A Day at College
I recently had the opportunity to stay overnight at Linfield College, complete with some interviews and sitting in on a class. I don't really know what I was expecting to find at college. I was even a bit nervous before I went, met my overnight host, and sat in on the International Politics class. Suffice to say, it was an enlightening experience.
The first revelation was that college is boring. I guess I hit campus at an "off" time, but there was still very little activity going on. I had fun in the library for a couple of hours, but it was a weird thing afterward. We sat around. A lot. We sat until 2:00 in the morning. For no reason in particular. We didn't really even talk about anything important. It was the longest period of doing absolutely nothing that I can remember. I used this opportunity to observe college students in their "natural habitat" but I really can't imagine doing that all year. For one thing - I'd be really tired.
The second revelation is that college will be hard. The proliferation of cussing, sexual references, and alcohol was astounding … even from several students who told me they were Christians and "led worship." I came away from campus feeling dirty on the inside simply from being around all the filth constantly being thrown around me. Unless a Christian student finds a Christian niche in which to fellowship and draw strength from other Christians and God, I can understand why so many young Christians walk out of the faith – sheer attrition.
My final and most startling revelation was that homeschoolers look different. That's right. My friends look different. College students do not. All the girls had the same make-up, most had the same hairdo, and the same type of clothing. I had trouble telling them apart. The guys weren't much better. There were three basic sub-types: the nerd, the jock, and the skater. Usually these cliques are entertaining attempts at humor, but at Linfield … they are real. The guys were either really big and buff with shaved hair, small and greasy with glasses, or loose with long hair. I'm sure I'm exaggerating to some extent, but I honestly mistook several people I met for other – completely different – people that I had met previously that day. I guess in college one is free to be an individual, and as individuals, they choose to conform.
In conclusion, this trip was really eye-opening. I definitely intend to put a lot of effort into my time at college because it is directly proportional to what you get out of the college experience. When I think of my brief overnight stay, I shake my head and marvel ... but such is life. I'm just glad that I was homeschooled and was able to develop the basis to my faith, because I can guarantee you that the world (even in college) is just waiting for us to get complacent.
The first revelation was that college is boring. I guess I hit campus at an "off" time, but there was still very little activity going on. I had fun in the library for a couple of hours, but it was a weird thing afterward. We sat around. A lot. We sat until 2:00 in the morning. For no reason in particular. We didn't really even talk about anything important. It was the longest period of doing absolutely nothing that I can remember. I used this opportunity to observe college students in their "natural habitat" but I really can't imagine doing that all year. For one thing - I'd be really tired.
The second revelation is that college will be hard. The proliferation of cussing, sexual references, and alcohol was astounding … even from several students who told me they were Christians and "led worship." I came away from campus feeling dirty on the inside simply from being around all the filth constantly being thrown around me. Unless a Christian student finds a Christian niche in which to fellowship and draw strength from other Christians and God, I can understand why so many young Christians walk out of the faith – sheer attrition.
My final and most startling revelation was that homeschoolers look different. That's right. My friends look different. College students do not. All the girls had the same make-up, most had the same hairdo, and the same type of clothing. I had trouble telling them apart. The guys weren't much better. There were three basic sub-types: the nerd, the jock, and the skater. Usually these cliques are entertaining attempts at humor, but at Linfield … they are real. The guys were either really big and buff with shaved hair, small and greasy with glasses, or loose with long hair. I'm sure I'm exaggerating to some extent, but I honestly mistook several people I met for other – completely different – people that I had met previously that day. I guess in college one is free to be an individual, and as individuals, they choose to conform.
In conclusion, this trip was really eye-opening. I definitely intend to put a lot of effort into my time at college because it is directly proportional to what you get out of the college experience. When I think of my brief overnight stay, I shake my head and marvel ... but such is life. I'm just glad that I was homeschooled and was able to develop the basis to my faith, because I can guarantee you that the world (even in college) is just waiting for us to get complacent.
posted by Matt Pitchford at 21:44
3 Comments:
Yeah, the whole "conforming to individuality" thing never really appealed to me... Which may or may not be why I (according to you) am among those who actually look different. Interesting.
Nate, you definitely qualify for the "look different" category. I'm just waiting for you to braid your beard.
-Matt
Stupid thing won't grow long enough, and the Air Force doesn't take too kindly to that sort of thing either. So I suppose it will have to wait 'till I'm older. Of course, then I'll need a Patriarch-type beard. :-D
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