At the risk of blowing up this blog, with one of the more important Things the Professor Cannot Actually Say, I will note, simultaneously gently and firmly, that higher education is presently a privilege. That’s a weighted word right now, loaded with potential landmines, in the midst of considerable societal discord. I employ it intentionally—to name the unfortunate reality that holding social and economic advantages currently contributes to one’s ability to obtain a university education in the United States, as well as to invoke the more general definition of the word, involving a “unique opportunity.” A study released in 2010 by Harvard University and the Asian Development Bank noted that slightly less than 7% of the entire world population had a college degree. To put it more bluntly, if you are reading this blog, globally speaking, you are currently one of the privileged few to consider or to attend university— even, and especially, if that constitutes a personal financial stretch and sacrifice on your part, or you experience a dearth of privilege in other realms.
As a nation, we have unquestionably made significant strides, in terms of expanding opportunities for people to enter academia. For centuries, for example, women and BIPOC have been completely denied access to higher education, so if you fit that category and are looking into or are engaged in studying now, that’s a huge deal. Take a moment to celebrate that— even as you rightly name the inhibitions that continue to make pursuing a degree difficult for others. Notwithstanding such progress, that aforementioned 2010 study noted that only 28% of U.S. residents reported holding a bachelor’s degree or higher; by 2018, research indicated that the numbers had inched upwards to 35%, or roughly 1 in 3 people. If you are here, once again, please recognize that you remain one of the privileged few.
As I suggested, social stratification and issues of significant injustice result in this relatively small percentage of the United States population being able to enjoy obtaining a college degree, at present. An entire series of blog posts might well be dedicated to a critical consideration of how to expand access to higher education, in order to draw the circle wider in the future. Certainly it would be worth our time and attention to explore how many of our peer nations in the world have deemed higher education to be a right, rather than a privilege, and have chosen to fund it accordingly. For the sake of this more introductory post, I will simply acknowledge the limited actuality of where we are today, so as to highlight the undeniable fact that venturing an academic journey is no mean feat.
So, for the sake of all that is good, Dear Reader, please determine to make the most of this opportunity. As best you can, in the midst of a world tilted sideways. In a way that honors the distinctiveness of this precious gift.
During a pandemic, I know full well that attending school is incredibly challenging. For my own part, I confess that I have to work up the energy to do many of the things in my life that I easily enjoyed before. As my daughter likes to say, at this historical moment, I possess a finite collection of “spoons” (units of stamina to distribute to tasks throughout my day). So I get that the oomph required to fulfill your academic requirements may be in short supply for you. I dare say that’s par for the course, right now, and please know that I believe in being mindful of what you can reasonably manage, as you pursue your education. (See my previous post, Musings on Study-Work Balance, for further thoughts on self care strategies.)
That shared, one way that I endeavor to ensure that I maintain sufficient cutlery in my drawer, is for me to give attention to how I frame the task before me— as an opportunity. How I regard, think about, and discuss what I am doing matters. It’s a basic mental move that harkens back to the old adage about the power of positive thinking, a concept that has plenty of scientific study to support the basic premise, that our attitude makes a difference. Instead of saying to myself, “I have to go to class,” or “I have do my homework…blargh,” I re-frame the situation. Highlighting the benefits to me. So in my case, since I’ve been taking online art classes at the local college to raise my spirits during “quarantine,” I remind myself that “I get to make art now. I mean, I love to make art… so, how cool is that?” On pre-COVID days, I might not have needed to recall that I enjoy being creative, but just now, that helps. The shift in internal language enables me to re-orient my perspective and my approach to getting my homework done.
And broadly speaking, to summarize this post, remember:
You get to go to college! You are one of the few folks on the entire planet with this chance. How amazing is that?
If you decide to cherish this opportunity, and not simply float along or jump through the hoops for a degree, how might that alter your approach to your schooling? How would you act? My hope is that you have chosen to read this blog because you desire to embrace learning to the fullest. To revel in the process, even when it’s tremendously hard. If, indeed, you are here because you are intentionally choosing to cultivate a rich educational experience for yourself, then know that, in return, I am here supporting and rooting for you!
Things the Professor Cannot Actually Say 