How Americans Perceive College

Since returning to my country of origin in the United States, I discovered any interesting truth. People suddenly understand me. It's not because I came from Pakistan (gosh no!). It's not because I'm suddenly a better speaker (verbally I'm a total retard). It's not because I'm suddenly more American (yea right!). It's because I'm going to college.

People understand the concept of college. You get into your little old car, pack all the stuff you ever owned including the kitchen sink, you party your heart out, you stay up all night, you pack on a few pounds, you meet someone and get married and hopefully in there somewhere you learned enough to earn a slip of paper at the end of four years to make it all worthwhile. That...is college in the mind of mainstream America.

I don't really know what college means to me yet. 18 months distance learning taught me the value of education and the need for application into the environment in which you live. I enjoyed the learning process and more then anything I enjoyed practicing time management. Having finally arrived at college as it exist in the traditional sense, I find myself baffled as the learning remains but there is a limited environment in which to apply your findings. There exists only a campus of fellow students who may or may not have chosen college for reasons other then that elusive slip of paper. We certainly are encouraged to practice application, yet for me it feels strange after living in the drama of Pakistan and Zimbabwe. That it itself is a huge adjustment for a little overseas dwelling person like me!

I have a lot to learn about life at college. I already know about college but life at college is another subject. While I'll be taking globalization and justice, peacebuilding theories, and program evaluation among others, I'll be learning and analysing what exactly gives college it's charm. To me, that's of huge interest!