Focus Laser

Focusing on Laser

          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 willing they are 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 things they need like school books, family 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 to continue to get your bachelor's degree?"  There are a few who get lost in the process while attending school if they don't take the time to consider certain things. Usually, the first 2 years of college could be critical for some students.  It may affect their future if they lose track of what they are doing.   Although, 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.  Even if the student obtained a degree, they can still be subjected to the different categories.  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 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.  Another reason for the visitor to attend Chabot is out of convenience.  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, it is very convenient for them.  The visitor also has no direction 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 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 opt to go, it was for other reasons than academically. 

        The second category is the wanderers.  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 to lightly, they can cause more damage to their education.   As a consequence, it can 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 aimless 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 they may take classes to what their current interest but it can set them back especially if they change majors frequently.  Going to college is not easy.  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 life.  He continuously seeks more out of life, rather than, the ordinary privileged man 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.  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 lasers.  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.   

        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 electrical gadgets.  Chris was alone and "Into the Wild", his ultimate happiness.