A College Education: Overrated or Invaluable? Essay -- Higher Educatio

Since the beginning of the 20th Century, college education has been available for everyone and anyone who is willing to develop their knowledge regarding a specific professional field. Currently in the United States, the percentage of high school graduates going to college has increased considerably: 68 percent in 2011 compared to 49 percent in 1940 (Menand, 2) and the record high set in 2009 with 70 percent of total high school graduates enrolled in college ("Bureau of Labor Statistics"). Notwithstanding, it has come to the attention of many that the college tuition and fees have been increasing at an accelerated rate. According to The New York Times, college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007 (Lewin, 1). This sumptuous rise inhibits many citizens from obtaining a higher education; furthermore, creating the debate whether college education is overrated or if it is a valuable professional and educational experience. Despite the rising prices, I believe that the college experience provides the necessary tools to develop an individual’s set of skills that will furthermore lead them to a successful career. Going back to the beginning of the century, one is able to witness that most people wished to attend Ivy League universities like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Standford, etc. Over the years with the development of the S.A.T.’s and other standardized examinations, there was a way to separate the most intelligent high school graduates from the less prepared. Moreover, this allowed public and state colleges to be more accommodating towards other sectors of the population. The main problem is that most students are more attracted to the social aspects of college rather than the academic ones. Higher education is ab... ...ww.bls.gov/news.release/hsgec.nr0.htm>. ("Bureau of Labor Statistics") Lewin, Tamar, . "College May Become Unaffordable for Most in U.S.." New York Times. N.p., 2008. Web. 3 Apr 2012. . (Lewin, Tamar) Menand, Louis, . "A CRITIC AT LARGE Live and Learn Why we have college.." The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 2011. Web. 3 Apr 2012. . (Menand, Louis) Pappano, L.. "The Master’s as the New Bachelor’s." New york times. N.p., 2011. Web. 6 Apr 2012. . "Why College Students Stop Short of a Degree." Reuters. N.p., 2012. Web. 6 Apr 2012. .

Disc Platinum Rule Behavioral Style Assessment

Uncovering an individual’s personality and behavioral traits is one of the most important realizations in every person’s life that one must achieve. In addition, it is one of the determinants of a person’s success. This is because self-awareness allows individuals to obtain an understanding of their traits and characteristics, as well as their strengths and weaknesses, as based on personal judgments and other people’s perceptions. Self-awareness is also a tool in living a productive and fruitful way of life. There are ways to gauge and categorize behavior, with man-made tools such as personality tests, direct inquiry from other people, etc.The DISC Platinum Rule Behavioral Style Assessment is a kind of test in determining an individual’s behavioral style based on distinct behavioral categories – secondary behavioral styles included – thus, assisting individuals to focus on attaining their goals and objectives through behavior analysis and introspection. The DISC Platinum Rule documents four primary behavioral styles. Among the four behavioral styles, the result of the assessment labeled my personality predominantly belonging to the Interactive Style.Individuals under this category are interactive and dynamic, valuing attention and admiration, as well as social relationships, more than the other primary behavioral styles. If Dominant Style is controlling, the Steady Style is relaxed, and the Cautious Style is analytical, the Interactive Style is grounded on optimism and enthusiasm. Moreover, the Interactive Style values approval and commendation coming from others, rather than themselves, because of their high involvement and reliance to people. This social dependency is observable in their desire for companionship, and on the contrary, in their disliking of being alone.This style’s eagerness is manifested on the individual’s ability to communicate and build good relationships with other people, and in the process persuade other people into adhering to certain personal principles and ideologies. This particular characteristic is most important in accomplishing goals, as establishing solid relationships with other people might come in handy, when the process of achieving objectives requires help from them. Individuals under the Interactive Style easily persuade other people to look forward in the same direction. Persuasiveness, as aforementioned is one of the strengths of the interactive style.Strong points also include being cheery and confident, well-motivated, and passionate. These attributes should be developed and sustained within individuals characterizing these features for these will aid them in their industry, as well as day-to-day activities or responsibilities, and eventually lead to the realization of their life goals and objectives. On the other hand, overriding weak points of the interactive style include absentmindedness and negligence, being disorderly and unsyst ematic, lack of focus, and the tendency to make a mountain out of a molehill. Exaggeration is mainly caused by their desire to gain attention and approval.The interactive style’s lack of focus on important facts and details, including other behavioral flaws, may impede their achievement of their goals if this kind of attitude is not resolved. Therefore, the interactive style must learn to concentrate on obtaining the main facts and details that are highly significant in all tasks and responsibilities, keep track of time and the requirements needed to accomplish these tasks, and perhaps create a timetable or a schedule and a to-do list, for a more systematic and competent means of carrying out responsibilities. This also ensures that no detail Is left out or neglected in the process.Setting priorities and limitations is also important in order to maintain balance in all aspects of the individual’s life. For instance, lessening social interaction and dependency is a must in order to meet other obligations. The Interactive Style is further divided into four different sub styles: the socializer, the helper, the impresser, and the enthusiast. Individuals who will take the Platinum Rule Assessment will be categorized under the dominant behavioral styles, however, the sub styles will determine which personality or behavioral pattern related to the dominant style best characterizes people.For instance, the assessment labeled my personality as the impresser. The impresser is success-oriented; however, it is not simply a goal to be achieved. Impressers want to accomplish their objectives ingeniously, leading them to look for ways or opportunities of handling things in the most excellent means possible. Personally, I believe this kind of attitude will lead to many disappointments, as setting high standards, most especially in goal setting, will harbor resentments and frustrations if expectations are not met.With the result of the assessment in mind, the har d-working attitude of the impresser might be instrumental in avoiding hurdles along the way. In addition, impressers still value social order and relationships as they are cautious enough to avoid stepping on other people’s toes while on the process of walking toward their roads to success. In order to make the most out of the impresser’s skills and strengths, one must be able to accept weaknesses, such as impatience, etc., and make way for changes that must be done in order to become efficient and constructive. Impressers must be able to focus on the prerequisites of goal-achievement, such as the overall plan including the time-frame, resources, etc. Moreover, impressers should learn to take things one at a time, especially in tasks and responsibilities, in order to ensure efficiency and success. Moreover, impatience and stress is easier to manage by taking a breather and just learning to sit down and relax at times.

Oppression Essay - 1908 Words

Oppression signifies an authority over another group, disengaging that particular group from the rest of society. â€Å"The term oppression encapsulates the fusion of institutional and systemic discrimination, personal bias, bigotry, and social prejudice in a complex web of relationships and structures that shade most aspects of life in our society† (Bell, 1997). In one way or another every individual experiences some form of oppression, whether it be through race, sex, gender, religion, age, wealth and/or sexual orientation. These cultural minorities experience inequality where a dominant culture casts its authority and power through exercises of unjust and cruel methods; these methods have been experienced through the Women’s Movement, the†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"A great achievement of women’s movements worldwide has been their success in ‘breaking the silence’ about male violence against women in intimate relationships† (Vickers , 2002). Having broken the silence of violence it has also broken the silence of oppression. The ongoing battle(s) of women’s rights suggests that the silence of oppression is of the past and the future holds equality for all alike. â€Å"†¦power is the capacity to terrorize, to use self and strength to inculcate fear, fear in a whole class of persons† (Dworkin, 1981). Male dominance exhibits and practices fear toward those of different classes, its use is to gain power to which control is given. â€Å"In the male system, sex is the penis, the penis is sexual power, its use in fucking is manhood† (Dworkin, 1981). The male mind indicates that without a penis an authority of power is dismissed and overlooked. Unfortunate for society today male hierarchy continues to be the dominant practice and the penis is a visual and vital form of power. â€Å"Male sexual power is the substance of culture† (Dworkin, 1981). Although women have come a long way their o ppression and limited amount of power in society has yet to be broken and adjusted because of this visual of the male penis extracting power in society. With the Women’s Movement challenging women’s rights it did however omit African American women from the process. The Civil RightsShow MoreRelatedThe Oppression Of Women1923 Words   |  8 Pages(Beauvoir 201). In addition, men’s domination over women, places women in a state of dependence. Women are largely reliant on men for economic necessities and security. However, women’s reliance on men, leaves them vulnerable to male’s oppression on them. Male oppression places a significant burden on women yet, men do not need to take responsibility or place any concern to the fact of how oppressive their superiority is on women because it is â€Å"intended by nature† (Beauvoir 161). Nature endows men withRead MoreOppression Of Women764 Words   |  4 PagesOppression of Women Oppression is when a person is controlled or subjected to unfair treatment by a person or group who they believe have authority. Those who are the oppressors have privilege and uses is to influence to keep themselves as dominant at any necessary cost. The oppressed groups are at disadvantage since they are deprived of benefits and rights. A successful life is not achieved by many. Women are oppressed every day in their household, because their race, religion, sexual preferenceRead MoreInternalized Oppression Reflection1141 Words   |  5 PagesInternalized Oppression Since I was a child, I always knew about social class, especially when my mother would use food stamps to purchase food at the store and the dirty looks we would get. Reflecting on my background and how I have put myself down over the year because I thought I was low class or didn t make enough money to go to certain restaurants really is something eye opening. I would oppress myself in so many ways, it was unbelievable, and it just isn t a problem that I alone am sufferingRead MoreOppression Of The United States868 Words   |  4 Pages In this course we learned about many different types of oppression, from the time America was first â€Å"discovered† and the discoverers began oppressing the Indians, to slavery, to the oppression of the mentally handicapped, all the way to more â€Å"modern† times in schools were students are being oppressed. When the Europeans and Spaniards first â€Å"discovered† North America all was well. The Indians at first were truly intrigued with the white man as the brought all sorts of new stuff to trade. MatterRead MoreThe Causes And Traits Of Oppression1614 Words   |  7 Pagesand traits of oppression in America. Dynamics such as the social, historical, and psychological systems that serve as vessels of oppression will be addressed. Using academic research, the goal for this essay will be to discuss the characteristics of oppression and how those characteristics are connected to its origin. The research will develop major themes that will serve to define agents, including classism, discrimination, and the intersectionality of different types of oppression. Discussions onRead MoreDealing with Oppression in Life856 Words   |  3 PagesOppression is a matter that many people have to face daily while others are unaware of its existence. The definition of oppression by the Webster Merr iam dictionary is the unjust or cruel act of authority or power. In other works is the unjustified mistreatment of a group of people by the majority in society. This is the type of treatment that many people faced when discriminated, many times the person is exposed to cruel treatment and abused based on their color, nationality, gender orientationRead MoreThe Interpretation Of Oppression By Marilyn Frye1592 Words   |  7 PagesThe Interpretation of Oppression Women and men are born equal. However, females are receiving unequal judgement and unfair treatment in the society, and thus Marilyn Frye brings up the notion of â€Å"oppression†, claiming that women are oppressed. Throughout the essay, I will first give the definition of Frye’s oppression and then list 5 critical qualifications to be considered oppressed. After that, I will explain my appreciation on Frye’s perspective on elaborating oppression using the â€Å"bird cage†Read MoreAnalysis Of The Article Simultaneity Of Oppression 1364 Words   |  6 PagesMidterm Response Discuss and critically analyze the â€Å"simultaneity of oppression† if one group is oppressed, can anybody be free? In the schematic hierarchy of race and sex, is the dominant group â€Å"free,† at the expense of the oppressed groups, or unfree, even if materially empowered? Does it make sense to argue that â€Å"white women† are freer, or less free, than â€Å"black men†? The concept of the â€Å"simultaneity of oppression† is relatively unknown, even within today’s modern society. While there are surelyRead MoreSandra Bartky On Psychological Oppression1575 Words   |  7 Pagesindividuals and society. However, they have failed to eliminate the barriers individuals and groups face even today. By oppression, I mean, a set of forces and obstacles that are systematically related to one another, that work to restrict and restraint, and as a result prevent one’s mobility (Frye 85). One theorist, Sandra Bartky, offered her ideas in On Psychological Oppression. She argued that one can be psychologically oppressed by their thoughts and lack of self-esteem due to institutionalizedRead MoreRacial Oppression And Racial Discrimination997 Words   |  4 Pagesto ignore it. Racial oppression is a direct consequence of a superior race. Racial oppression is the act of power that causes the state of being to feel heavily exploited. There are two types of racial oppression that are not commonly well known of, institutionalized and internalized. Institutionalized oppression is expressed when a group of people based on their race has a different chance of obtaining goods, services, and societal opportunities. Internalized racial oppression is multi-situational