Why Even Go to College? Answer from a Dartmouth College Student

GoPeer
GoPeer
Sep 4, 2018 · 4 min read
Essay written by a GoPeer tutor. He sat down with a peer to find out why she chose to attend college and why she believes college is important.

“Huh, that’s a tough one,” Casey Jenkins remarks as she settles into a navy blue lounge chair across from me on the third floor of Berry Library; a Dartmouth Women’s Hockey emblem stands out on the chest of her pullover and dirty blonde hair touches her shoulders. Casey seems shy, but tough. I imagine her in a green and white striped jersey, her jaws clenching a mouthguard as she skates down the ice. “Why college?” Jenkins repeats the question pensively, tapping a finger on her ripped blue jeans.

“Well, as an athlete I can do the sport I love while still getting an education,” she says after a moment, “sports are a big part of the reason for me.” An Ontario native, Jenkins grew up with hockey as a centerpiece of her identity. She began playing the sport at age four on a pond in her backyard, competed competitively at age six, and became the only girl on a premier club team in eighth grade. It is clear that playing the sport was on top of her priority list during the college process. She states matter-of-factly, “My goal in high school was to play NCAA hockey.” If she hadn’t been recruited by Senior winter, Jenkins continues, she would have stayed in high school and tried again the following year.

Employers in both Canada and the United States want candidates with a degree, and college is the place to earn one.

Casey leans forward in her chair and adds, “If I wasn’t recruited after an extra year, I would have just gone to university in Canada and gotten a degree.” Luckily, this was not the case. She received offers to play at several NCAA schools in December, and compared options once this box was checked. The value of a college degree, however, remained a consideration for Jenkins. She evaluated schools on the merit of their academic programs and chose Dartmouth College, stating, “A degree from Dartmouth is respected, you know?” For Jenkins, a college degree is key to obtaining good employment. She may continue her athletic career by playing in the National Women’s Hockey League, but acknowledges that professional hockey is not a way to make a living. Most players have second jobs and a degree would help her secure employment. When questioned, “Does one need a college degree to be monetarily successful?” she responds with conviction, “On average, yes.” Employers in both Canada and the United States want candidates with a degree, and college is the place to earn one. Whether Jenkins plays professional hockey or not, she concludes that a college degree is a valuable investment whose payout comes when an employment contract is signed down the line.

“It gives you the chance to figure out what you wanna do… it throws you in the water so you learn to swim, but you can touch.”

The period ends and classroom doors open, releasing hordes of students who circulate throughout the library. We remain seated. It seems to me that Casey identified her reasons for attending college and does not have much else to say. We sit in silence for a moment. “But,” she reflects, “college is also so important for personal change.” Casey grins and continues with an animated tone, “It gives you the chance to figure out what you wanna do… it throws you in the water so you learn to swim, but you can touch.” To Casey, college is a place which optimizes the intersection between freedom and support. Students are free to organize their own lives, choose their own classes, and meet whomever they want to. And if they mess up, there exist layers of fallback support to prevent serious consequences, such as failing out or not being able to afford tuition. “We are just so lucky to be here…” Casey explains emphatically, “because we can discover our paths, make personal decisions, and find out what success means to us.” Casey did not consider personal growth much in her own college process, as her sights were set on hockey and a degree. For other students, however, she notes the formative quality of a college campus as a sound reason for pursuing higher education.

The swirl of students has slowed and the ambient volume of chatter has decreased substantially. Casey thinks aloud, “So, why college?” She answers the question holding up three fingers, “Sports, a degree, and personal growth.” These are the reasons that she is excited to be in college each day, even during a five a.m. team workout or a lecture on calculus. On that conclusive thought, the clock nears the beginning of the next class period. Casey slips on her backpack and stands from the navy blue lounge chair. We head in different ways, invigorated to enjoy another Tuesday at college.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

GoPeer

The GoPeer Blog is the official blog of GoPeer, a company which connects K-12 students to college students for in-person tutoring lessons.

GoPeer

Written by

GoPeer

Find college students to tutor K-12 students.

GoPeer

GoPeer

The GoPeer Blog is the official blog of GoPeer, a company which connects K-12 students to college students for in-person tutoring lessons.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade