State, Kent State... I had my pick. I chose YSU for what it has to offer.
Like so many, the impetus for my return has been a life-changing event. I am faced with the daunting responsibility of maintaining a home, and helping to raise my two children… alone. I am 40 now, and I have overcome a lack of maturity and a disability to get here. What I have learned is that college is not about getting grades; that is a lie. College is about doing one's best; it is about completing the coursework and gaining knowledge. I think so many of my fellow students miss these important concepts.
If we reach the end, we are handed a degree, and this does serve as a key to future hopes and dreams, but it is no guarantee of obtaining them; it is really the effort we put in, and the knowledge we take with us, which matters most. This is what our future employers will see in us... they will not ask to see our degrees or our transcripts.
Everything is the truth...
I know. It isn't as funny. But everything above is the truth, and I hope students reading this will listen to me, because I have been where, statistically, many are going.
YSU is not a last chance university. It is not a glorified community college. YSU offers so much to those willing to accept the challenge. Here, one can find a real chance to excel in a university environment.
YSU offers a sense of family that other universities do not have. We constantly read how Youngstown is resilient, and it is usually attributed to a strong sense of family unity. Folks, we have that right here. We are a family of 14,000, and I will say unequivocally, this is the nicest student body I have ever experienced.
YSU is a joke…
There will always be people who make fun of YSU. These are slings and arrows we must suffer, but to believe what is said is another matter entirely, because it is a lie. YSU is a first chance university. Take pride in yourself and your coursework; take pride in our school. Take from your experience here the work ethic you develop, and the knowledge you gain... then the joke will be on everyone else.
I think that in the end, they will ask to see our grades and transcripts. I’ll be graduating in May after six years in the University system. Every job I’ve looked in to so far has required the submission of transcripts, CVs, resumes, statements of purpose, and other assessments that I worry won’t compare to those who graduate from more prestigious schools.
ReplyDeleteFor non-traditional students I think that you are right and YSU is a perfect haven, but for students who want to go further, to branch out of Youngstown for higher education or job opportunities, YSU may stifle that kind of growth.
The challenge just isn’t there. Being an open-enrollment institute may have a lot to do with that, since professors often need to tailor lectures and coursework to accommodate all students. I don’t think YSU is a glorified community college, but I also don’t think the university is doing everything it can to produce graduates that are up to par with other university graduates in Ohio.
I’m not sure it’s enough to say this happens because students breed in to the mindset you are talking about and don’t challenge themselves. Isn’t a university supposed to provide the challenge to the student? Sure, it’s easy to say that in order to succeed a person needs to be proactive. In any aspect of life that will usually breed success, but what about the freshman who has chosen YSU as their first school and doesn’t get the Ohio State or Kent State experience? What does that student lose and is being proactive enough to provide the same experience?
Admittedly, there have been classes where I've not been engaged by either the material or professor, and the work I've produced suffered for it. But I will agree with Robert's point that if you're willing to put in the time and effort, YSU can be whatever experience you desire.
ReplyDeleteI think it has little to do with being an open-enrollment campus and more to do with students willing to coast for "deserved" grades. If you're not being challenged in a course, then challenge yourself. Immerse yourself in a topic, go beyond what the recommended material is and master a topic. Some blame can lie at the feet of professors who don't utilize creative material for courses, but lazy students should step-up and acknowledge their shortcomings as well.