English 101 paper

Running head: BEING A STUDENT IN AMERICA TODAY 1

Being a Student in America Today

Yixiang Zhang

Prof K

BEING A STUDENT IN AMERICA TODAY 2

Being a Student in America Today

The success attained in life is a result of the knowledge and skills that one has acquired

over various schools of life. Education is thus indeed the key to life that opens up opportunities

and avenues through which an individual can always fight to ensure that he makes his life better.

This presents me with the situation of the American students and the need to understand what

entails being a student in America today. Various factors influence how students engage in their

academic lives; some have been challenges that have motivated them while some have always

pulled down the ladder making it difficult for them to achieve their academic goals. Therefore,

this paper explains some of the challenges that American students face in their daily lives as

students in some of the prestigious universities and colleges in the world.

Perna, (2013) in her book Preparing today's students for tomorrow's jobs in metropolitan

America she has provided some of the essential tools in which a good life can be attained. She

identifies that education is the key to the success that’s highly sought in society today. American

metropolitan is one such area that requires one to be highly competent in what they do. They

must be well equipped with the relevant skills, and knowledge for the jobs that await them. As a

result, (Perna, 2013) states that earning a decent living in America requires at least some

postsecondary education. One has to at least have some trained skills. Therefore, this has been

the motivational factor for most of the students. Students understand that acquiring that diploma,

undergraduate degree or even master’s degree is an avenue to at least a better life. This has given

students from all diversities to work hard, it’s no longer about the whites-only but all races

compete for such opportunities with the minorities understanding that a good grade is the most

effective way of beating the dominant groups in society.

BEING A STUDENT IN AMERICA TODAY 3

The study was done by (Espenshade & Radford, 2013) in their book No longer separate,

not yet equal: Race and class in elite college admission and campus life provide another

dimension on what it entails being a student in America today. Things have changed over the

years and the transition has only made education accessible to all individuals in society. The

ability to compete in class and on the campus as a whole has given the students from minority an

opportunity to compete for the limited changes in society. Life has been made easier for all

individuals that value working hard. Therefore, with equal opportunities in these learning

institutions, it all depends on the ability of the students to initiate appropriate measures that

would eventually make them successful in society.

Espenshade & Radford, (2013) in their study they also emphasized the high esteem that

students in colleges and universities are seen in society. society views these students as the

saviors of the society in the future and their expectations from the students so high that students

have no option but to work hard against all odds to meet these expectations. The resources are

scanty just as it’s the case for the employment opportunities. Therefore, to ensure that one attains

their dreams and meets the expectation of society, the American students are under pressure to

beat all odds and achieve their goals in society.

Additionally, the study by (Winston, 1999) in his Journal of Economic Perspectives he

provided an analysis of the economics that students face in these institutions of higher learning.

he describes the process as one of the most effective ways in which young Americans regardless

of their ethnicity and race have been given equal opportunities to shape their destine. However,

there is an issue of concern when it comes to economies. Some of these students have to go

through the education system but the economics is not friendly on them. For instance, those

studying on loans have to ensure that they complete and stat paying for the loans before they can

BEING A STUDENT IN AMERICA TODAY 4

establish themselves and invest. In his argument, he believes that the academic system has put

the students on the pressure to achieve their dreams under tough conditions.

The author also argued on the productivity of the inputs that were being put into the

academic infrastructure. The government is pumping a lot of resources into the system in terms

of student loans, subsidies, costs and the pattern of distribution is also creating a hierarchy

among the students because the students receive different amounts. As a result, there is already

an inequality among the students with the resources being used in this industry not being used in

the right use. There are those students that receive loans yet they can always take care of their

tuition fees. Winston, (1999) thus argues that the impacts of the inputs put in the education sector

are not reflecting in society due to the increased debt among students with limited job

opportunities.

Students` loan is also another issue that has been an area of debate in the nation for a

while. The study by (Avery & Turner, 2012) focuses on the loans given to the students; with the

research issue being to determine is the amount issued out is enough or too much to be issued to

the students. However, they argue that college education has become one of the modern lottery

investments that take place in society today. The amount that students are borrowing to finance

their academics has grown spontaneously over the last decade but due to the increased needs and

pressure to have some needs similar to the peers has made students compete for these loans.

Therefore, the author argues that despite the amount of loaned being high this is one of the best

modern lottery games that students play with the target of having better outcomes at the end of

their studies.

BEING A STUDENT IN AMERICA TODAY 5

References

Avery, C., & Turner, S. (2012). Student loans: Do college students borrow too much—Or

not enough? Journal of Economic Perspectives, 26(1), 165-192.

DOI:10.1257/jep.26.1.165

Espenshade, T. J., & Radford, A. W. (2013). No longer separate, not yet equal: Race and

class in elite college admission and campus life. Princeton University Press.

Perna, L. W. (2013). Preparing today's students for tomorrow's jobs in metropolitan

America. University of Pennsylvania Press.

Winston, G. C. (1999). Subsidies, hierarchy, and peers: The awkward economics of higher

education. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 13(1), 13-36. DOI:10.1257/jep.13.1.13