Ya know, I guess I'm a bit confused by the whole "OWS'... thing. I ... ME ... I am a college student. I graduate this December/January. I just caught word of all this. No clue what's going on, because I don't have time to read all of the articles etc. But I can safely say that working hard and earning it ( in other words paying your dues ) will always get you one step closer to your final goal. It's not the loans, the money, the debt, etc. that is the problem. It's the people running it. The system is actually great. Just like the justice system. Even though people say it's garbage, truthfully it's the only system that works with everything from top to bottom taken into consideration when making an ethical decision.
Example : In the justice system, a man is put on trial for murder. He is found guilty and either sentenced for life or given the death penalty. However, I did not specify how he committed murder or why he committed this crime. Why? Because either way he will end up in the same place since it was the act of what he did. For all we know the man given this death sentence could have killed a man for sleeping with his wife, or worse, raping his wife. Or we could take this a step further and have it that this man is seeking revenge due to the death of his family ( FRANK CASTLE, The punisher ) so he decides to kill and murder every goon and gang member he lays his eyes on, or even gains knowledge of. The issue here is he is still committing murder and is still dealt with just like those gang members.
Alright so with that cleared out of the way, College and the loan systems here are the same. It's all about how you deal with it and how you have planned this out from the start. There is a reason why college's go to extreme lengths to help you start "your plan". I personally have my own plan, but it isn't something generic and has a little more depth to it. More importantly I chose a profession that hundreds and millions of people will be needing until the day I die and may carry out even further into the future generations. That is Technology. I knew for a fact that this would be the best option, thankfully I also enjoy it.
Truth be told, everyone in today's society uses some form of technology. Whether it's a phone, computer, television - you name it. Not only can I perform diagnostics on this, but I specialize in creating the visual input and output, as well as function of the majority of the programming and other types of code that you use in your every day life. I'm the one who makes it simple, not because I have to, but because I enjoy it and actually want you to be able to also access what I can, just in a different way. This profession I will also be constantly learning new things until my life passes. Technology constantly progresses at a steady rate.
The thing is a degree in this WILL help. I have been told hundreds of times that by me getting a degree in this doesn't really matter, it's just a piece of paper. Well, let me explain that this piece of paper ( before I even receive this , just stating I'm in college ) has landed me some pretty sweet gigs and continues too with all of the experience I gain.
OWS, all of this stuff, to be completely honest , I will be able to pay back ALL of my college "loans" and everything has that is put into my education in literally five years max. Why? Because of that smallish piece of paper. There is a reason why college rates are so expensive. Normally because the assumption that those who have attended college or are in college and still passing with a 3.5 GPA provide the ability to not only make new jobs but create the next best thing.
These are the people that in ten years time could take over what you see today. This is the truth. I think that is why I'm not really concerned about whether or not the government pays for me or not.
HOWEVER - I will state this in the most blunt terms as a I possibly can. IF you do pay for those who are seeking college. THEY WILL LEARN and THEY WILL BETTER THE COUNTRY ( Unites States ) . This is a true fact. The more quality you have within your country, the more strategic power you have. That is extremely simple and young children even know this.
The only thing that truly stops this from happening is one word, and the word is greed. People can have a terrible outlook on college because they think they aren't smart enough to go through it, nor do they think they are worthy of great things. Which is completely wrong. Every man, woman and child has the ability to be amazing and can go through this education system with their head held high.
Every person has the ability to gain knowledge and better themselves and help others. I know personally that when I get my design firm up and running in a few years time ( which has already started by the way ) I want to hire QUALIFIED programmers, designers, UI/UX designers, Developers, content managers, database managers, consultants, business administrators etc. But I can't do that if you, as the person, don't have the proper qualifications. A degree from ANY college stating pretty much that you know what you're doing. Yes it requires a lot of hard work, but YOU... YOU... and yes YOU... can do it. Seriously.
You can do anything you put your mind to and can overcome any obstacle that is set in your path. You can because you are brilliant. You are amazing and you don't even know it.
Ignore the media, ignore the politics, ignore the cries and whines of everything around you. Become consumed by a passion and deliver something to the people that says, "Look what has been created to help you through your times of sorrow, fear, and hunger. This will help put food on the table for you and your family. This will better your children's future, and their children's future. This will ease your worry and concerns." You can do this. You can help.
This means even if you have to take a job you DESPISE in order to move to the next level. Not everyone is immediately handed the "top dog" position right off the bat, and in my opinion, those who have to work for the "top dog" position are much stronger. I personally had to work in fast-food before I could even get to where I'm at now. I hated it, but ya know what, I got through it. I was told by many that I was worthless, a waste of time, stupid - I was even told I would end up in prison.. or worse dead... by the age of 21. Obviously that was all wrong.
Things change, but they only change if YOU allow it. You can either sit here and continue to weep because you enjoy the drama and hope that maybe, someone else, might take care of it, OR you can go out there and face the hardships and do it right, get it ready and set a focus on your goal.
My goal is to be able to better the current web applications we have today and help those who are in absolute dire need, and of course support my family. These are my goals. I want to show the world that I can deliver something that will help make their life run smoother, even if it's just the little things like checking your email, browsing the internet or turning on a computer, and these are just my technology goals! This has nothing to do with my writing, creating and publishing goals.
Remember the choice is yours.
This is Sean Signing off.
P.S. Take the bull by the horns, but don't kill the bull, know your limits.
