What exactly is “college material”?

Cajun — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:06:00 GMT

I was listening to the radio today on the way to work and heard the story of a United States soldier who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for throwing himself onto a grenade in order to save his 4 fellow soldiers inside of a vehicle. In a news interview the parents told of this soldier joining the Army after realizing that he "wasn't college material" and it got me to asking what exactly is college material?

I guess you can say that I am particularly sensitive regarding this topic after spending half of a decade thinking that I wasn't college material after being told so by so by some people whose entire job it was to know the difference. I was told that by a couple of different teachers in high school, I was told that by a school counselor and eventually told that by an enrollment counselor at a community college. I've since come to the conclusion that they were all wrong and I think my academic success has proven so, at least to this point. I haven't exactly gone for my PhD yet but I think we can call it a lock anyhow.

So what exactly is college material? I honestly believe that anyone who is of good, sound mind can be successful in college. Being college material is more a matter of will and drive to be successful in college than it is a matter of intelligence and unfortunately too few people realize this. I seriously doubt this American hero lacked will or drive and I am certain he had the fortitude and intelligence to have gone to college if indeed it was something he desired for himself.

And perhaps that is the point, perhaps by stating about themselves "I am not college material" what people really mean is "I just don't want to go to college" which is perfectly understandable. However should anyone at all ever make such a proclamation over you or anyone you know of sound mind, then you are in the presence of a true idiot my friend. And by idiot I don't mean the guy being told he isn't college material.

As a side note I'd like to say thank you to the family of Army Private First Class Ross McGinnis for his service and all of their sacrifice, he is a true American hero.

http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1113296.aspx

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ramcginnis.htm

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My Ashford University Experience : college material

What exactly is “college material”?