Final Essay

Essay #4

                      A young man with the upbringing from a privileged family and decides to embark on an epic journey to follow his passion.      Before going on his journey, his parents were able to convince him to go to college when previously he had no intentions on continuing his education after high school.  He sacrificed and attended college to appease his parents from nagging about a college education.  After  graduation,  he was disgruntled with the materialistic lifestyle of a privileged society; as a result, he drastically leaves his old life and takes on a new identity.  This is the beginning of his biggest adventure; as a result, he adopts a simplistic lifestyle where he travels alone to follow his passion.  The author, Jon Krakuaer, who wrote Into the Wild tracks the life of Chris McCandless through his journey from on the road,; in addition, the magic bus in Alaska where he experience the rough living of being into the wild.  What is the connection between Chris McCandless and the issues of a college student?  There are students who have issues in getting a college education; at the same time, making it difficult for them to focus and find their passion to be successful in life.

              First time students have no idea of what to expect in their first year at a community college. These students in college fall into certain categories that describe their academic focus, student skills and their pathway.  In addition, the student must also look at "what they think about being successful in college?"  If these students have more information on how they can survive college, they have a better chance in achieving their goals.  There are six categories:  visitor, wanderers, explorers, seekers, dreamers and last is lasers.  Each category represents their current state; however, it can change at any given time but it depends on the student and if they are willing to make those changes.  Another attribute to these categories would be their lifestyle outside of college.  Mixing school and work can be exhausting.  Unfortunately, some students need to work in order to take care of the things they need like school books, family expenses and paying bills.  The question a person should ask themselves are "What are your goals for college?  Are you planning to transfer to a University and continue to get a bachelor's degree?"  There are a few who get lost in the process while attending school especially if they don't take the time to consider certain things. Usually, the first 2 years of college is extremely critical for most students.  It may affect their future if they lose track of what they are doing.   Although, in some cases are not as serious as others but it is good to be vigilant.  However, these categories can also be applied to life outside of college.  This could also help them and be aware of what they are planning to do.   In the same way,  if the student knows what category they fall into; for instances, they could make changes academically and get guidance to improve their current status; that is, if they were not doing well in school.  A student could look at these categories as a status guide for college and after college.   There are a variety of solutions in handling student issues.  Here we can take a closer look at these categories and how it applies to our status in school and life after school.  

            The first category is called the visitor.  The visitor student usually goes to a particular community college for the reasons other than academic.  Their student skills and pathway are the same, "They don't have much of idea of what their goals are and what to do."   Some of their reasons for going to Chabot would be out of convenience and or they know someone that previously went there.  Specifically, a parent who went there in the past or an older brother and sister.  The students are more familiar with campus because they have been there before with either a family member or friends.  When a student lives fairly close to Chabot, it is definitely convenient.  The distance is relatively close to where they live is one of the basis for going to Chabot College.  The student does not have to worry about driving too far to get to school, they could walk, or they would ride a bike or skate board to school.  Whatever their choice in getting to school; fact of the matter, it's convenient.  The visitor also has no direction in what they want to do in school.   "Billie suggested that he needed a college degree to attain a fulfilling career (Krakauer, pp. 114)."  As a result, they may waste a lot of time taking classes they do not need or not taking the right classes.  "Time is money, Time is gold", meaning people waste so much time and it cost money to go to school and we should value the time as if were gold.  By having no direction and if their primary reasons for going to school is not academic, it can cause them wasting time that they cannot get back.  This is a good time to do a self-evaluation on what they want to achieve.  "But they got on his case about going to college; and whatever they said to him, it have worked.  Because he ended up going to Emory, even though he thought it was pointless, a waste of time and money (Krakauer, pp. 114)."  Maybe school is not for them.  It can also be that they are not ready to devote time and discipline which is needed for school.  Either way, they have to make a decision relatively soon.  After graduating high school at Woodson, Chris had no intentions in going to college.  Although he finally decided to go to college, it was for other reasons than academically.  The second category is the wanderer.  The wander's academic focus, student skills and pathway are similar to the visitor.  They have no idea as to what they want.  This could potentially be good or bad.  For instance, they should go the orientation and seek advice from a guidance counselor.  If they take it too lightly, they can cause more damage to their education.   As a consequence,  student can cause their grade to suffer or they can lose their financial aid or placed on academic probation.  The wander is exactly what it means "aimless or the act of wandering".  This relates to Chris after graduating college.  Chris had no idea what he wanted to do for a career.  Instead he decided to go on his epic journey to travel by wandering around the United States and later to Alaska.  "Careers were demeaning "twentieth-century inventions," more of a liability than an asset, and that he would do fine without one, thank you (Krakauer, pp. 114)."  This is another category to be caution about and needs attention.  Before the damage is done, take the time to go into the counseling office and speak with a counselor.  The student could talk to them about any concerns they have or help them figure out what they really want to do.  There is a possibility that they would rather go to a vocational school as oppose to a community college.  Going to see a counselor is the first important step to take when going to college.  Whether a community college is right for them or not, the wander has to acknowledge that they cannot wander aimlessly and it is imperative to make a decision on what they want to do for their future.   The third category is the explorer.  The explorer is willing to try things but they don't have much of an idea as to what they want to do.   The pathway of an explorer is that they may take classes to what their current interest but it can set them back especially if they change majors more than once or twice.  Going to college is not easy task.  It requires more than just "going to school". For that fact, many students are undecided about what career they want to do.  "If you really want to make a difference in the world, if you really want to help people who are less fortunate, get yourself some leverage first.  Go to college, get a law degree, and then you'll be able to have a real impact (Krakauer, pp. 114).  As for Chris, he continued to take classes because it was expected by his parents that he finish school.  Similarly, an explorer will try and take classes of interest but it can hold them back because their interest changes.  Now they are taking more classes for a different major.   The fourth category is the seeker.  The seeker is also willing to try things like the explorer.  Yet, they have a good impression of college culture.  Their pathway is getting and taking their general education classes under control.  The seeker is always looking for new things.  They have a good sense how college life plays and organizing their classes getting their general education completed.  "He didn't get into trouble, he was a high achiever, he did what he was supposed to (Krakauer, pp. 114)."  Chris wanted to do well in everything he did or came across.  He was seeking adventurer during high school, college and after college.  Being spontaneous was his jolt in finding adventure in his life.  He continuously seeks more out of life, rather than, the ordinary privileged lifestyle.   A seeker in college is starting to get their college life on track.  They are beginning to take their life more seriously than before.  The fifth category is a dreamer.  A dreamer has a good idea about what they want to do, although, they could dream about many things and become undecided on their path.  A dreamer usually does not have a structured plan as to how to begin their dream.  Sometimes it can cause confusion.  They are trying to put the pieces together to make their dream into a reality.  Once they have their dream in mind, they begin to pursue it if they seek the guidance from a counselor and plan accordingly.  They have a better chance in fulfilling their dream with a step-by-step plan.  It's okay to be a dreamer but a dreamer needs the extra push in the direction they need to go.  In contrast, Chris McCandless was also a dreamer.  He dreamed of going to Alaska as the great Alaskan odyssey.  Despite the fact, he traveled on foot with no direction on where he was going next, he still pursued the Alaskan adventure.  For example, Chris would talk extensively about Alaska and dreamed of living off the land and gathered berries but he was clueless about the experience he needed in order to live that harsh environment.  "He could be alone without being lonely (Krakauer, pp. 107)."  It didn't bother Chris to travel alone most of the time.  He was happy with only what he had and that was a few belonging and a backpack.  That was part of his dream to travel.  "He could go off and entertain himself for hours (Krakauer, pp. 107)."  This what he did when Chris disappeared on his epic journey to seek adventure as he walk on the road alone.  The last category is the laser.  The academic focus and their student skills are the same for the laser.  They have a good idea of what they want to do and their pathway is clear and strong.  The lasers are serious and very focus in college.  The know what to do and how they can achieve their goal.  They do not waste their time, instead, they will spend time to study.  They have become a disciplined individual, as a result, their goal is at a hands reach from achieving.  "As they watched him stride across the stage and take his diploma, he was grinning from ear to ear (Krakauer, pp. 125)."  The last few years of college, Chris was a laser.  He dedicated his time and efforts to finish.  He mentioned to his parents that his grades are good enough to get into Harvard Law School.  However, after graduating his focus was on his dream of living free from this privileged world of a money hungry society.  "Shortly thereafter, he donated the balance of his bank account to OXFAM, loaded up his car, and vanished from their lives (Krakauer, pp. 125)."  He now begins his ultimate journey to Alaska.  During his travel, Chris has met many interesting people where he made an impression on them.  They knew him as Alexander Supertramp.  A young man who dreamed of living a life in Alaska.  Alaska is where he found peace and the final resting area for his soul.    

              One of my goals in life that has been a continuous battle is to be able to go to college and finish with a degree.  Since I got pregnant at an early age, I wanted to prove to myself that I could accomplish something in life.  It has not been an easy road for me; as a result, it has taken much longer time than I anticipated.  As a single mother; for instance, working, going to school, and taking care of a baby is a lot to juggle.  I'm still on that journey; by the same token, I am getting closer and closer to achieving my goal. It's good to be able to identify what kind of student you are.  Getting this type of feedback may help students find their passion or at least assist them to become more focused in school.  Having  financial aid while attending college; at the same time, it can also help the student focus better without being stressed about school.  My first issue was not having enough focus and discipline when I started college.  I would take classes and pass them but I really did not have a plan or direction on what I was doing.  The category I fell into was a wanderer and explorer.  I did not realize it at the time; hence, not knowing only extended being clueless.  I figure I'll take these classes and it should apply to whatever degree I was thinking of getting.  I was a single mother and worked a full time at a job that did not pay very much. Regardless of how my home life was like, I still lacked focus and discipline.  It was too easy to make excuses to why I stopped going to school.  Excuses like not having enough time to study, allowing emotional problems consume my judgment, or the inability to afford tuition and books for class.  So much time had passed and my goals of getting a degree became stagnant.  Within the past seven years I have been going to school off and on.  I finally made a conscious decision to go back full time.  The difference now I know what classes to take.   Under those conditions, I enrolled for the spring, summer and fall semester without taking any breaks in between.  While I'm a full time student, I also opt to not get a job while going to school.     I could concentrate on my studies and fully focus in school. I am now at the beginning of the laser category.   When I first started college, I wish I had the knowledge and focus like I have now.  It does make a difference, with a little more sacrifice , I know I'm getting closer to getting my AA degree and soon a bachelor's degree .   The second issue I have was financially.  I always struggled with not having enough money to pay for my classes yet alone books.  I would do odd job to supplement my income so I can attend class.  I would get discourage when I am unable to enroll in school; therefore, I knew it would only take me longer to finish.  I did not have the knowledge about getting a BOG waiver; moreover, getting financial aid.  If I knew about it, I would of applied for the waiver and financial aid; furthermore, I would have been able to afford going to school.  Food was another issue.  All the money I earned went to rent and bills.  It sad to say that I did not have money to buy food.  I could easily go without food the whole day until I got to my parents house to eat.  This was not because I wanted to lose weight.  Fact of the  matter, I did not have any cash to buy food.  Basically I would starve the whole time I was there at work.  Then after work, I would drive to school.  I still couldn't afford to buy a candy bar or a meal to eat.  It was unfortunate to not know about food stamps, Cal Works  or general assistance.  Otherwise, it would have been a lot easier to survive.   I rented my own apartment but all the money I earned immediately went to bills.  The father of my son did not give me child support.  It's embarrassing to go grocery shopping at my parents house because I couldn't afford to buy anything at grocery store.  My weight dropped down as low as 87 lbs.  The one thing I made sure of was that my son always had food to eat, even it means for me to sacrifice and not eat. It's a hard struggle but I survived.  Chris McCandless was focused and finished his college education.  He had the privilege of having his college paid.  Although, going to college was more for his parents than himself.  He did not have the stress or the burden as I did.  In high school, Chris mentioned to parents that he did not have any plans to go to college.  They were annoyed and was very upset with his decision.  After he got back from his first road excursion during the summer, Chris surprised his mom and dad that he agreed to go to Emory University in Atlanta.  "Somebody needed to convince him to get an education and a job and make something of his life  (Krakauer, pp51)."  Getting an education was not important to Chris.  Although he was very bright, he enjoy reading his favorite books more than wanting a college education.  Going to college was strictly to appease his parents.  "Look Mr. Franz," "you don't need to worry about me.  I have a college education.  I'm not destitute (Krakauer, pp.51)."  Chris McCandless had a very privileged lifestyle.  He dedicated his time and efforts to finish his education.  He mentioned to his parents that his grades are good enough to get into Harvard Law School.  However, after graduating his focus was on his dream of living free from this privileged world of a money hungry society.  "Shortly thereafter, he donated the balance of his bank account to OXFAM, loaded up his car, and vanished from their lives (Krakauer, pp. 125)."  He now begins his ultimate journey into the great Alaskan odyssey where he had no contact with the outside world.  Finally, it was just him, the animals that roam the land and the plants around.  Nature in the raw form and without corruption from society.  He was at peace.  This was his passion.       

             There are students who have issues in getting a college education; at the same time, making it difficult for them to focus and find their passion to be successful in life.    Passion is a feeling that you feel strongly about.  Literally a person could spend copious amount of time doing a task and without realizing how much time has gone by.  It doesn't feel like you are working.  It's the inner force that motivates you to keep going.  In the passion project, it describes how students are undecided in what they want to do as far as careers.  Sometimes their parents want them to do what they feel they should do in a career. These youths should tap into what drives them to have passion.  To have that free will and choice to "Do what they feel passionate about doing in their life or career without the opinion of others.  There are too many situations where the children were told by their parents to study  hard in school; for example, to become a nurse, lawyer, engineer etc...  As a result, they settle for what their parents wanted them to be instead of doing what they really wanted to do.   "At long last he was unencumbered, emancipated from the stifling world of his parents and peers, a world of abstraction and security and material excess, a world in which he felt grievously cut off from the raw throb of existence (Krakauer, pp. 22)."   Chris McCandless passion was to be free from the privileges of society.  To demonstrate his simple life he carried no luxuries, freedom from complexities such as electronic devices and materialistic items.  For two long years, Chris journeyed on foot to wherever the road took him.  It was a journey to fit his new lifestyle. "He intended to invent an utterly new life for himself, one in which he would be free to wallow in unfiltered experience (Krakauer, pp. 22)."  It was the rebirth of his new identity, Alexander Super tramp.  Chris did not let others persuade him to do what they wanted him to do.  "If you attempted to talk him out of something, he wouldn't argue.  He'd just nod politely and then do exactly what he wanted (Krakauer, pp. 119)." He stayed away from the privileges of society.  Chris pursued his passion by living simple and living off the land and into the wild.  

            How it relates to the student with the red shoes?  The student is named Jeff Bliss.    He was irritated when he received a packet from the teacher; hence,  he decided to question her style of teaching.  Students voiced their thoughts about what's passion means to them.   Jeff was very direct, sincere and extremely passionate about what he was saying.  There was a point in time when a student talks about a teacher's style of teaching and how it does effect the students around.  You can tell the difference if the teacher feels very strongly about what they are teaching.  In addition, student also know when a teacher does not take their job seriously.  In this case, it is very obvious that she was not going to teach the class.  As can be seen, the teacher's demeanor was lazy and had no problems in giving a packet for the student's to do.   The female teacher, a good example of how some teachers either lose their passion to education the future generation of children.  It's disturbing to see how they don't care about teaching and basically letting time pass by until they receive their next paycheck.  It takes a lot of guts for a student to stand up, speak their mind and let them know how they feel about the situation.  In this case, it was education.  The red shoe student did not hold anything back and let the teacher know that giving a packet to students is not going to keep them interested in wanting to learn.  The TRUTH stands loud and the teacher knows that he was right.  That is why she told him to "get out"!  There are good apples and bad apples in every bunch.  There are good and bad teachers too but it does make a difference when a teacher feels passionate about what he or she is teaching.  It automatically shows and students become more responsive and they strive to get a better grade in class.  

          How does one consider them self to be successful in life?  What is the meaning of success or having a successful life?  This are my thoughts on what success is; at the same rate,  success is something a person acquires on how well they lived their life.  The first measurement of success is a person's career.   Their job title will determine the salary.   People connect success with how much a person earns.  The higher the salary the more successful he becomes in his career.  A person's career plays an important part in surviving in society.  In order to survive in this world today, one must have a job to support them self/and or support a family.  Furthermore, an increase in pay rate will give more of an advantage in buying a home, or have insurance (health, auto, home), and provide food for their family.  To get any  assistance from the government is considered and classified as low income families .  You could visualize a person with a good career, plus more income, equals better support for the family.  Society considers the family to be successful.  They are completely independent and " fully sufficient on their own."  Families that are dysfunctional  are usually low income therefore; poor  and receives government assistant.   On the same token, people judge others for the things they have and don't have.  It does look like the person is materialistic.   For example; when a person drives a car like a BMW or a Porsche, people will show more respect or treat them better than a person driving a Ford Pinto.  Those people want to improve their status and willing to acquire better cars and bigger houses.  The more expensive a vehicle cost the higher quality and performance it possesses.  "Oh, the Johnson's just bought a new Jaguar XJ12, they must be earning a good income or they must be doing well?" It's very superficial; consequently,  society have been known to "Judge a book by its cover" and attribute it to success.  In conclusion, when students are able to get financial aid, it helps them to concentrate; certainly,  focused more on their education.  Furthermore, it makes it easier for them to explore and maybe find their passion in life where they can be successful without the constraints of others telling them what to do.  What prevents me from being  able to succeed in having success is "Me".  It's up to me to have a positive attitude, to have fortitude and the passion that drives me to push harder to obtain my goals.  There are obstacles that might interfere during this process like health, death in the family or financial issues could prevent my success.  How I choose to handle problems that arise in my life is an important factor?  If I'm not careful, I could lose focus and it can delay or hinder me from moving forward.  The key is to not lose focus.  In terms of issues that come into play in life, I must have fortitude.  Fortitude is having the ability to endure. It will give me the strength to continue.   Another key factor in connection with fortitude is having a positive attitude.  The very second I doubt myself would be devastating.  Having a positive attitude and surrounding myself with positive people will strengthen my ability to endure.  The last ingredient in achieving success is "passion".  Passion is the fire inside my soul.  Passion automatically paves the path of having a positive attitude that drives me to have fortitude.  It is all linked together and I cannot succeed if one of the ingredients are missing.  This is how I visualize in obtaining success in anything I do in life.  In the book, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless was successful in leaving his old life of a young privileged man of materialistic excess.  "At long last he was unencumbered, emancipated from the stifling world of his parents and peers, a world of abstraction and security and material excess, a world in which he felt grievously cut off from the raw throb of existence (Krakauer, pp. 22)."  Once Chris graduated from college, he methodically planned his departure of his old life into the new life where his great Alaskan odyssey" begins.  He ventured alone on the road as a leather tramp.  After two long years he reached his final destination, Stampede Trail, Alaska.   It was on the Magic Bus #142 that led to his demise, Chris fulfilled his goals by traveling on foot with only the bare essentials he carried in his backpack.  "The whole idea was to lose our bearings, to push ourselves into the unspoken territory (Krakauer, pp. 112)."  His success was based on living off the land, hunting and gathering berries.  No phones, no T.V.'s or any electronics.  Chris was alone and "Into the Wild", his absolute happiness.    

             In closing, first time students should go see a counselor and have an educational plan; at the same time, he can also inquire about financial aid.  College students should not have to worry or feel the financial constraints that can cause undue stress.  Not everybody is going to be as fortunate to receive a college fund like Chris McCandless; at any rate, students can apply for Pell grants and scholarships to help them fund their education.  In the meantime, they can concentrate and focus on their education where they can devote more time in learning about them self and find what's their passion.  Their success  would be reaching that plateau that drove them there from their passion.  As Chris McCandless fulfilled his passion by living the last few years of his life in living in simplicity.  Adventure was every sunrise and night fall.  Everyday he was completely happy and away from the privileged society he once known and left.  He died carelessly but he died happy knowing what he had successfully accomplished.